Playing at Love (15 page)

Jack laughed. “Not nearly enough. But we have
next
Friday,” he said, leaning in to kiss the side of her neck. He felt her tremble as her hands moved to clasp behind his neck.

“No, we don’t.” She breathed raggedly. “You have a game.”

“Naw,” Jack whispered, sweeping back her hair.

“Yes, you do.” Her breathing was becoming shallower as she tried to speak. “And…I have…something…?” She kissed him on the mouth.

“Some singing something?” Jack finished. Tess managed to nod. “Don’t worry,” Jack said, pulling her forward, “there’s no way I’d let you miss that.”

Chapter Seventeen

While her mixed ensemble class was split up in small sectional groups, Tess escaped to her office to check e-mails. There were about fifty, since she had been completely technology-MIA over the weekend. She rested her chin in her palm as she sifted through the messages, deleting spam and moving the others into their respective to-be-answered folders. There were two from Mackenzie, which were time stamped last night when they were supposed to be hanging out together. Tess had yet to check missed calls on her cell phone, and figured there was probably a scathing voice mail, too.

She would meet up with Mac at lunch. Or…maybe she would wander over to the gym and kind of drop by the coach’s office.

Stop daydreaming, Tess!
she muttered inwardly
. Who knows what will happen if you get caught over there!

But, why?
a little voice inside her chimed in
. What’s so wrong with being at the gym? It’s part of the school, isn’t it? Is there some rule that says I’m not allowed on any part of the campus? It’s a free country, isn’t it? I ought to march over there right now, just because I can.

There was a tap on the door and Tess bolted to her feet.

“Jo?” One of her altos opened the door a crack. “I think everyone’s ready.”

“Oh,” Tess said after a quick throat-clear. “Great. I’m…coming.” After the student left, Tess breathed out slowly and smoothed down the front of her dress.

It was a nice distraction to teach the mixed ensemble a new song. They were having trouble with the Latin pronunciations, but that was another part of the teaching puzzle that Tess loved. She knew if they had a basic concept of Latin, it would help them later on in their Spanish or French classes.

When the bell rang for the lunch hour, Tess was out the door almost as soon as the last student exited. She needed fresh air more than anything and thought she might suggest to Mac that they take a stroll down to the football field. You know, for a change in scenery.

Just as she was rounding the corner to go out a back exit of the building, she was grabbed by the elbow and pulled aside. When she teetered on a heel, an arm was suddenly around her waist.

“What—”

“I’ve been following you,” Jack whispered, sweeping her inside a dark storage room. He closed the door, then leaned against it. Only a sliver of light was sifting in through the two-inch crack at the bottom of the door. “It’s about time you finally went somewhere private. I was about to make a scene.”

“We can’t stay in here,” Tess said, glancing around the dark space at the shelves of books and cubbyholes of loose colored paper. “Teachers use this room.”

“Not right now they don’t,” he said, turning the lock on the knob while never taking his eyes off her.

“Jack,” Tess said disapprovingly, though unable to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up.

“Come.” He pointed at the floor in front of him. “Here.” But he didn’t give her a chance to move on her own. A second later, he pounced forward and his mouth was covering hers.

Her back hit the shelf and she heard papers skid to the floor. She gave a soft laugh, holding onto his neck. They looked at each other in the dimness for just a moment before Tess grabbed his face and pulled him in.

The air felt thin in that tiny room, and Tess was breathing hard, half wondering if she was going to run out of oxygen. She ran her hands down the front of his shirt, frowning at all the buttons. Why was today the day he decided to not wear a Grizzlies T-shirt? She heard him chuckle as he dipped his head, kissing the most sensitive parts of her neck. Fearing that her knees might buckle, she slid her arms around his waist, holding herself against him.

When he was through with her neck, Jack lifted both hands, combing his fingers, almost roughly, through her hair. Tess closed her eyes and moaned at the sensation. His hands slid down her sides, landing low on her hips. His warmth burned through her cotton dress.

When she managed to come up for air, she looked around. “Where?” She looked at him for help. “How…?”

Jack shook his head. “I have a meeting in five minutes, so I can’t really”—he exhaled—“stay.”

“Oh.” Tess felt herself frowning while her heart was still beating so fast she almost couldn’t catch her breath.

