If I Die
Page 62
I doubled back to pass the room again, and this time I stopped for a better look, because he had his back to the door. Em would have seen me if shed looked up, but that clearly wasnt going to happen. She looked practically enthralled.
Emma laughed at something he said, and he leaned forward to brush a strand of hair over her shoulder. His hand brushed her cheek and lingered while she stared up at him, and anger flared to life inside me, burning just beneath my skin. He shifted slightly on the desktop, his left thigh flexing and relaxing, and it took me a second to understand what I couldnt see very well from my current positionhe was slowly swinging his left leg, running his calf back and forth against her outer thigh.
Those flames of anger roared into a full-blown blaze, roasting me alive.
I pulled the door open, and they both looked up. Hello, Ms. Cavanaugh. Beck smiled at me without bothering to stand, and Emma looked first confused to see me, then irritated that Id interrupted, then surprised when she glanced at the clock over the door.
Yup, shed been charmed. Time to extract her from danger without looking like I knew she was in danger.
Hey, Mr. Beck. Keep it light and casual, Kaylee. Nothings wrong, youre just bored Can Em come out and play now?
Were kind of in the middle of a lesson. High scores in math are crucial if you want to get into a good college.
Scores, huh?
I propped both hands on my hips, half flirt, half challenge, stealing a page from Emmas playbook. Mr. Beck, are you aware that recent studies suggest a link between math overload and a variety of unfortunate medical conditions including restless leg syndrome, mad cow disease and erectile dysfunction?
Beck burst into laughter. Ill be careful, he said, still chuckling, and I had to remind myself that he was a predator. That whole young, approachable teacher act was like wearing camouflage in the woodshis prey would never see him coming.
Seriously, though, if youre done with her? Were gonna be late to work, I lied. Our shift didnt start for another hour and a half.
You two work together? Beck asked, finally standing to wave me into the room. I stepped inside and the door swung closed behind me, without the rubber wedge to hold it open. Emma and I were alone with Mr. Beckand suddenly I had an idea. The kind of idea I would never have even tried if I had more than two days to live, or any dignity left, after the spectacle Id just caused in the hall.
The kind of idea that never would have worked if hed had other optionsI wasnt gorgeous, as Sabine had pointed out. But I was there, and Beck was getting desperate, so if I were willing, and easy, and ready to share
I pasted on my bestLolita smile and propped my hands on what little hips I had. We do everything together, Mr. Beck.
Emmas eyes nearly popped out of her skull, and she seemed to shake off a bit of that charmed daze in surprise.
Do you now? His brows rose in interest like hed just noticed me for the very first time, and when he glanced from me to Emma and back, I knew I had him.
I nodded slowly, staring straight into his green eyes, and tapped my fingers on my own hip bones to draw his gaze where I wanted it. Where it probably would have landed anyway, eventually. Id learned that from Emma too, but never expected to actually use it.
Twos greater than one, Mr. Beck, I said, tilting my head to the right. Shouldnt a math teacher know that?
With absolute certainty. He didnt gawk or proposition me, like a guy my own age would have, and he certainly didnt look me in the chest, not that there was much to see there. But he had the ironclad confidence of a man whos never been turned down in his lifefor a very good reason.
Even without the hedonistic pull of his incubus charm, I could see why girls would fall all over him. Mr. Beck radiated a maturity and skill high school boys couldnt compete with.
He was dangerous. He was a predator. He waslooking right at me.
Kaylee? Beck frowned. You okay?
Yeah. I blinked, then crossed the room without breaking eye contact. I just never noticed how much gold there is in your eyes. You cant see them very well from the back row.
At the last minute, I veered away from him and toward Emma, who was staring up at him again. I leaned down to rest my chin on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist. You ready, Em? I whispered, still holding Becks gaze.
He looked starved.
Umyeah, I guess. But she made no move to stand so I pulled her chair back and closed the book on the desk.
I dont think were quite done here, Mr. Beck said, and my pulse spiked almost painfully. Emma needs some more practice. I could fit you in tonight he suggested, as I slid her textbook into her bag.
Em started to nod, her eyes lighting up again with eagerness, but I cut her off before she could agree.
We have to work, I reminded him, and he scowledas close to irritated as Id ever seen him. Tomorrow night? I said, dangling the jailbait in front of him. I think I could benefit from a little private instruction, too. You could teach us both at onceif youre up for it.
