3. Kat

Chapter 3

I expect someone to call about Addison’s card update today, but as the day winds to an end, I worry Oliver may have forgotten. It’s not terrible if he did, but it would make more work for her brother. The office will have to call her parents and get their okay before she can be released.

Addison doesn’t have a note today, but she is giddy when the time to pack up comes. It’s the first time she’s ever gotten ready to leave with the rest of the kids, and she’s the first one in line at the door. It’s a bit strange but also reinforces my idea that she doesn’t get along well with her mother. The thought makes me sad for her. She’s such a happy little girl.

The bell rings, and I push my worries aside as I lead the children out the door. Addison stands beside me, looking around, but must not see him yet. The students rush to their parents one by one, and before long, it’s only me and Addison.

Her bottom lip pokes out a bit, and I watch as her eyes continue to scan the crowd, even as it thins.

So much for having mostly on-time pickups.

Thankfully, my skirt is long, making it easy to keep myself modest as I crouch down to Addison’s height.

“Don’t worry, Addy, he probably just got stuck in traffic. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”

She looks up at me, and I can see she’s upset, but as she looks out around us one last time, her whole face lights up. One second, she’s here, and the next, she’s running full speed at a man I’ve never seen before.

Holy shit.

If I thought Oliver looked like the businessman type, this guy makes him look like a kid playing dress up.

He’s tall and well-built, and while he’s definitely older than Oliver by a few years, somehow, it only makes him look better. His three-piece black suit looks like it was painted on. The sleeves flex around his arms even as he simply walks, and it’s honestly a wonder they don’t rip.

His dark, almost black hair is combed back and styled to perfection, with streaks of gray running through the short sides. Most businessmen are clean-shaven, but he has a beard—like his hair—peppered with gray as if artfully done.

Gray hair isn’t supposed to be that attractive. Most people try to cover it up, but goddamn, something about this man makes me think he would look good in a tutu.

Addison all but leaps into his arms, and he’s ready for her, easily hoisting her up in the air as her giggles fill the hall. It’s clear from the way she runs to him and his attention to her that they know and love each other, but even still, I have a job to do.

“Excuse me,” I call to him and want to smack myself when my voice comes out in a broken little whisper. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like he heard me.

Get it together, Kat.

Clearing my throat, I try again and thank the stars when my voice comes out more normal this time.

He peels his eyes away from Addison, who’s talking a mile a minute, to look up at me and holy shit. His eyes are gorgeous.

They're blue, but not like any blue I’ve seen before. They look like ice, and with the hard set of his jaw and his appearance, they really drive home the whole fuck off vibe he has going for him.

There’s no denying he’s intimidating, but also yummy.

Shit, that’s not appropriate.

“I just need to check her pickup card to ensure you're listed,” I tell him as he walks toward me, Addison still in his arms.

His brows pinch slightly, but he nods in understanding. “Nathaniel Lawson,” he says, coming to a stop a few feet from me and sweet baby Jesus, his voice.

My eyes widen at the sound as it rolls over me like a lover's caress. Unable to do anything else, I quickly nod and turn to head back into the classroom.

I really should have brought Addison with me, but in my haste to get away, I’d not thought about it. Stealing a glance back at him, I find him and Addison still just outside the door, waiting. His eyes bore into me with such intensity that I whip back around to my desk to hide the heat that's currently taking over my face.

He just has an intense personality. It doesn’t mean anything.

But even as I search through the classroom release cards, I can feel his eyes on me.

It’s not until I pull the card that I realize how frazzled he has me. I know what’s on this card. I just looked at it yesterday.

Crap.

Bringing the card with me, I head back out into the hall where Addison is telling Nathaniel about every aspect of her day with a smile. His eyes are no longer on me, instead watching her with a smirk that changes his whole face.

I let out a sigh of relief now that I’m free of his gaze, and just like that, his eyes snap back to me.

“Um, unfortunately, you aren’t listed on her card,” I tell him before I lose my nerve, holding the card up for him to see.

“But we can go—” Reaching out, he snatches the card from my hand and examines it. He reads over the approved list and medical information before flipping it back to the front, and I’m about this close to snatching it back.

I don’t want to think this guy is just some creep, but the information on that card is private, and I don’t want it to fall into anyone’s hands.

Before I can decide what to do, he holds the card back out to me, and I take it with a frown.

“I’m her father,” he says, nodding down at the card.

Oh shit, no way.

I look down at the card in my hand, and right there at the top, his name sits on the line next to father’s information.

Fantastic.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize,” I tell him, feeling stupid.

I hadn’t even thought to check the parent's side because I’d been expecting her brother.

He smiles at me, and anything else I might have been about to say is forgotten.

“It’s no problem. I’m glad to see you're concerned about keeping Addison safe,” he says, gazing down at her with a look that tells me how important she is to him.

