Always The One. Tara Randel

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      “Yep. Security officer at Ponderosa Day School.”

      “No,” she glanced around and stage-whispered, “with the FBI.”

      “I told you I wasn’t leaving until I get the entire truth out of you.” He held out his hand to shake. “Derrick Fields. Additional help until the new security system here is in full working order.”

      She barely contained an eye roll.

      He wanted to laugh but couldn’t. Apparently, she’d forgotten how tenacious he could be. There were holes in her story, which he was desperate to fill in. And her father leaving? Why would he do that? From what Derrick could remember, he’d doted on his wife and daughter. There was more she hadn’t revealed and he was the guy to get to the bottom of things.

      And then there was the boyfriend issue. Or fiancé? He glanced down to find a bright, shiny diamond on Hannah’s ring finger. His heart lurched. Yeah, he hadn’t quite decided how to react to that piece of news.

      “You’re unbelievable,” she muttered through clenched teeth.

      “So I’ve been told.”

      She blew out a breath. “Derrick, you can’t stay here.” She looked down at her finger. “It’s complicated.”

      “You keep telling me that, but, put simply, I want to help.”

      She met his gaze, heat flashing in her eyes. “No one asked you.”

      He shrugged. “Never stopped me from inserting myself anyway.”

      “Fine. Suit yourself.”

      As she passed by, he fell into step beside her. “Hannah, you have the look of a woman who has too much on her plate. Even though you think I’m where I don’t belong or I’m a huge inconvenience, please let me hang around for a while to assure myself you’re okay. Is that too much to ask?”

      They stood in the bright sunlight, eyes locked. Yesterday when his vision had been blurry, he’d missed the smattering of freckles scattered over her nose and cheeks. Standing this close reminded him of the times they would disagree and have a silent standoff until one of them conceded. The bell rang again and she blinked.

      “I need to get to my students,” she said, sweeping past him to enter the building.

      Since she didn’t argue with his decision to be here, he took that as approval. He remained at his post for five more minutes. When no additional students showed up, he went inside. The warmth of the building made his fingers tingle. He’d never been a fan of the colder weather, even though he lived in DC, preferring tropical climates instead.

      He turned the corner to head to the main office. He’d already gone over the layout of the school and where Hannah’s classroom was located. After hanging his jacket in the small room that served as the security office, he checked the schedule on the desk. Time to patrol the halls.

      Just before he left the room, his cell phone rang. He smiled when he glimpsed his mother’s name on caller ID.

      “Hi, Mom.”

      “Derrick. So glad I caught you. I wasn’t sure if you’d answer the phone since you’re on vacation.”

      “For you, always.”

      “Here’s the thing,” she said getting right to the point. “I’m busy planning the wedding. It’s only weeks away and I’ve decided I want your opinion as I go along.”

      “Mine?”

      “Not just yours. Your brothers’, too.”

      “Why?”

      “This is such a big deal. I never imagined I’d ever get remarried. I thought your father and I would grow old together.”

      His throat went tight at the sorrow in his mother’s voice.

      “But here we are. And since things with James got off to a rocky start, I’d feel so much better if I could chat with you from time to time about my ideas.”

      How could he say no? This was an unexpected gesture he realized he couldn’t turn down. “Sure. Contact me any time you want.”

      He heard her sigh of relief. “Thank you. I know you’re off on some grand adventure, so I promise not to bother you too often.”

      “I mean it, Mom, any time.”

      “You’re a wonderful son. I wish you could find a woman to love.”

      “Mom,” he warned.

      “I know, I know, stay out of your love life. But still, a mother worries.”

      “Focus that energy on your wedding. It’ll be better spent planning the details.”

      “You’re right.” She drew in a breath. “Okay, panic over. Now, how is your trip?”

      “You know, same old.”

      “That doesn’t tell me a thing.”

      “Nothing to tell.” Yet. He hoped that would change in the near future.

      “Where—oh, James just walked in the door. I should run.”

      “Bye, Mom.”

      He hung up, thinking that despite the moment of sadness in her voice, his mother sounded good. Must be the excitement of the upcoming nuptials. He chuckled at the thought of his mother wanting his input. His steps echoed off the concrete walls as he walked down the deserted hallway lined with lockers. The familiar smell of paste, chalk and rubber erasers, mixed with the stringent odor of cleaning supplies, had him recalling his school years.

      He’d had a great childhood. Parents who had loved him, brothers who were his friends. His father had made sure to engage in an activity with each of his boys, making them feel connected in a special way. He and his dad had bonded over woodworking, his father teaching him how to use specialized tools to create mini works of art out of chunks of wood. The skill also came in handy when he had to make repairs around the house.

      It wasn’t until Hannah that he understood the meaning of romantic love. And the pain of losing that love. Hannah’s leaving had not only torn his heart apart, it had put a huge strain on his relationship with his father.

      When Derrick had confronted him after finding the Rawlings family gone, his father had remained silent. Derrick railed, asking if he had taken the information Derrick had confided in him and used it against the Rawlingses. His father had justified his actions by saying he was looking out for the best interests of the family. That he was a police officer sworn to uphold the law. Even though he never revealed what happened, they’d argued and a wide chasm had formed between them, lasting right up until the day his father suddenly died. Derrick had never repaired the relationship and it had haunted him ever since. He didn’t want that for himself and Hannah.

      He shook off the bitter memories as he stopped at the door to Hannah’s classroom. Peeked in through the window. Chalk held by slim СКАЧАТЬ