Chapter 2

TWO

AUSTIN

I closed my eyes. It was only for a second, but it helped ease the pounding of my head. This migraine would not defeat me. There wasn't enough time to give in. With Jim out sick, the board wanting an answer about the new classrooms, and my ex badgering me about wanting to see Penny this weekend—despite it not being the asshole's turn—I was relieved as hell it was Friday.

I just needed someone to cover Jim's long-term sick leave, and then I'd be able to tackle the mountain of paperwork on my desk, and then finally, halle-freakin'-lujah, I'd be able to go home, take Penny for a walk, and inhale a bottle of red wine.

Maybe that would help with this annoying migraine that had been lingering for the past four days.

The ring of my phone had me groaning. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and glared at the offending device. I picked it up and swallowed my snark. "Hey, Barb," I greeted. The last thing I wanted to do was annoy her. She ran this place like clockwork… me like clockwork. It was why I was the one to bring her coffee every morning rather than the other way around.

"Your ten o'clock is here."

"Thanks. Send him in in two minutes, please."

"Will do."

I placed the receiver down and pulled up Jasper Taylor's resumé. Even though the young teacher didn't have that much experience, his education was impressive and the references from his past position were glowing. I'd usually call bull when a reference looked this good, but it was from Jamie Brice, who I knew well from the many leadership conferences I'd attended over the years. She was a straight shooter, so I hoped like hell this—I looked at the man's name again—Jasper interviewed well. I needed a replacement for Jim ASAP. And with Jim's classes being largely the seniors, I needed more than a sub. Jasper's degree in English and literature combined with his teaching degree made him just the person for the job from the pool of resumés we had on file.

A quick arch of my neck from left to right helped my shoulders ease a fraction. I then took a gulp from my bottle of water and glanced at the time. There was a knock on my door a second later.

"Please come in," I said as I stood, ready to welcome Jason. No, that didn't sound right, J-something, but it was too late to check now.

He appeared in the doorway, brown-haired, brown-eyed, and looking so damn young it was crazy to think just seventeen years ago or so, I'd looked as fresh and eager as he did.

It sounded like I was ancient, which I wasn't, but stumbling into this principal position so young—from a combination of luck, hard work, and simply being in the right place at the right time—made me feel a hell of a lot older.

"Thanks for coming in at such short notice." I reached out my hand as I stepped around my desk. "Austin Harrison," I said, hoping he'd tell me his name.

He smiled, the gesture lighting his eyes, startlingly so, as he gripped my hand more firmly than I expected. "Jasper Taylor." He pumped a couple of times before releasing. "I appreciate you inviting me in."

There was that smile again, surprisingly calm and genuine, especially considering our situation. And Jasper . I repeated his name a couple of times in my head, determined not to stumble and call him something else.

"Come, Jasper. Take a seat." I led him to the couch and the two soft chairs surrounding a small table, much preferring to conduct the interview in a more relaxed setting. Plus, it was away from the building paperwork I was trying to ignore. "Help yourself to water." I indicated with my head the fresh glass and the chilled jug on the table.

"Thanks." He bobbed his head before reaching out and pouring himself a small glass with a steady hand.

"Let's start with you telling me a little about your teaching experience, and we'll go from there."

His eyes locked on to mine, the brown depths drawing me in and forcing me to clamp down on the inside of my cheek. Hell, he was cute. And me crushing on a young teacher here for an interview was about as inappropriate as you could get. Reminding myself of that fact, I pushed my reaction to his physical appeal to the back of my mind and listened intently as he proceeded to tell me about his history, his experiences inside the classroom, and his current situation.

When he moved on to explain how he hadn't taken up the offer of renewing his contract with his last school so he could return to his hometown to look after his mother, I knew deep in my gut he was the sort of teacher I was happy to have on staff.

We were a small school of just four hundred students, and I was proud that our ethos was one of nurturing as well as academic success. When I'd first taken over, it was no secret the school was failing and doing one heck of a disservice to its students and the good staff who were still here. It had taken blood, sweat, and tears to turn the place around. But we were finally there.

Having someone so young and so vibrant joining the team would be a boon for us.

