The Accidental Boyfriend. Maggie Dallen

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СКАЧАТЬ a moment, seemingly weighing her words. “The students and their parents absolutely love you, Holly, and I know you’ve expressed interest in settling down here in Oakdale.”

      She paused, giving Holly room to respond. Holly just nodded; she didn’t trust herself to speak. It was true. She’d decided to give up travel and adventure to return to her hometown in Ohio and have the life she wanted. Have the family she wanted.

      “If you’re interested,” Donna said, a slow smile spreading across her face, “We would love to make your role here permanent.”

      Holly gasped as though surprised—as if this wasn’t a possibility they’d been talking about at great length for the past few months. But now that it was here…she broke into a cold sweat but forced a smile to match the principal’s. Of course she was nervous. Major life changes were scary. “Oh, Donna, thank you,” she gushed.

      Donna’s smile grew as she waited for Holly to say the words that would make it official. Holly took a deep breath and opened her mouth to accept and instead she heard her voice say, “I need to think about it.”

      The words stunned Holly almost as much as they did Donna, who was blinking at her as though she couldn’t comprehend the statement. After a moment though, she resumed her composure. “Of course, it’s a big step. No one would expect you to make a hasty decision.”

      Holly latched onto that excuse. “Exactly. I’m not the type to act impulsively.” Liar. “I’d really like talk it over with my family. And Benjamin, of course.”

      “Of course.” Donna gave her a knowing look. “How are things with Benjamin?” She and Holly had become friendly since Holly joined the school and she was well aware of Holly’s feeling for her longtime best friend. Donna was the only person she’d told who hadn’t tried to talk her out of her quest to win back her high school sweetheart.

      “Good,” Holly said with a bit more enthusiasm than necessary. “Great, just great.” Apparently the lies were pouring out of her mouth today.

      “So he wasn’t upset about the picture?”

      Holly’s smile froze in place. The picture. It had been more than a month since her sister’s wedding, yet the local newspaper was still printing pictures of the big event. To be fair, a hometown girl marrying a billionaire in a lavish wedding in Tuscany was a tad more interesting to readers than the library’s latest fundraiser. But still. Let it go already, people.

      Unfortunately, one of the pictures that her mother had kindly sent to the newspaper featured Holly dancing with Jack, the world-famous tech genius. They were gazing at each other in a way that may have led some viewers to the wrong conclusion. Like that they were in love or something. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. She was pretty sure Jack hated her after the way that night ended—if he hadn’t already forgotten about her.

      She had been making such progress with Benjamin when that stupid picture was printed. “No,” she said, trying not to sound as bummed as she felt. “He wasn’t upset at all.”

      Sadly that was the truth. She hadn’t expected him to be angry—it’s not like they were dating—but she had hoped he’d be a tad bit jealous. Or a whole lot jealous.

      Before she’d left for the wedding, she’d made it clear that she wanted to take their relationship to the next level but Benjamin was worried that dating would ruin their friendship. And he still wasn’t convinced that settling down in Oakdale was what Holly really wanted. As if moving back home and taking a teaching job at her old school wasn’t evidence enough that she was serious about changing her ways.

      That picture popping up in the paper certainly hadn’t helped her cause.

      Donna was giving her an annoyingly sympathetic look so Holly amped up the smile. “Besides, Paula Dunhop’s annual Oakdale Charity Ball is coming up this weekend so I imagine my silly picture will no longer be making the news.”

      Donna’s eyes widened in surprise and then she cringed. “Actually . . . that’s not the picture I was referring to.”

      Holly’s whole body stiffened. “What? What other picture is there?”

      Donna was already digging through her gigantic purse. She brandished an issue of People magazine with a flourish and handed it to Holly. “Page thirteen.”

      As Holly flipped to the page, her stomach plummeted. What if someone had someone caught their—

      “That certainly looks like a kiss to me,” Donna said.

      Holly couldn’t look up at her co-worker, she was hypnotized by the image in front of her. Jack’s tuxedo jacket was draped around her shoulders and she was tucked against his side. He was leaning in and she was gazing up. They weren’t actually kissing but it was clear what was about to happen seconds after the shot was captured.

      Holly’s mind was racing and, if she was being honest with herself, so was her pulse. Jack looked good. No, he looked amazing. Just looking at the picture, she was transported back to that moment—that magical, fairytale evening, which was rapidly becoming a nightmare that would not end.

      She’d been trying to forget that night for an entire month. Thirty days of trying not to think about Jack, or that kiss…or what happened after that kiss. It was like not thinking of a pink elephant once someone has told you not to. Impossible. But maybe, just maybe, she would be able to forget the playboy hottie if everyone would stop constantly reminding her of that night!

      But nooooo. First her hometown paper and now this. She slammed the offensive magazine closed and took a deep breath. What had they been talking about? Oh yes, Benjamin.

      Oh no, Benjamin.

      Her chest tightened and she forced herself to take a deep breath. What were the odds that he had seen the magazine? Slim to none. If there was ever a man who did not follow pop culture gossip, it was Benjamin. Although…he did have two sisters who loved gossip more than life itself. And he lived in a town that was obsessed with all things Jack Everett and the Sinclair sisters. Oh crap, if he hadn’t seen it already it was just a matter of time before he did.

      Her chair made a loud creaking noise as she pushed it back and hopped out of her seat. She grabbed a box that was half packed and started heading toward the door. “Donna, I should go. I’ve got to see Benjamin but, uh, I’ll get back to you about the teaching job, okay?”

      She was out the door before Donna had a chance to respond.

      * * * *

      Holly found Benjamin quickly. Of course she did. That was the beauty of Benjamin—he was predictable.

      She met him in his driveway seconds after he pulled in. “Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked, unloading his briefcase from the passenger side of his car. “I thought I was picking you up tonight so we could celebrate the last day of school.”

      She should tell him about the offer for a permanent job but she couldn’t seem to get the words out of her mouth. Instead, she tucked a stray curl behind her ear and sauntered over to him with a grin. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” she teased. She’d meant it to sound coy, maybe trigger a bit of flirtatious banter, but he ignored the tone and answered the question.

      “Of course I’m happy to see you, I’m just surprised is all. I thought we’d agreed on a СКАЧАТЬ