Chapter 3

THREE

JASPER

"You sure you're okay?"

I flicked my gaze at Jenna and exhaled loudly. It was the second cup I'd dropped. An overtoasted croissant and a mixed-up order pretty much summed up my morning.

"I know it's your last shift, honey, but you're on the road to rival Scott's diabolical efforts when he worked here."

"You heard about that, huh?"

An amused nod followed as she recalled her brother's work efforts.

Giving myself a mental talking to was in order. "I'm sorry," I said. The truth was on the tip of my tongue, but sharing it aloud would only make me sound ridiculous. I hadn't even told Ian last night about the possibility of me seeing Austin—which he'd insisted I called him when he'd shown me around the school yesterday afternoon. I'd only managed a quick chat with Ian last night, as I'd wanted to get ahead with planning and start looking through my students' profiles.

"Spill." Jenna walked me into the kitchen, standing so she faced the counter to keep one eye on what was going on. A grimace crossed my face, and the heat across my cheeks had me wincing.

Her gaze softened. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to, but maybe it'll help you behave less like"—she waved her hand in my general direction—"this."

I snorted. I supposed it couldn't hurt. Plus, she wasn't as bad as Davis when it came to trying to help "guide" me. He could be pushy at times, though I was sure he'd deny it.

"Urgh." I deflated, thoroughly humiliated by my schoolboy crush, which then made me feel a bit squeamish that I'd used "schoolboy" for a comparison.

It was official. I was freaking out.

"Austin, the principal from the school I'm starting at on Monday, said he'd stop by today."

She nodded, her brows dipping, and indicated I should go on.

"Well, it's just—" I rolled my eyes at myself and shook my head as I peered up at the ceiling. I was not this guy. I'd worked so hard since I'd left to go to college to live exactly as I wished, crush on who I wished, and embrace said infatuations when I could. But my reaction—heck, who was I kidding—my attraction to Austin had me spiraling.

Inappropriate much! I scolded myself.

Hell, he was hot. But it didn't stop there. I could have simply continued admiring from afar, slotted him into a few of my spank-bank fantasies, and all would be well and as it should be.

But, nope, he was kind and welcoming and had made such an effort to make me feel comfortable that his physical attraction had been overshadowed with him being a genuinely nice guy.

"Oh my God." Jenna's eyes widened when she seemed to read between the not too subtle lines of my internal breakdown. "Just how sexy is this principal?"

I could have written a sonnet about just how incredibly handsome Austin was. But I was a reader and most definitely not a writer.

"Wow, he's that hot that he's made you speechless!" Teasing filled her words. Just as I was about to respond, her eyes flicked toward the café's front, and she said, "Speaking of…."

I angled to follow her line of sight. It was him. Austin .

There was no way a sonnet could do this guy justice.

I hadn't realized Jenna had returned her focus to me until she gripped my forearm.

"Please tell me that's him."

On autopilot, I nodded.

"You know," she dropped her voice as she spoke, "if corporal punishment was still a thing in schools—"

"Jenna." I cut her off, laughter carrying my word.

She grinned in response and then nudged me. "I'll let you see to your visitor." Next, a harder shove followed. I sent her the stink eye, trying to communicate I'd find a way somehow to pay her back, before turning fully and smiling as I headed toward the counter.

While I remained flushed, my smile was easy. Not only had Austin arrived, but a wide grin settled on his face in greeting. "Hey, Austin."

"Jasper, good to see you."

"You too," I said, following up with "So, what can I get you?" A genuine lift of my lips followed my question. While I didn't intend to rush him, he was here for coffee and I assumed an éclair based on yesterday's conversation. Regardless of the reason he was here, I liked that he was. The same as I liked the small traces of silver in his short sideburns. Surprise flittered through me when I considered that was something I found physically attractive about the man. While I didn't have a type, per se, he was the first man who had probably fifteen years on me who'd drawn my attention. "Apart from an éclair."

"A black coffee would be good, thanks."

"Sure thing."

I turned to start his order, but Jenna was already at the machine. When she threw me a wink, my eyes bugged out of my head, hoping my cheeks didn't heat. They were known to do that on occasion, and admittedly, it annoyed me a lot.

I rang up the order and then asked, "You had a busy day so far?"

"Not especially. I've committed to a day off. I have to head into work tomorrow, though."

