No, not just scowling. She looked like she was going to
bring down the wrath of hell onto Haley’s head.
“To add to all your offenses, you’re a snoop too, I see. Are
you actually here as a spy for your dad? Too bad I don’t keep
any vital information lying around. I know better, even if it’s
just to take a twenty-minute fresh air break.”
“I-I-I’m s-sorry.” Haley’s teeth chattered.
Claire cocked her head. She didn’t offer a hand. “Stand up,”
she ordered curtly. When Haley didn’t move, she ground out
the next command. “Now.”
That word fired Haley’s blood. She was now as hot as her
face was. She was so tired of blushing all the time. Of being
more than embarrassed. She was mortified at all of this, and
she’d just messed up again. She’d never been in trouble so
many times in her life and the feeling made her stomach
churn.
In her haste to get up, Haley bumped her elbow and her
knee on the bottom of the desk somehow. “Ouch!”
“You’re a clumsy little thing, aren’t you?” Claire was being
unmerciful. Worse, she was enjoying herself.
“I did knock,” Haley said in her defense. “I did. Twice. I
tried the handle, and it was open. I figured you’d be right back
so I thought I would wait.” Not the whole truth. Not really a
lie either.
“And you thought you’d just take the liberty of perusing
through my work while you waited? You couldn’t just sit like
a good little girl and keep your hands to yourself?”
Haley wet her bottom lip with her tongue without noticing
it. Her mouth was so painfully dry, probably because the rest
of her was on fire with humiliation. “I…” Claire’s eyes settled