Jack kissed her once then kept his nose on her cheek. “I just…I had to see you today.” His hands were combing through her hair again. “I can’t think about anything else.”

“Neither can I.”

He touched his forehead to hers, his hands holding the back of her neck. “So,” he said after a minute, as his thumbs brushed across her cheeks, “how was your morning?”

Tess laughed softly, wrapping her fingers around his wrists. She felt the cords of long muscles and veins. “Uneventful,” she said. “Yours?”

He took a beat. “Grueling.”

He opened his arms and Tess fell into him, sighing in blissful pleasure as he held her in a hug, her head resting against his chest.

“I missed the meeting,” she said.

“I noticed. What happened?”

Tess shrugged in his arms. “I couldn’t find my black, um, bra.”

“You mean the one—”

“Yeah,” she said, blushing, not needing for him to verbally replay the little fashion show she’d put on for him the night before. Totally embarrassing in the light of day. She felt his hands sweep her hair off the back of her neck.

“Did you eventually find it?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

Tess looked up at him. “Yes. I’m sure you know where I”—she cleared her throat—“
left
it.”

He grinned down at her. “Mm-hmm. I remember that part
very
well.”

She narrowed her eyes. “So? You have a meeting in five minutes?”

“And another after that,” he confirmed, eyeing her skeptically. “Why?”

“Hmm.” She bit her lip then leaned her whole body weight against him. “I’m afraid you might be late.”

…

Jack flicked on the light switch to find Tess blinking up at him. He would never get over that look: her cheeks dewy and flushed, her eyes bright, and her hair a wavy tangle over her shoulders. He couldn’t help smiling, knowing he’d done that.

“Is my makeup smudged?” she asked, riffling around the bottom of her purse. “I didn’t think I would need a mirror.” She glanced up at him, tucking her hair behind her ears. “How do I look?”

“Sexy,” he answered without a thought.

Tess lowered her purse. “Be serious.”

“What? You asked and I told you.”

She rolled her eyes. “I mean, do I look…presentable?”

“Completely indecent,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll be able to leave this storage closet ever.” He folded his arms and grinned at her. “We might have to live in here.”

They both turned their heads when they heard the first warning bell. Jack looked down at his shirt, making sure the buttons were all in their correct holes.

“You look perfect,” he told Tess, reaching out to adjust the shoulder strap of her dress. He couldn’t help noticing how she inhaled a little shudder. He smiled again, knowing his touch could make her feel that way.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping up to him.

He was glad they had time for one last kiss.

“Ready?” he asked.

She stood up straight and gripped her bag. “Ready.”

Jack turned and opened the door just a crack. Luckily they were in a pretty obscure wing of the main building, down a hall by the backdoor exit. When the coast was clear, he waved to Tess to come out.

She breezed by him and started to walk down the hall at a pretty brisk clip. Jack caught up and strolled by her side.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, barely moving her lips.

“Walking next to you,” he said simply.

“Why?”

“Because if I tried to walk behind you at a moment like this, I would trip over my own feet.”

Tess giggled then covered it with a quick throat clear. “I meant, why are you going this way?” She tilted her head to the side. “The gym is that way.”

“But my meeting is”—he tilted his head forward—“
this
way.”

“Oh.” Tess smiled. “Got it. If that’s the case, then I’ll get to watch
you
walk from behind.”

The way she smiled at him with just a hint of an eyebrow arch made Jack want to drag her into the next closet they came to. “So,” he said, trying for a conversational tone, “I talked to Jenna this morning on my way into work.”

“Yeah?” Tess said. “How is she?”

“She’s great, thanks. I found out why she quit ballet.” He chuckled. “You’re going to love this.”

“Why?” Tess asked, looking at him sidelong.

“She wants to take singing lessons.”

Tess stopped walking in the middle of the hallway, took a beat, then burst out laughing. “You’re kidding?” she said, her hands covering her mouth.

“Not even a little.” Jack couldn’t resist joining in the laugh. “Her elementary school doesn’t have a music program but I told her I know someone with connections.” He lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t happen to give private singing lessons, do you?”

“No,” Tess answered as they started walking again. “But I know someone who does. In fact, the teacher I had when I was in high school runs her own music studio now. It’s on the outskirts of town so it’ll be even closer to where Jenna lives.” She furrowed her brow. “Her evening classes are usually pretty full but I can talk to her if you’d like.”

