Take a Chance on Me (12 page)

In other words, never.

Jessica packed up to go, scanning the classroom briefly before turning out the lights. The dance was in a few weeks. Until then, she had to find a way to avoid all reminders of Tom if she was going to keep her mind on her job.

Tom stood on the porch, bottle of wine tucked under one arm. Through the closed door he could hear the distant sounds of what seemed to be a pitched battle, complete with screaming and the crash of broken items. Against his better judgment, he leaned on the doorbell to announce his arrival.

The door swung open to reveal a pair of naked three-year-olds rampaging down the hall. A woman in jeans and a flannel shirt poked her head around the doorframe. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a haphazard bun, a few loose pieces curling around her smiling face.

“Great.” she said, waving him in with a grin. “Perfect timing. You can help get the girls ready for bed.” She ignored his protests, shouting after the kids, “Sara! Emma! Uncle Tommy’s here! Get your jammies on and he’ll read you a story!”

Footsteps thundered up the stairs. Tom shot Janet a dirty look. “Did you have to announce it to them?”

“Of course,” she said blithely. “That way you couldn’t say no. Here, give me the vino and I’ll finish getting dinner ready. Unless you’d rather cook and I’ll do the bedtime routine…”

Tom shook his head violently and handed over the wine. PJ’s and a bedtime story were far preferable to the strange alchemy that was cooking.

Twenty minutes later, Tom kissed his sleeping nieces, turned out the bedroom light and tiptoed back downstairs. He found his sister in the kitchen, ladling sauce over a huge bowl of pasta. “Expecting a crowd?” he inquired, filching a crouton from the Caesar salad. She bumped hips with him companionably, scooting the salad bowl out of his reach.

“Just you, me and Kevin,” she replied. “I promised no ambushes and I am a woman of my word.”

Tom opened the silverware drawer and grabbed enough for three place settings. “Thank you. So where is the man of the hour anyway?”

“Should be home any minute. Finished up a research project this afternoon and had to complete the write-up before leaving.”

“Sounds exciting,” Tom teased.

“Is my brother-in-law mocking me? For shame.” Kevin ambled into the kitchen, shirtsleeves pushed up, tie askew. He slipped his arms around Janet’s waist from behind and planted a kiss beneath her ear. She turned and pulled him into a fierce hug.

“Hello, my gorgeous scientist,” she murmured, kissing his cheek. “Save the world today?”

“Pretty close,” he said, stepping away to rummage through the fridge.

Janet mock-pouted. “You say that every day.”

Kevin grinned, popping a grape in his mouth. “Well, it’s true every day,” he mumbled around the grape. He patted Janet on the rear as he walked by.

“Knock it off, you two,” Tom growled. “I’m losing my appetite.”

Janet threw her dishtowel at him. “You know you think we’re adorable. Now go sit down. Dinner’s ready.”

Tom laughed and picked up the salad bowl, taking the opportunity to sneak a crouton as he placed it on the table.

“So, where’s the new squeeze?” Kevin said, adding the bowl of pasta to the table.

Janet reached over and smacked him on the shoulder. “Will you ever learn to keep your mouth shut?”

Tom sank into the chair and lowered his head into his hands. “There is no new squeeze. There is no new anything. Besides,” he added, glaring at Janet, “you said there would be no ambushes tonight.”

“And there won’t be,” she said. “Not a single eligible female will be joining us. But I never said the
topic
was off-limits. Sorry, bro, but we want the full scoop.”

Tom looked from Janet to Kevin and back again. They sat at the table, flanking him on either side. Their faces were open and eager, ready to encourage him in the pursuit of love.

Their marriage was so happy, full of genuine friendship and support for each other. After his crash-and-burn first marriage, Tom knew he didn’t want to settle for less than what he saw in Janet and Kevin’s relationship. The package deal—kids and all.

He sucked in a deep breath and shook his head. He knew better than most that the real deal was out of reach for the vast majority of people. His sister and her husband were damned lucky to have found each other. It was unlikely that lightning would strike so close again.

“There’s really nothing to tell,” he said, shrugging. “You caught me off-guard the other night. Jessica is just a new teacher at Summit, and we’ve run into each other a couple of times. End of story.”