"The position will be for the rest of this academic year. It's all I can guarantee for the moment. Though there's a possibility of it being extended and turned into a permanent position next year. But I can't guarantee that." Jim, the teacher who Jasper would potentially be covering for, should honestly have retired two summers ago. This recent injury and subsequent illness would probably be the final straw, and come the end of the term, which would also be the end of the school year, I expected his resignation.

"It sounds perfect," Jasper said. "It gives us a chance to see if we're a good fit." His eyes flared a moment, and the barest of blushes colored his cheeks before he stumbled to say, "As in me and the faculty, that we carry the same… ethos." He clamped his mouth shut after that, and amusement settled in my chest. Through the whole interview process, which had taken fifty minutes so far, not once had he been flustered or on edge. I couldn't help bu t wonder at the change and what had gone through his mind.

"I agree," I said, offering a small smile. "I have full authority to offer the position to a teacher of my choosing, but we'd need someone to start immediately."

Jasper sat up a little straighter. "As in next week?"

"If that's possible, it would be perfect. The senior classes especially need stability and a specialist with them as soon as possible."

He bobbed his head.

"So, Jasper, will you be able to start on Monday?"

His eyes widened, and his lips parted before he appeared to gather himself. "Absolutely, that would be amazing." A grin followed. "I'd need the syllabus and materials today, though, and access to the classroom over the weekend so I can be as prepared as possible."

His eagerness was refreshing. "I'll make it happen." I stood and reached out my hand. He shot out of his seat and clasped it. "Good to have you on board." My words were genuine. Everything about him felt right, and the grin he sported was pretty contagious.

"Thank you so much." He released my hand and all but vibrated on the spot.

"What I'll do is send you out to see Barb so you can sort all of the necessary paperwork. We need to get your details in the system today so you're all set for Monday. I'll ask her to organize a meeting with Lizzie, who runs the department, so you can spend some time with her. Are you okay to spend the day?"

He bobbed his head eagerly. "Absolutely."

Shit, he seriously was cute. Once again, I clamped on my increasingly raw cheek, keeping myself in check. "Excellent. Let's make it happen. I'll also clear time this afternoon so we can go through anything extra needed." The offer slipped out, and I blamed his infectious enthusiasm. But it was too late to withdraw it now. "I'll walk you out to Barb and get everything moving."

Happiness radiated off the guy. It was a heady thing, something I could get used to. Surrounding yourself with positivity could do wonders to your own headspace and outlook. It was something one of my sisters piped on about regularly when we caught up. As I walked Jasper out, I was certain he was the right fit for the school—the faculty and our students. I couldn't help wondering if he was the breath of fresh air I needed too.

My throbbing head had dulled to a simple, irritating pain so much more manageable and easier to ignore. I'd been able to get on top of the most pressing tasks, had provided enough details on the new classrooms to hopefully get the board off my back for a while, and was confident I'd made the right decision about Jim's replacement.

Speaking of… I glanced at the time. While I'd spent thirty minutes or so with Jasper after lunch on a whistle-stop tour of the grounds, I wasn't sure if he'd left the site or not. I shouldn't be concerned, nor should I be pocketing my keys and phone to go and investigate. Yet my hand was already on the handle, and it seemed like my feet were in control and definitely not another part of my anatomy.

Barb was picking up her handbag in preparation to leave for the weekend when I exited my office. Her intelligent gaze raked over me before she said, "I expect you out of here in thirty minutes. No later."

"That's the plan," I answered, shooting her a wry grin.

She quirked her brow at that. "Seriously, Austin, it's Friday afternoon, soon to be night. You're single." She didn't hold back a smile of glee at that one. She wasn't a fan of my ex. "Get your butt out of here and cut loose."

I chuckled at that. Barb had celebrated her fiftieth birthday for at least ten years, and she was the best of PAs during office hours, while she tended to slip into the role of mother hen during every other moment. I was lucky to have her care so much .

"My plan includes a nice bottle of merlot and a walk along Jepson's Range." I sent her a wink. "It's about as edgy as I have the energy for."

