“Promises, promises.”
Chapter 9
Sebastian
I sit in my truck in the school parking lot and call Tony. After I update him on the changes in my relationship with Sadie, he congratulates me then explains my options. I’m feeling somewhat relieved once I finish the call. I’m going to need to deal with the little fucker, Joel Roberts, but he doesn’t have as much power over my career as he led me to believe.
Leona is waiting for me at the office door with a smirk on her face, and I know my day is heading downhill already. “The senior boys are at it again.” She smirks. “When Mrs. Lassiter went to use her skeleton to explain the ribs, she found it had an extra appendage. A very large, uh, ten-inch addition.” I watch as my secretary tries hard to keep a straight face. I’m still shaking my head when Leona calls over her shoulder, “At least, the old bat can keep it. Maybe she’ll come in smiling every now and then.”
I spend most of the morning finding the appropriate discipline for the vibrator crew. Wilma Lassiter wasn’t as forgiving as Leona and wanted me to suspend the boys involved. I negotiated with her, and instead, the guilty students are going to reorganize the entire biology lab and classroom after school over the next several weeks.
After averting one catastrophe, another one walks in the door. Joel Roberts stomps in ten minutes after the last bell of the day rings. He glares at me and points at my office. The show of authority makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and I glare at the fucker as I follow him in and slam the door. “This is an unexpected visit.” I walk around my desk and lean my hip up against the side of it after he sits in the chair facing me.
His eyes narrow for a second, and I watch as his chubby fingers run through the thinning hair at his temple. “I’ve heard the most disturbing news today, and I would like to get to the bottom of it right away.”
I shrug and wait for him to continue while wondering if this is over a fucking vibrator, but he shocks me when he continues. “Sadie Nicholson was seen buying a pregnancy test recently. I went by her home to talk to her about it, and your truck was in the driveway. All evening long. You need to call her in here so we can get to the bottom of this.”
Outrage spikes through me. This little bastard waited outside my girl’s apartment all evening long? Before I can refuse his request, there’s a knock on the door, and my heart drops. Sadie is supposed to meet me after school, and I’m sure it’s her on the other side of the door.
Joel raises his eyebrow at me, and I walk over and open the door. Sadie looks up and smiles before a frown creases her brow when she sees my expression. “Come in.” I signal over my shoulder, and her eyes widen when she looks around me. She walks in, and I follow behind her.
“Mr. Roberts. This is a surprise.” She smiles.
The little weasel doesn’t even stand. He turns in his seat and glares at Sadie. “Ms. Nicholson, please have a seat. We were just discussing a matter that concerns you.” Sadie sits next to Joel, and I walk around my desk and stand next to it again.
“Oh?” She looks perplexed.
I rush to explain before the jerk skews this shit. “Mr. Roberts heard a rumor about you, so he decided to go to your home last night to talk to you.” Her mouth drops open, and I’m pissed at how much this shit is stressing my girl. “He saw my truck there and wanted an explanation.” I turn and stare at him. “That’s about all. Correct?”
He takes a deep breath and turns to Sadie. “I’ve heard the most disturbing rumor, my dear.” When he lays his hand on her arm, I’m unable to hold back the roar in the back of my throat. I rush over to stand between them, and he pulls his hand back.
“You don’t need to touch her.” After I growl at him, he glares at me. “Why did you even go to her house?” I cut right to the chase. This asshole has no business approaching Sadie at home.
My boss’s eyes widen a fraction at my tone as his face turns dark red. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I wanted to talk to Ms. Nicholson where we wouldn’t be overheard.”
This stupid fucker. Sadie is looking back and forth between us like she’s watching a tennis match. Time to let him know exactly how much she is my business. “Since her baby is mine, it’s absolutely my business.” Red hot rage pierces me. The son-of-a-bitch lurches from the chair and bangs his fist on the desk, and I realize his interest in Sadie is way more than professional.
“You’re fired.” He looks at me with fire in his eyes.
“Try again. You can’t fire me for this.” I look him dead in the eye. “I talked to my attorney. The contract I signed states that the school district discourages relationships between teachers and their direct superiors but does not forbid it. If a relationship does take place, I can’t evaluate her or promote her.”
He sneers at me then looks over my shoulder at Sadie. “You’ve both ruined your careers at Bay Isle.” He thunders over to the door and turns to glare at me. “I’ll make sure the board knows about this turn of events, and we can decide how to handle it, but I wouldn’t get too comfortable here.” Then the fucker has the nerve to look at Sadie. “What is your aunt going to say?” Shaking his head, he slams out the door.
The door is still vibrating on the hinges when I pull Sadie into my arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
She leans back to give me a small smile. “I hope so. We might both be unemployed soon.” Sadie signals at the door with her head. “Mr. Roberts has a ton of sway with the board.”
After kissing her forehead, I smile. “Let’s go back to my place and talk. We have a lot to discuss.”
Chapter 10
Sadie
We’re waiting for the plane to take off, and I’m looking out the window, trying to get my nerves under control. When Sebastian suggested a trip to Sweetbriar, Colorado, so I could meet his family, I told myself I could combat my fear of flying with Sebastian by my side. Now that the day is here, I’m not sure what has me more nervous; the nearly three-hour flight or meeting the entire Mackenzie family for the first time.
A week ago, Sebastian sat me down and told me all about his family. I was shocked to find out that Sebastian is a wealthy man who doesn’t need his job at Bay Isle High School. He loves working and plans to continue working unless the school board makes it impossible for us. So far, we haven’t heard a word from Joel Roberts, and we’re concerned that he might be planning something.
“Hey. You’re awfully quiet.” He picks up my hand and kisses the back of it.
I look over and try to give him a smile, but I’m sure it comes out looking more like a grimace. “I’m not sure this is the time to admit this, but I hate to fly.”
Sebastian looks around the first-class cabin for a second, then leans over and whispers in my ear, “I promise to keep you so occupied you don’t even realize we’re off the ground.” When he leans back and winks, heat shoots through my body, and I forget all about the coming flight.