funny and intelligent.” When she tried to speak, Nate held up a hand. “But she’s got it in her mind that he’s too young for her and that she’s his ‘boss.’ ” He punctuated the last word with air quotes. “Silly notions, but until she gets past those and wants the same things he wants, the only kiss she’s gonna get is on the cheek.”
“But—”
“I’m here when you’re ready, Dani. But only when
you’re
really ready.”
The door closed softly behind him.
Chapter Eleven
Ladies’ Night Out
.
It was usually Dani’s favorite monthly event, especially when she and Beth met early to have some best friends’ time. Even though they taught at the same school, their rooms were about as far apart as they could be and yet still be in the same building. Thankfully, they always met for their weekday lunches with Mallory—and often with Jules as well. Ladies’ Night Out was still much more fun.
But not tonight.
Dani’s thoughts kept drifting back to Nate, especially to the last thing he’d said to her.
… the only kiss she’s gonna get is on the cheek.
What kind of guy said something like that?
“Dani?” Beth laid a hand on her arm. “What’s wrong? You haven’t said more than ten words since you got here, and those were mostly to order a drink.”
Lifting her margarita, Dani gave a mock toast. “Which I need desperately.” She took a sip before setting it back down and playing with the salt on the rim of the glass. “Sorry, you just became the designated driver.”
“No worries,” Beth replied. “It’s my turn, and I honestly don’t mind.”
The waitress swept by their table to drop off their order of fried mozzarella sticks and two small plates. Dani really didn’t have an appetite, but she picked up a plate and set it in front of her. Then she grabbed a stick and dropped it on the plate.
Beth picked one up, gingerly bit into the end, and then started fanning her mouth. “Too hot. Too hot.” She set the stick on her plate as well. “You’d think I’d know better by now.”
“He won’t kiss me anymore¸” Dani blurted out.
A knowing smile filled Beth’s face. “I assume we’re talking about Nate, and the
anymore
tells me he’s kissed you more than in the school supply closet.”
Dani nodded.
“Spill!”
It felt good to tell Beth about the kisses she’d shared with Nate, even better to explain what had happened after their morning run, about how he simply wouldn’t open his stubborn eyes and see that she wasn’t the right woman for him.
“So?” Dani asked after she’d ended her tale.
“So… I think he’s absolutely right. You’re being silly.” Beth waved at someone behind Dani. Before Dani could turn around, Beth said, “Mallory and Jules are here. Do you want them to know about all this kissing stuff?”
That question was pure Beth, always alert to anything that could possibly hurt someone’s feelings. There were some things Dani could only share with her best friend, but if Beth couldn’t understand the importance of her being Nate’s boss as well as being older, maybe Mallory and Jules could.
With a sigh, Dani nodded. “We should include them. Maybe the three of you can help me figure out what to do.”
“Do?” Beth let out a small laugh. “What you
do
is kiss the man!”
Mallory slid into the booth on Dani’s side. “Kiss the man? Are we talking about Nate?”
Jules joined Beth on her side. “Who else would she be talking about?”
“The guy’s too young for me,” Dani insisted.
Damn, but she shouldn’t even have to be dealing with Nate Ryan. She never should have let her friends goad her into offering the basement suite to him. If she and Nate only spent time together at school, she could resist that incredible smile, that tempting dimple. That absolutely sublime butt…
“I told you,” Beth said. “You’re being silly. Age doesn’t matter.”
Dani snorted. “Sure it does. And don’t forget I’m his department
“But—”
“I’m here when you’re ready, Dani. But only when
you’re
really ready.”
The door closed softly behind him.
Chapter Eleven
Ladies’ Night Out
.
It was usually Dani’s favorite monthly event, especially when she and Beth met early to have some best friends’ time. Even though they taught at the same school, their rooms were about as far apart as they could be and yet still be in the same building. Thankfully, they always met for their weekday lunches with Mallory—and often with Jules as well. Ladies’ Night Out was still much more fun.
But not tonight.
Dani’s thoughts kept drifting back to Nate, especially to the last thing he’d said to her.
… the only kiss she’s gonna get is on the cheek.
What kind of guy said something like that?
“Dani?” Beth laid a hand on her arm. “What’s wrong? You haven’t said more than ten words since you got here, and those were mostly to order a drink.”
Lifting her margarita, Dani gave a mock toast. “Which I need desperately.” She took a sip before setting it back down and playing with the salt on the rim of the glass. “Sorry, you just became the designated driver.”
“No worries,” Beth replied. “It’s my turn, and I honestly don’t mind.”
The waitress swept by their table to drop off their order of fried mozzarella sticks and two small plates. Dani really didn’t have an appetite, but she picked up a plate and set it in front of her. Then she grabbed a stick and dropped it on the plate.
Beth picked one up, gingerly bit into the end, and then started fanning her mouth. “Too hot. Too hot.” She set the stick on her plate as well. “You’d think I’d know better by now.”
“He won’t kiss me anymore¸” Dani blurted out.
A knowing smile filled Beth’s face. “I assume we’re talking about Nate, and the
anymore
tells me he’s kissed you more than in the school supply closet.”
Dani nodded.
“Spill!”
It felt good to tell Beth about the kisses she’d shared with Nate, even better to explain what had happened after their morning run, about how he simply wouldn’t open his stubborn eyes and see that she wasn’t the right woman for him.
“So?” Dani asked after she’d ended her tale.
“So… I think he’s absolutely right. You’re being silly.” Beth waved at someone behind Dani. Before Dani could turn around, Beth said, “Mallory and Jules are here. Do you want them to know about all this kissing stuff?”
That question was pure Beth, always alert to anything that could possibly hurt someone’s feelings. There were some things Dani could only share with her best friend, but if Beth couldn’t understand the importance of her being Nate’s boss as well as being older, maybe Mallory and Jules could.
With a sigh, Dani nodded. “We should include them. Maybe the three of you can help me figure out what to do.”
“Do?” Beth let out a small laugh. “What you
do
is kiss the man!”
Mallory slid into the booth on Dani’s side. “Kiss the man? Are we talking about Nate?”
Jules joined Beth on her side. “Who else would she be talking about?”
“The guy’s too young for me,” Dani insisted.
Damn, but she shouldn’t even have to be dealing with Nate Ryan. She never should have let her friends goad her into offering the basement suite to him. If she and Nate only spent time together at school, she could resist that incredible smile, that tempting dimple. That absolutely sublime butt…
“I told you,” Beth said. “You’re being silly. Age doesn’t matter.”
Dani snorted. “Sure it does. And don’t forget I’m his department
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