“Whatcha lookin’ at, Rae?”

I jump almost a foot off the ground at the sound of Beth’s voice. “Jesus H. Christ! You scared me!”

“I’d be scared too if I got caught ogling the new principal.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.

I roll my eyes and feign ignorance. “I was not ogling him. I just … didn’t want to disturb him. He looks busy.”

She flashes me a knowing smile before turning her attention back to the computer. “He’s definitely stressed, but I’m sure a pretty thing like you could cheer him right up.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why is that ridiculous? You’re divorced now, aren’t ya?”

“That’s not the point.” I lower my voice. “He’s a jerk.”

Her eyebrows lift as she turns to face me. “That man? Tall, dark, and Prince Charming?”

I nod. “Big, fat, jerk.”

“I can’t even picture it.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “He’s giving you chocolate, isn’t he?”

She averts her eyes and starts typing on her keyboard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m so disappointed in you, Beth.”

I’m only joking, and she knows it. Beth has had my back since my first day of my first year at Roosevelt Elementary. Not everybody in our school treats our secretary with the respect she deserves, and it’s a shame. She’s fiercely loyal and works harder than anyone I’ve ever known. This school would not survive without her.

I turn toward Jaxon’s office once again. He spots me before I lift my hand to knock.

Scrubbing his hand over his jaw, he says, “I don’t have time for whatever this is about, Raegan.”

I wave Joshua’s picture like a white flag as I enter his office. “I didn’t come to argue. I just wanted you to have this.”

He snatches the paper from my hand, but his expression softens as soon as he realizes what it is.

Without saying anything else, I turn to leave.

“Wait.”

I face him again and hold my breath, ready to absorb whatever he fires at me.

“Thank you for bringing this to me.” His eyes are sincere as they look into mine.

My guard lowers, just a little. “I figured you might need something to remind you of why you took this job.”

We remain in silence, staring into each other’s eyes. For a small moment, it’s like we’re not at odds with each other. For a small moment, I’m reminded why I’d felt attracted to him the first night we met.

Then his gaze drops and his hard mask returns. The moment is gone. “You can leave now. I have a lot of work to do.”