“Oh, it’s Jessica now, is it?” Janet smiled, a wicked glint in her eye. “You’re on a first-name basis with her already? Sounds like more than just a passing acquaintance.”

Kevin nodded his agreement, mouth temporarily full of garlic bread. He passed the breadbasket and swallowed. “Sorry, Tom, but I have to agree with my wife here.”

“Of course you do,” Tom muttered. “Otherwise, you’re on the couch tonight.”

“Absolutely not.” Janet crossed her arms. “I am not that petty or vindictive. He could have the guest room.”

He found it nearly impossible to hang onto his grumpy mood in the face of their teasing laughter. With a smile, he acquiesced. “Okay, fine. I know you have a million and one questions, so go ahead and get them out of the way.”

Janet rubbed her hands together with glee. “Age.”

“Mid-twenties.”

“Aha. A younger woman. Attractive?”

“Of course.”

“Of course, he says. Specifics, baby bro.”

“Red-brown hair, green eyes, petite. Looks younger than she really is.”

“Personality?”

He thought a moment. “A real spitfire. Not afraid to speak her mind. Very dedicated to her job. Funny too.”

“Have you asked her out yet?”

“No, and I’m not planning to.”

She stopped, exchanging a look with Kevin. “Why not?”

“Rule number one. Never date a co-worker.”

Janet sighed. “I can’t even count the number of couples I know who’ve met on the job. Where else are you going to meet someone?”

“Other than our dining room,” Kevin interjected, earning himself a death-ray glance from his beloved wife.

She turned up her nose and continued on with her interrogation. “You’re not her supervisor, right?”

Tom shook his head.

“So, ask her out already. Look, Tom, I know you. Deny it all you want, but you’re interested. This is the first woman who’s caught your eye since the Evil One. She sounds nice. Don’t pass up this opportunity, okay?”

“It’s not that simple,” he said.

“Nothing worthwhile is,” she replied softly.

Tom dragged his fork through the strands of pasta on his plate, thoughts tumbling. In a perfect world, there was nothing he’d enjoy more than spending time with Jessica Martin.

Unfortunately, the world was far from perfect.

“So, is she a good kisser?”

Tom’s head shot up, narrowed eyes locking on Kevin’s too-innocent face. “I—that is—how did—uh—no comment.”

Kevin leaned back in his chair, smug grin firmly in place. “Yeah, I thought so. You’ve got it bad, my friend.”

“Open invitation,” Janet added. “You can bring her over to dinner any time.”

Tom handed her the salad bowl with a quelling look. As tempting as it sounded, there was no way Jessica Martin would ever be joining them for a family dinner.

Chapter Seven

“This totally blows!”

The strident voice sliced through the commotion of the end-of-school rush. Tom’s head lifted, instinctively searching out the source of the discontent.

Through the open entryway doors he could see a large group of students huddled next to the theater doors. The air around them practically shimmered with tension. Glancing briefly at the row of busses rumbling to life in the loading zone, he headed back into the building.

He felt like a salmon swimming upstream to spawn as he elbowed his way to the theater entrance. More students gathered around the edges of the original group, drawn to the angry tone of the original speaker.

A well-timed cough, a tap on the shoulder, and Tom’s presence was noted. The tight cluster slowly peeled apart like an onion, revealing a willowy blonde, her face currently pinched in an expression of anger and disgust.

“What seems to be the problem, Amber?” Tom stood directly in front of her, maintaining eye contact. The crowd slowly hushed.

Amber slapped her hand against the wooden door, indicating the typed list posted there. “This cast list is total crap, and I want that pitiful excuse for a drama coach fired.”

Tom looked at the list, then returned his gaze to the teen. “I don’t understand. You’re playing Juliet. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

She sucked in a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. “Of course I wanted to be Juliet. But there are five other Juliets on the stupid list. How can there be six Juliets in one play? The director is an idiot.”

A murmur started at the edges of the crowd, some girls nodding in agreement. Anger fed on anger, building the frustration of the group to a high pitch. Tom knew he had to defuse the situation, and fast.