“I must say it is unusual for someone to be unaware of who I am, though,” he tells me, and somehow doesn’t sound like a pretentious ass about it. It’s not as if he’s gloating, just simply stating a fact, and it only makes me feel sillier.

“Sorry, I’m new to the school. I haven’t had a chance to get to know all the parents yet, and usually Rose picks her up, with the exception of Oliver yesterday.”

His smile melts away at the mention of Rose, and I regret bringing her up.

Crap, hopefully, they aren’t in the midst of a messy divorce or something. That would explain why Addison isn’t fond of her, but I also don’t want to be the reason to upset him.

“Yes, that reminds me. I need to update that card,” he says, nodding to the card I still hold.

“Oh, you can do that in the main office. It’s just down the hall and to your left, about three doors down on the right.” I point as I talk, and he watches me as if soaking in the information.

I can’t say I blame him. This school is so big it took me about a week before I stopped getting lost.

“Thank you,” he says with a nod. “It was nice to meet you.”

They make it about three steps before Addison wiggles out of his arms and comes flying back toward me.

I have just enough time to crouch down before she’s flinging herself into my arms hard enough that I rock back, almost losing my balance.

“Have a great weekend, Addy,” I tell her, soothing her hair back as she peers up at me with a smile.

“You too, Ms. Kat. I’ll see you Monday!” she yells, hurrying back to her father and taking his hand to pull him down the hall.

I can’t help but laugh as I watch them go, Addison’s tiny self pulling him behind her as she talks a mile a minute. It’s ridiculous, really, but also adorable.

I turn away, heading back into my classroom before I can get caught watching them like a creep. It’s not until I go to grab my purse that I realize I still have Addison’s card in my hand.

Crap, they need the card so they can update it.

Slapping my hand to my forehead, I move a little faster as I turn off the lights and lock my room. Then, I head down to the office to drop it off.

“Of course, Mr. Lawson.” I hear Barbara, the school secretary, say before I even enter the office. Her voice is a few octaves higher than usual, and when I enter the office, I find her staring up at Nathaniel with a smile that reminds me of a schoolgirl with a crush.

She doesn’t even look up at me, instead happily making heart eyes at him until he clears his throat and snaps her out of it, kinda. She stands and makes her way to a cabinet behind her, quickly flipping through the folders it holds. But even busy, she can’t seem to keep her eyes off him, glancing back over her shoulder every few seconds.

I take a step forward, and Addison notices me over her father’s shoulder, where she once again sits in his arms. A smile pulls at her lips, forcing mine to do the same before I clear my throat to make the other two aware of my presence. I hate to interrupt, but I know they need the card.

They both turn to me, and I’m shocked to find a glare on Barbara’s face when her eyes land on me.

“Yes, what can I help you with?” she snaps, her voice cold and nothing like it had been a moment ago with him.

Wow, rude.

“I just wanted to bring the card down,” I say, holding it up to show her. “I’d sent Nathaniel down to update it, but realized after he left I forgot to actually give it to him.”

Walking forward, I drop it on her desk. I expect some kind of understanding or maybe even a thank you. But she scoffs and waves me off.

“Mr. Lawson doesn’t need it updated. We can just get him a new one,” she says, putting heavy emphasis on his name as if I might not know it.

Which is ridiculous, considering his daughter shares the same last name.

More than that, her comment throws me off.

“Oh, I thought the policy was to have one per student and simply update it as needed,” I say, which only makes her already annoyed face pinch into a glare.

I know for a fact that’s the policy. I made sure to read it thoroughly before starting this year. This was my dream job, and I wasn't going to mess it up over something like a policy slip.

Barbara slams the drawer closed, and I startle slightly at the sound but hold her gaze.

I’ve never had an issue with Barbara before, so her attitude seems a bit strange. I don’t see her often, as I’m here most days before her, but on the occasional times I have, she’s been nice enough.

“Yes, that is the policy,” she bites out, snatching the card off the desk and ripping it up with much more force than necessary. “Which means you would have been responsible for disposing of the old one. It’s not that hard to understand.”

“I would have had no issues going to retrieve the old one if that’s the policy, Barbara.”

Both of us turn our attention to Nathaniel, and Barbara is once again as sweet as can be.

“Completely unnecessary. I know you're a busy man. Katherine is just new. You’ll have to forgive her,” she says, waving a hand in my direction as if shooing me away, but I don’t move right away, much to her obvious annoyance.

I stand there for another moment, watching as Barbara calls him over to update the card I brought in. I watch as she gets so damn close she might as well be sniffing him before I can’t take it anymore.

“Um, have a wonderful day,” I say, taking a step back toward the door with a wave to Addison. I don’t exactly want Barbara to have a wonderful day, but I also don’t feel like telling her to pull the stick out of her ass is a good idea.

Without waiting for their responses, I turn and head out the door.