Page 8 of Spying Under the Mistletoe
Mathilda releases a long sigh—the kind you hear before someone shares bad news—and I brace myself for what’s coming next.
“Unfortunately, the school had to cancel. The principal just phoned to tell me the sad news.”
“So, no concert?” Samuel asks.
Mathilda shakes her head in a drawn-out movement. “Sorry, no concert.”
“What if we get someone else to do it?” I ask.
“I don’t know who else to ask. Millwood Elementary School has been doing it for as long as I can remember.”
“I might have an idea,” I say, my mouth moving faster than my brain can keep up. I really hadn’t meant to say my thoughts out loud.
The four men look at me like I’ve just promised them ice cream with a whiskey chocolate sauce for dessert.
Oops.
3
Landon
“Principal Woodnut will see you now,”the school secretary tells me. I’ve been sitting in the office waiting room for the past five minutes.
Long enough for memories of my childhood to power skate through my thoughts. Although back in those days, I wasn’t waiting to see the principal because of my job.
And detention was often the outcome.
The secretary nods at a door across from her desk. I push myself to my feet and walk over to it.
The door’s opened a crack. I open it farther and step inside a bright and cheery office. The furniture is a dark wood veneer. That’s the only noncolorful item in here.
A woman who looks like she’s been teaching since dinosaurs went extinct sits behind the desk, a sparkle in her eyes.
Behind her, on the bookshelf, are hardback editions of numerous kids’ books I recognize. Liam’s wife is both a teacher at the school and a New York Times bestselling author of middle-grade fantasy.
“I take it you know Ava.” The older woman gestures to Liam’s wife. Ava’s been teaching second grade here for the past four years and was able to provide me with more information about the woman I’m supposed to be dating than the FBI shared with Liam…only Chloe doesn’t know that.
The plan is for me to get to know Chloe as quickly as possible and become her boyfriend. But she’s not supposed to know the plan. It’s got to look real.
Ava smiles at me, but her thoughts are clearly conveyed in her eyes. She’s not thrilled I’ll be keeping the real reason I want to date Chloe a secret from her friend. Chloe will get hurt if she falls for my irresistible charm.
Ava’s words, not mine.
But she also doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her friend, so she’s going along with the lies. Liam did mention, though, that she threatened to stick thumbtacks in my balls if I hurt Chloe.
Good to know—since I happen to be quite fond of my balls.
I shut the door behind me and give Ava a quick hug. She’s like a sister to me—only a lot less annoying than my biological ones can be.
“I spoke with your boss this morning,” Principal Woodnut says, “as well as the FBI. I’ll admit this is highly unorthodox. Do you even have teaching experience?”
Plenty, just not in the way she’s hoping. “No, but I do have a degree.”
“In what?”
“Electrical engineering.”
“Hmm. Not exactly useful when it comes to working with kindergarteners.”