“Thanks. That’s very kind of you,” Jack said, his gaze slipping to her mouth for just an instant.

Tess cleared her throat. “I’ve been meaning to drop by her studio and catch up with her. Maybe I’ll do that tonight.”

“
Tonight?
” Jack echoed then lowered his voice. “Are you…” He glanced over his shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t already have
plans
tonight?”

“Jack,” she said patiently. Then she reached out and touched his arm, making it look like she was just flicking off a piece of lint. “My
plans
tonight are to rehearse with my show choir and then sleep for about ten hours, since I didn’t sleep at all over the weekend.”

The way she was playfully glaring sent very pleasant warmth through his body.

“But I’ll stop by Eva’s studio tonight and see what I can do.”

“Okay,” Jack said, trying very hard not to look at her mouth. “If you’re sure.”

“For tonight.” She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“Fair enough.” He pointed forward. “Your classroom.”

“Oh.” Tess looked at the door, seeming surprised at where they were.

“Have a nice afternoon, Ms. Johansson,” Jack said as a group of students walked by. “If you need to know where
I’ll
be tonight, you can find me at the pool…practicing my breast stroke.”

He loved the way her eyebrows slowly lifted a fraction of an inch and her lower lip jutted out. Her sad puppy expression was priceless, and Jack planned on picturing that face through the entire afternoon practice.

…

As she opened the front door, Tess heard a piano and violin duet coming from a back room. She tiptoed in, waving to a waiting mother sitting on a couch in the foyer. She hadn’t been to Eva’s studio in almost a year, but it looked pretty much the same: a large bust of Beethoven in the corner, posters covering the walls that denoted the C major scale, racks of sheet music, one wall lined with acoustic guitars, and three rehearsal rooms in the back.

She sifted through a box marked “half priced” for fifteen minutes before Eva and a blond girl of about fifteen walked out. Eva spoke to the mother for a few moments before the mother and daughter left.

Eva checked her watch, patted the side of her nest of gray hair, and then glanced up when Tess set down a book.

“Miss Johansson,” she said, removing her glasses. “
What
did Victor Hugo say about music?”

Tess grinned and threw back her shoulders. “‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’”

Eva smiled, her soft blue eyes crinkling with age and wisdom. “Very good.” She walked to Tess with her arms outstretched. “How has my very favorite graduate been?” she asked as they hugged.

“Fine,” Tess said, holding out her hand and tilting it to the right and left. “
Comme ci, comme ça
.”

“I’ve been following the story in the paper.” Eva tsk-ed her tongue. “Shame what they’re doing at the school.” She looped her arm through Tess’s. “How can they even
think
about getting rid of the music program, let alone the show choir?”

Tess let herself be led into Eva’s private office. “I don’t know. It’s unfathomable.”

Eva patted her hand. “How are you holding up? Cup of tea?”

“That’d be great,” she said. “Thanks.”

Eva plugged in an electric kettle and kicked off her low-heeled shoes. With a deep exhalation she slid her feet into a pair of slippers. “Funny,” she said, “my voice and fingers have never given me trouble. Who knew my knees would be first to give out?”

“Are you feeling okay?” Tess asked with concern, noticing that her beloved teacher was moving just a little bit slower than the last time she’d seen her.

“Oh, yes,” Eva said, pulling two cups out of a drawer. “It’s been a long day. Stephanie, the girl who just left, she was my last of the night.”

“Any good?”

“Tolerably. Doesn’t practice enough. They’re all boy-crazy at that age, as you know.” She gave Tess a meaningful glance. “And now I’m competing for their time with things called
Words With Friends
and
Angry Birds
.”

Tess laughed. “I’m familiar with those. I usually confiscate at least one cell phone a week.” She shook her head. “It’s a problem.”

“Have a seat, Tess,” Eva said as she lowered herself into a padded swivel chair behind a desk. “I always love when you come for a visit but I can’t help thinking something is on your mind.”

“I’m here for a friend, actually,” Tess said. “He’s got an eight-year-old daughter who wants voice lessons.”

“Friend?” Eva asked as she dropped a teabag in each of the cups.

“Uh, yeah,” Tess replied, rubbing her nose distractedly. “She lives in Bakersfield and her school doesn’t have a program. He asked if I knew anyone and of course I thought of you.”