I nodded and passed him his plated éclair. "It's important to stop and take time out."

"It sure is. There's always something to do, so I'd be working all the time if I didn't force myself not to."

I filed that away, assuming… wondering, heck, hoping that meant he had no one to rush home to.

"Here you go." Jenna handed over his coffee. "And here's one for you, Jasper. You're due a break." She passed me an espresso, my coffee of choice, and then indicated for me to move on.

Wide-eyed, I swallowed my nerves and said, "Thanks," before looking at Austin. "Looks like I have a break. Do you mind?" For all I knew, he wouldn't want the company, though with him actually being here, I suspected I didn't need to worry about him brushing me off.

His grin caused a stir in my stomach, the sensation causing a small curve of my lips.

"Sounds great." He waited until I joined him from around the counter. "Anywhere you like?" Rather than gazing around the café looking for a table, his focus remained on me.

I dipped my head and indicated toward the small table near the window in the corner. No one was settled in that area, meaning we'd have some privacy. As I made my way over the spot, I was fully aware of his eyes on me. The sensation warmed me. As I turned and sat down, it took the barest of moments for his eyes to lift and settle on my face. No idea if his eyes had been on my backside or not, I decided to believe they had. The thought sent a wave of confidence rushing through my veins.

"So," I said as I sat and placed my coffee on the tabletop, "what plans do you have for the rest of the day?"

Austin eased into his chair, his forearms resting on the table, bracketing his coffee. "Not much. I have to pick up Penny from my ex's in an hour." He shrugged in a "what can you do" gesture.

"Penny?" I asked, not having even considered he'd have a child for some reason. Though I registered the mention of the ex.

"Yeah." Austin blew on his coffee and took a small sip. "She's my Labrador. We have joint custody, unfortunately." He followed up with a small sigh, bringing my attention to his mouth.

"Oh." I nodded, not quite sure what to follow up with. I searched for something to say as he took another drink. "So, how old's Penny?"

"She's just two. She was only six weeks when I bought her. She's crazy and adorable. Eats like it's going out of style." He snorted and followed up with a laugh.

My lips curled upward. "What?"

"Just thinking about last Thanksgiving. I'd pulled out the turkey from the freezer a couple of days before only to wake up the following morning to Penny scratching at the door about to explode after eating an entire frozen turkey." His laughter was loud, and I quickly joined in.

"Holy hell! And she was obviously okay after?"

He nodded, amusement dancing in his eyes. "She was eventually. I will deny ever saying this, but Rupert, my ex, may have been due to pick her up an hour later, and I may have never said anything."

My mouth fell open. "For real?" I asked around my laughter. "Wow, so the breakup wasn't exactly great?" The question was out there before I could haul it back, knowing how inappropriate it was asking Austin this question for a whole wealth of reasons.

Laughter remained in his eyes as he answered, apparently not concerned by my question. "You could say that. Three years, us living together, and a puppy didn't squash his inability to keep his dick in his pants."

"Oh, shit. Sorry to hear that. I'm hoping Penny helped to express your feelings for him."

"She did. He ended up having to sell his car, as the stench was apparently impossible to get out." He shrugged, looking pleased with himself. "I should be sorry, but to be honest, Penny's exploding diarrhea did wonders in helping me move on and back off."

I mirrored his smile. "Well, in that case, I'm especially pleased she shared the message loud and clear."

We continued on with small talk that had us both smiling and both talking and sharing easily. It was only when I heard a clatter of plates that I looked around and realized the café had got busy. "I'm so sorry," I said, standing up, "I have to get back to work."

Austin nodded his understanding. "No problem. I didn't realize how much time had passed. I have to go get Penny too. She was supposed to be with him till tomorrow, but apparently, he has better plans." He cleared his throat and stood. "It was good talking and getting to know you better." He reached out his hand, and I took it, giving it a friendly shake. "What time do you get off work?"

"I have just a couple more hours."

"And you said you're not doing anything, right?"

I shook my head. "Other than doing some more prep for my first day on Monday."

"Of course, yes. Well, if you need anything, feel free to get in touch. Barb gave you my cell, right?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Okay then," he said, pushing in his chair and then heading toward the exit. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"

My heart hammered in my chest. Every single look and word thrown my way screamed flirtation. "Maybe," I said, giving a small smile as he left, and then I went to assist Jenna.