Ponderosa Day School was in the middle of a security upgrade. Relying on his innate power of persuasion, he asked to be sent there to assist the lone guard during the system upgrade. Thankfully, the owner agreed.
Now Derrick was on duty, bright and early on a clear and crisp Monday morning, good to go.
Until Hannah found him here. Then he expected fireworks.
He nodded at a group of girls. A buzz sounded and then a click as the door opened. Their laughter faded when the heavy door closed behind them. It was another freezing day, even with the sun shining. He rubbed his hands together and blew on them as a young boy strolled right up to him.
“Where’s Glen?”
“In his office.”
“You taking over?”
“No, just helping out.”
“You got training?”
Derrick fought back a grin. “Extensive.”
The boy nodded as if satisfied.
“I got my eyes on you,” the kid said, leveling Derrick with a serious gaze.
“Then I hope to live up to your expectations…?”
“Tommy. I run this place.”
“Do you? Then I’ll see you after school for a report.”
The boy’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Those of us who watch out for this place should compare notes.”
A bell rang. Tommy shifted his backpack. “I’ll be there.”
The boy hurried inside and Derrick allowed himself a small smile. As more children entered, he found he approved of the remote lock system. Those outside the building had to press a button to be allowed inside. A camera installed high in the corner at an angle facing the entrance offered the office staff a view of whoever wanted to gain admittance. Since this was a smaller school, the principal had informed him that the staff knew the parents or those permitted to come into the school on a child’s behalf. In the aftermath of school tragedies, Derrick was glad this administration implemented serious security.
Shaking off the cold, he scanned the parking lot. Fewer students were arriving now that the last bell was about to ring before classes. A gray sedan pulled into a slot and Hannah emerged from the car, wearing the same coat as yesterday. She zigzagged through the cars as she hurried up the sidewalk to the main door. She stopped abruptly when she saw him.
“Good morning, Miss Rawley.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Working.”
“You have a job.”
“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,