He shrugged, leaning a shoulder against the thick wooden door. “Ms. Martin never said she would be directing a single play. The announcement was only for a Shakespeare show. You just assumed it would be
Romeo and Juliet
because she teaches freshman English.”

“That is so lame.”

Tom opened his mouth to reply, but another voice beat him to it.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

Tom turned abruptly at the sound of Jessica’s voice, as did the rest of the crowd. “The spring show is going to be a collection of scenes from Shakespeare’s best works. If you’re not happy with your part, feel free to decline the role. I’m sure I can find someone else to take it.”

She stood apart from the group, her chin up, doing a fair imitation of the totally in-charge director, unaffected by the anger that rolled off the crowd in an almost palpable wave.

Tom, who found himself studying her much too closely, knew better. He could see how tightly wound she was, how she was holding onto her composure by a thread. A slight tic pulsed at the edge of her jaw.

“Maybe this is something we should discuss privately,” Jessica offered. She stepped forward, only to be stopped by the crowd milling around.

Amber tossed her head, glaring daggers at Jessica. “You’re planning to do a clip show? So, what—each person gets to be on stage for five or ten minutes, tops? This is my senior year. I have had the lead in every production since I was a freshman. And you expect me to play the same part as half a dozen other girls? Get real.”

“It’s a good part in a good scene,” Jessica said, hands held tightly at her sides. “As there were over a hundred students who auditioned, I’m sure I’ll be able to find someone who is interested in participating in the show.”

“So now you’re giving my part away?” Amber screeched.

Tom stepped forward before the situation could get more volatile. “Why don’t we continue this discussion in my office?”

Amber stalked through the crowd, slamming the office door open as she entered. Jessica gave Tom a tight-lipped smile as she followed. At the last moment, she turned back around and addressed the crowd.

“If anyone else has concerns about the spring show, please feel free to talk to me personally. It’s going to be a good show, and I really hope everyone on the cast list chooses to participate.”

And, squaring her shoulders, she slipped past Tom into the main office and headed for his office door.

Amber stood just inside the room, indignation vibrating from every pore. “I don’t know what there is to talk about. You’ve just screwed up my last high school production.”

“What’s the real problem here?” Tom asked. “Is it that the show isn’t traditional, or is it that you won’t be the star?”

Amber sucked in a breath, turning her angry gaze on Tom.

“I’ve seen you perform,” Tom continued. “You’re an excellent actress. But there are other students who would appreciate the chance to participate as well. Why can’t you share the spotlight?”

“And just what do you have to do with it? I don’t recall seeing your name on the audition notices. Oh, yeah, that’s right. You were
helping
Little Miss Clueless that first day. So the new drama director needs her boyfriend to fight her battles?”

Jessica sucked in a breath, eyes widening. Tom motioned her silent with a quick wave of the hand. “That’s enough. Ms. Martin and I are just colleagues—not that it’s any of your business. And the three of us are in my office dealing with this issue now because the hall was not an appropriate location for this discussion. I will not allow anyone to start a riot in this school.”

Amber glared at him, then whipped around to focus on Jessica. “Why are you even directing the spring play? You’re just a substitute.”

Tom caught the barest flicker of reaction in Jessica’s eyes before she responded. “You’re right, I’m on a long-term substitute contract for the district. And directing the play was part of that contract. I suppose there’s not much either of us can do about that.”

“Great.”

Jessica lifted her chin, a challenging look in her eye. “It appears that you have a decision to make. You can quit the show—not my first choice, but certainly your prerogative. You can take the part and decide to have a positive attitude about this. Or the next two months can be miserable. As far as I can see, the choice is up to you.”

Amber dropped into a chair, posture slumping in defeat.

“Like I said before,” Jessica added, “you’re not obligated to be in the show. I’m surprised that you don’t want the part though. Most young actresses would give their left arm to play the balcony scene.”

Amber’s lip curled in a sneer. “Fine. I’ll take the stupid part, but only because this will be my last high school show. I just hope this play isn’t as idiotic as it sounds.” With a final disgusted glare, she flounced out of the office.

Tom shook his head as Amber left. Some kids had to hold on to their anger, even when it wasn’t in their best interests. All in all, Jessica had handled the ambush well.