Concern filled her gaze, and no doubt a lecture would soon follow. I'd much prefer to locate Jasper to get my fill—

I clamped down on my thoughts. Maybe Barb was right, and I should head out and "cut loose." Not tonight, though, but soon.

After disengaging myself from Barb's withering stare, I wandered toward the faculty lounge, catching up with a couple of staff along the way and saying goodbye to a few others who were heading out.

When I arrived, my gaze landed immediately on Jasper. Alone in the room, he sat at the desk, a pile of books filling the space. A pen was stuck behind his ear, and his once neat brown hair was now disheveled. It made him appear a little older than his twenty-four years. Though I'd noted he had a birthday coming up during the summer vacation, making him technically midtwenties. That sounded less inappropriate than a guy in his early twenties catching my interest.

"How's it going?" I asked, interrupting his quiet studying.

His eyes flicked away from the laptop Barb must have hooked him up with. "Good." An easy smile lifted his lips, and he stretched. His gaze then flicked to his phone. "I didn't realize it was that time already."

"George Orwell will do that to a guy, right?"

He laughed as he picked up the copy of Animal Farm . "It's a modern-day classic all right, but I'm sure my dad once told me he'd studied this at school too."

"True." I nodded. "I know I did." Stepping closer to where Jasper sat, I considered the stack of books. "Jim's pretty old-school, and I know he didn't mix things up a great deal."

Jasper bobbed his head in understanding. "I get it. If it ain't broke…."

"I think some others in the English department would be anxious to explore new texts for next year."

Eagerness filled his eyes, a reaction I liked.

"I have so many ideas and also created several units of study that still fit the curriculum. I'd be more than happy to prepare for next year." He paused a moment, that lovely pink lighting his cheeks again. "Not that I'll necessarily be here, but honestly, that doesn't matter. If it helps the department and will encourage classes to get excited about literature, I'll be more than happy."

I reached out to the chair on the opposite side of the large desk he worked on and clamped down on the chair's back. "I'm sure the team will be grateful."

A nod as he closed the laptop followed .

"Did Barb set you up with everything you need?"

"Yes, thank you." He stood. "I have a morning shift at the Split Bean, and while I spoke to my boss and he's told me he'd sort my cover and replacement, I don't want to let him completely down, you know?"

His consideration was endearing, and I couldn't help but note how unusual for a man so young. Though admittedly, I had moments of being jaded—sometimes a hazard of the job. "I've been there," I said. "The café. A couple of times, actually." The place had a reputation for good coffee and great pastries. "It's been a while, but their éclairs were phenomenal."

"Right!" Jasper laughed. "Davis is a god in the kitchen. He's a magician or something. And those éclairs, you're in luck. Apparently, he didn't used to make them often, but Scott, his fiancé, they're his favorite. Their wedding is in a few weeks, and it's going to be éclair heaven."

He was almost out of breath by the time he finished. And then there was that flush.

"So," he said, as if recovering from his oversharing, "yeah, the éclairs are great. You should definitely stop by and treat yourself. And I'd better get on out of here and let you start your weekend."

He swooped up the books, the laptop, and his belongings while disappointment slammed into me that our conversation was over. My brain was also trying to process everything he'd said.

His boss had a male fiancé. The information had been shared effortlessly. While that didn't mean anything beyond Jasper's own comfort and acceptance, a sliver of hope worked its way through me. I could only wish that at some point soon I'd discover if Jasper dated men. Though maybe I should have been hoping he was as hetero as they came. That would be the safer option.

Then there was the invite, which was most likely an innocent and friendly gesture. I was overthinking all things Jasper. Ridiculously so.

But he would be at the café tomorrow morning….

"I may just stop by tomorrow for a coffee and an éclair if they're on the menu."

His eyes widened just a fraction before he seemed to gather himself, and his easy smile flittered back in place. "I'll be sure to put one aside for you."

Overthinking. Alarm Bells. The two-finger salute to my position. The three whirled around in my brain, but rather than encouraging my headache back full force, a current of excitement shivered through me instead.

Jasper's smile was a dangerous, gorgeous thing. And it looked like I'd be getting the chance to see it again tomorrow.