“A grant came through unexpectedly. It is specifically allocated to preserve historical landmarks and The Rose Theater is a historical landmark,” Principal Rayburn explained, as if reading her mind. “Anyway, I was hoping that you could show him around since you’re going to be sharing the space.”
“Sharing the space?” Brynn repeated blankly.
“Yes, you’re filling in for Mrs. Stein while she’s out on medical leave.” Principal Rayburn acted as if that was something she’d known.
“I am?” That was news to her. Good news, but still news.
Principal Rayburn was not a subtle man and lifted his hand in a shooing motion toward the door. “Why don’t you two work out a schedule. I know that you’ll be using the space for rehearsals and I don’t want any kids in the theater unsupervised, especially during the renovations.”
Brynn nodded and turned to leave. She had an odd feeling that something bigger than herself was working to pull her and Axel together. Her mother had always insisted that Brynn had “the gift” but she’d always dismissed her. Brynn didn’t believe that she possessed any extrasensory gifting. She was just perceptive. There was a big difference.
A man that she’d never met before showed up on her doorstep and is now not only going to be living above her garage but also working at the same high school she worked at. Anyone would feel like that’s at least extremely coincidental.
“After you,” Axel grinned as he held the door to the school offices open.
His smile was contagious and she smiled back. As she walked past him a shiver of awareness danced down her spine. Her eyes lingered a little longer than was appropriate on his smooth, perfect lips and she forced herself to look away. Her heels clicked on the tiled hallway as she led the way to the theater. She had a lot of questions racing through her mind but the one at the forefront was, I wonder what it would be like to feel those lips pressed against mine.
Since there was no way she could ask that she went with, “So you’re renovating the theater?” Brynn heard the shakiness in her voice and glanced back over her shoulder.
He was still wearing that same panty-melting grin. “I am. I would’ve mentioned it when you said you worked at the high school, but I didn’t know the theater was part of the high school.”
“Oh,” she giggled.
Giggled.
Why would she laugh at that? It wasn’t a funny statement. What was wrong with her? She was acting the age of someone that attended this school not worked there.
Trying to rein in her racing heart and shallow breaths, she slowed her pace which meant they were walking side by side.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, great!” She said way too loudly. Desperate to get the focus off of her odd behavior, she opted for small talk about him. “So that’s what you do? I mean for your work?”
“It is.”
“When did you start doing that? Was it after the Marines?”
“Actually, before. Stepdad number two, Duke, worked in construction. That’s what paid the bills, but on the side he was a master woodworker. He built and restored furniture and even a couple of buildings. I tagged along and paid attention.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.”
Brynn hoped that he wasn’t picking up on her nervous energy. It was strange to be around someone who both put her immediately at ease and instantly amped her up. Her body wasn’t sure how to deal with all of the sensations he inspired, but she was sure enjoying feeling them.
* **
Axel was doinghis level best to keep his mind on the job as he walked beside Brynn, but he was distracted. There was something different about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Maybe it was just that he’d never seen her in this environment. It could be like the time he saw his seventh-grade science teacher at the movies with her husband. Except this was the opposite, since he’d only seen Brynn outside of school and now he was seeing her in it.
Or maybe it was just that being around Brynn caused his brain to go haywire. It wouldn’t be the only organ in his body that she affected. His damn heart raced like it was a thoroughbred at the Kentucky Derby. And he couldn’t even think about what she did to the organ she’d accidentally copped a feel of.
He shook off his preoccupation with trying to pinpoint what was throwing him and concentrated on the task at hand.
Brynn was obviously questioning the coincidental circumstances that led him here.
When she’d opened the door and saw him in the principal’s office her expression was one of total shock. Now, as they headed down the hallway, her voice was shaky and high-pitched. He sensed the same on-edge energy that he’d felt from her when Max had dropped Ryder off. And when he’d seen her at lunch with her friends.
The only time she’d seemed like herself, or at least the version that she’d shared over dinner, was earlier this morning after her walk around the lake. He’d timed his return perfectly so that they arrived at the house at the same time. They’d only spoken for a moment, but she’d seemed perfectly at ease.
He wanted to put her back at ease now, and sometimes the best way to do that was to point out the elephant in the room. “I’m not stalking you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”