“Damian, we—” She moaned as he slid his tongue between her parted lips—teasing, tantalizing and leaving her breathless. What was it that made him so irresistible?
“School doesn’t start for forty-five minutes, and students aren’t allowed on campus for another twenty-five,” he murmured against her lips, before covering her mouth again.
Karen locked her hands around his neck and pressed closer to him. His hands roamed down her back to her hips. She was quickly losing control and gently pushed against his chest. “I...I need to get some things ready.”
Still holding her, he said, “I know. Honey, I would never do anything to risk your job. Please believe that. But I also won’t be intimidated by a jealous woman and her lies.”
She believed him, but this just added to her growing list of worries, and she was seriously contemplating cutting her losses before getting in any deeper. Damian kissed her again, and the thoughts flew right out of her mind.
“What are you doing this weekend?”
“I don’t have anything planned. Why?”
“Would you spend it with me? With everything going on, I think we need to get away for a couple of days.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please, baby,” he said, peppering her face with kisses. “Come away with me.”
Karen sighed heavily. “Fine.”
“Good. I need you to pack a bag for the weekend and be ready to leave Friday at five. The teachers’ training ends at three, so that should give you plenty of time. How does that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful. Where are we going?”
“I’d like to surprise you. The only thing I will say is it involves a plane ride.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
“What are you doing for lunch?”
“I have yard duty.”
Damian groaned.
She laughed softly. “How about dinner at my place tonight? Is six-thirty okay?”
“Kyle and I have to do some planning for tomorrow’s training later tonight, so it’s perfect.”
She reached up to wipe the gloss from his lips. “See you later.”
“We’ll only meet for a short time after school. Do you need me to bring anything tonight? I don’t want you to go through too much trouble.”
“No. I have everything.”
He nodded and left the room.
Karen rounded her desk and slumped down in the chair. “That man is too tempting.”
While her computer booted up, Karen made sure she had all the supplies for the art project. She had borrowed one of Janae’s ideas for foil art. After gathering everything, she went back to her desk to check emails. She opened one from Human Resources letting her know her interview had been scheduled for the next day. The three o’clock time meant she would miss the last half hour of the training. She’d pack for her weekend tonight, just in case the interview ran longer than anticipated. She responded to a parent, logged off, then left to meet her students.
The morning seemed to fly by, and the students’ foil butterflies turned out well. Karen had them put away the markers and place their pictures on a back counter. She directed them to wash their hands and line up for lunch. Having yard duty left her fifteen minutes to eat a quick bite and make a list of groceries she needed to pick up for dinner. She took a picture of the project and attached it to a text message to Janae. Grabbing her radio, she went out to the playground as the students exited the cafeteria.
“Walk, please,” she called out. “Make sure your lunch containers are in the right bucket and not on the ground.”
She tightened her jacket around her. Although the sun shone, it did nothing to warm her in the midfifties temperatures. Karen spoke to another teacher on the way to check the bathrooms. For some reason, the kids always left the water on or slid beneath the stalls to lock the doors.
As Karen made her way to the basketball courts after clearing the bathroom, Nikki stepped into her path.
“I had my interview this morning, and they were very impressed. That job is as good as mine. I plan to make a few changes around this place and implement some of my own programs.”
Karen seethed. Nikki had been trying to undermine Karen at every turn, and she never understood why. The suggestions implemented had made all their jobs easier. And, with what Damian had shared last night, it was taking some serious restraint not to knock Nikki flat on her butt. “Well, I’ll just wait until a formal announcement is made before I offer up any congratulations.”