Chapter 3 #2
Another chill races down my spine and I fight the urge to turn around despite the persistent feeling that someone’s eyes are on me again.
It’s all in your head.
“No. The police haven’t updated me much, but last I heard, there were still no leads,” Erik answers before continuing, “But the show must go on, as they say. So, we’ve finally found a long-term replacement who will take over her position for the foreseeable future.”
For the foreseeable future? That sounds ominous, like a long-term solution to what they had all been hoping was a short situation.
Erik motions to the doors behind them all as the sound of someone entering through the large library doors reverberates through the cavernous space.
The entire staff swings around to look at the doors, and my breath gets caught in my throat.
Entering the room is the most attractive man I have ever seen.
He’s tall—very tall—with broad, muscular shoulders that are straining against the tight black T-shirt he’s wearing.
Over the T-shirt is a sharp black blazer that’s doing very little to hide the muscled package underneath.
Dark ink peeks out from all exposed areas, even his hands have small swirling designs.
Styled hair is swooped out of his face and equally dark hair dusts his chiseled jawline.
He is so ridiculously good looking that I let out an audible scoff, causing Catie to side eye me. Teachers do not look like that.
Who the hell is this guy and what does he think he’s doing here dressed like that?
But then his gaze meets mine, and I melt.
A set of sharp icy blue eyes stare straight at me, making me feel somehow both intensely hot and frigid cold.
Rationally, I know that we’re surrounded by a room of people, a room of colleagues, and yet, at that moment it feels like we’re the only two people there as I shamelessly stare at him.
The corner of his mouth kicks up into a smooth smirk, as if he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Something inside me swells and churns, making me suddenly very uncomfortable.
The back of my mind pricks with a loose thread of recognition but I can’t seem to unravel it to the source.
He’s mysterious but familiar. Warning bells are going off within my body, every instinct screaming at me.
And yet, I’m completely unable to turn away from him.
He breaks eye contact first, turning his gaze to the front of the room as he continues walking.
I hold my breath as he walks past to stand next to my principal.
A lingering smell of pine and smoke follows behind him.
He smells like a campfire. Comfort and unease wrapped up into a walking contradiction.
He turns and faces the staff with a small smile on his face. He looks as though he was trying to appear slightly uncomfortable and humble, but I can sense that it’s for show. The cocky asshole oozed confidence a moment ago as he strode past me.
Immediately, not a fan.
“This is Gabriel Parsons. He has years of experience working in corporate finance and cybersecurity, but he is also a licensed teacher, and when he read about Ms. Briggs going missing in the paper, he offered to fill in. We thought he’d make a great addition to the team here.
So, please join me in welcoming him.” Erik starts clapping and everyone follows suit.
Mr. Male Model and Tech Business Genius smiles and nods, holding up his hand in a small wave.
But then, his icy gaze falls on me again.
It feels as though I’m drowning in his stormy sea, legitimately drowning as I gaze into those eyes.
He reaches up a hand and brushes it against the dark stubble on his jaw as he smirks again.
A warmth begins to spread through my core at the sight of his large, thick fingers.
Erik continues talking and as Gabriel turns to sit, breaking out eye contact and snapping me out of whatever trance I’d just been under. I take a deep breath and manage to pull my eyes away from the tall, dark, and handsome newcomer just as my phone starts buzzing in my hand.
An alert of a text message buzzed across my lock screen.
HUBBY: Hey babe. Sorry again about this weekend, I promise I’ll be better. How’s work so far today?
A pit forms in my stomach as I read the message.
My husband had spent the weekend at his parent’s lake house.
He was supposed to return home yesterday afternoon, but hadn’t.
He claimed he’d had too much to drink to get home.
We fought. It wasn’t fun. Our marriage has been a little rocky lately in general, but I can’t really fathom why.
Things have just been…different…distant.
I don’t know what the problem is, so I don’t know how to fix it.
It’s been stressful. I worry my lip as I type and retype a reply, trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation.
And then I feel it—eyes watching me. A slow shiver creeps up my spine again.
Lifting my head, my eyes clash with a pair of pale blue irises.
He’s watching me closely, and he looks upset.
Forgetting all about my text, I shove my phone in my bag and shift my eyes back up front where Erik is still droning on about measures and outcomes.
I try my best to stay focused on the presentation, willing myself not to feel the heat of the eyes that were gazing upon me.
Eyes that I know, deep down, I’ve seen somewhere before.