He stiffened. Damn it all. “Why?” But he knew why.
“Because this is a big deal.” She took the towel from him and hung it up.
His attention wandered to her mouth. So she had been thinking about what had happened between them? He wasn’t the only one losing sleep over that night—
“The interim appointment is up in two months. The school board has already opened the principal position to applicants.” Disappointment hit him hard, but he shoved it aside to listen to her. That was news to him. It explained the tension. She worked hard, harder than anyone he knew. She turned away, pacing the floor. “They have to, I know that, but I need this job.” She sighed. “I’m sure Ken Branson will apply, and he knows everyone.”
“Branson is a tool.” Ryder snorted, trying to ease her mind. He’d never seen her this worked up. He placed his hands on her shoulders, aching to pull her close. “Annabeth, you’ll get it.” He smiled. “I’ve never known anyone as stubborn and persuasive as you, Princess. And that says a lot, coming from the family I do.”
She smiled, relaxing a little.
“It’s just, you’re single and I’m single...” She shrugged.
“Good thing Grandma Flo’s here to chaperone us,” he teased, but knew there was more. “What else is going on?”
She shook her head, but her gaze wandered down the hallway to Cody’s room.
“Cody?” he encouraged.
Her lips tightened, as though she was reining in her temper.
“He okay?” he spoke softly.
“The boys, at school,” she whispered. “They’re giving him a hard time about his stutter.”
His anger was hot and fast, but he suspected she didn’t need that right now. “Kids are mean, Princess, you know that. And Cody is tougher than you think.” His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Who is it?”
She shook her head
. “Nope.” Her smile warmed him through.
He grinned. She knew him. “What?”
“The last thing I need is you threatening some schoolkids.” She rolled her eyes.
“Kids, no.” He shook his head. “Parents, maybe.”
She giggled. And he loved the sparkle in her eyes as her gaze connected with his. “Ryder—”
“Joking, Princess.” He laughed. “Not that it’s not tempting.”
She nodded. “Yes. Very.” Her expression shifted then, from amused to intense. Her gaze fixed on his, carefully searching. “You don’t owe us anything, you know?”
His hands fisted. “Don’t start that again, Annabeth—”
“Stop, Ryder.” Her smile grew tight. “Greg wouldn’t expect you to babysit Cody and me. Stop doing what you think he wants you to do.”
Yes, he’d promised Greg he’d look out for them, but... How could he explain that he did it because he needed to? Taking care of them made him feel better, too, as though he was important to someone. “That’s not why I do it.”
Her forehead creased slightly. “It’s not?”
“Time for checkers before I go.” Grandma Florence sat up, her sudden declaration sending the kitten scurrying across the kitchen and into his box.
He smiled as Cody’s squeal of delight came from his bedroom. “Think Cody heard you, Flo.”
Two seconds later Cody came barreling into the kitchen with his checkers box. “Ryder, you can play the w-w-winner,” Cody said.
“Deal,” he agreed, squatting in front of the dishwasher. “Gives me time to see what we need to fix this thing.”