She frowned over my intrusion, but the heat in his eyes could have melted iron. Around eight?
Emma laughed at something he said, and he leaned forward to brush a strand of hair over her shoulder. His hand brushed her cheek and lingered while she stared up at him, and anger flared to life inside me, burning just beneath my skin. He shifted slightly on the desktop, his left thigh flexing and relaxing, and it took me a second to understand what I couldnt see very well from my current positionhe was slowly swinging his left leg, running his calf back and forth against her outer thigh.
Those flames of anger roared into a full-blown blaze, roasting me alive.
I pulled the door open, and they both looked up. Hello, Ms. Cavanaugh. Beck smiled at me without bothering to stand, and Emma looked first confused to see me, then irritated that Id interrupted, then surprised when she glanced at the clock over the door.
Yup, shed been charmed. Time to extract her from danger without looking like I knew she was in danger.
Hey, Mr. Beck. Keep it light and casual, Kaylee. Nothings wrong, youre just bored Can Em come out and play now?
Were kind of in the middle of a lesson. High scores in math are crucial if you want to get into a good college.
Scores, huh?
I propped both hands on my hips, half flirt, half challenge, stealing a page from Emmas playbook. Mr. Beck, are you aware that recent studies suggest a link between math overload and a variety of unfortunate medical conditions including restless leg syndrome, mad cow disease and erectile dysfunction?
Beck burst into laughter. Ill be careful, he said, still chuckling, and I had to remind myself that he was a predator. That whole young, approachable teacher act was like wearing camouflage in the woodshis prey would never see him coming.
Seriously, though, if youre done with her? Were gonna be late to work, I lied. Our shift didnt start for another hour and a half.
You two work together? Beck asked, finally standing to wave me into the room. I stepped inside and the door swung closed behind me, without the rubber wedge to hold it open. Emma and I were alone with Mr. Beckand suddenly I had an idea. The kind of idea I would never have even tried if I had more than two days to live, or any dignity left, after the spectacle Id just caused in the hall.
The kind of idea that never would have worked if hed had other optionsI wasnt gorgeous, as Sabine had pointed out. But I was there, and Beck was getting desperate, so if I were willing, and easy, and ready to share
I pasted on my bestLolita smile and propped my hands on what little hips I had. We do everything together, Mr. Beck.
Emmas eyes nearly popped out of her skull, and she seemed to shake off a bit of that charmed daze in surprise.
Do you now? His brows rose in interest like hed just noticed me for the very first time, and when he glanced from me to Emma and back, I knew I had him.
I nodded slowly, staring straight into his green eyes, and tapped my fingers on my own hip bones to draw his gaze where I wanted it. Where it probably would have landed anyway, eventually. Id learned that from Emma too, but never expected to actually use it.
Twos greater than one, Mr. Beck, I said, tilting my head to the right. Shouldnt a math teacher know that?
With absolute certainty. He didnt gawk or proposition me, like a guy my own age would have, and he certainly didnt look me in the chest, not that there was much to see there. But he had the ironclad confidence of a man whos never been turned down in his lifefor a very good reason.
Even without the hedonistic pull of his incubus charm, I could see why girls would fall all over him. Mr. Beck radiated a maturity and skill high school boys couldnt compete with.
He was dangerous. He was a predator. He waslooking right at me.
Kaylee? Beck frowned. You okay?
Yeah. I blinked, then crossed the room without breaking eye contact. I just never noticed how much gold there is in your eyes. You cant see them very well from the back row.
At the last minute, I veered away from him and toward Emma, who was staring up at him again. I leaned down to rest my chin on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist. You ready, Em? I whispered, still holding Becks gaze.
He looked starved.
Umyeah, I guess. But she made no move to stand so I pulled her chair back and closed the book on the desk.
I dont think were quite done here, Mr. Beck said, and my pulse spiked almost painfully. Emma needs some more practice. I could fit you in tonight he suggested, as I slid her textbook into her bag.
Em started to nod, her eyes lighting up again with eagerness, but I cut her off before she could agree.
We have to work, I reminded him, and he scowledas close to irritated as Id ever seen him. Tomorrow night? I said, dangling the jailbait in front of him. I think I could benefit from a little private instruction, too. You could teach us both at onceif youre up for it.
She frowned over my intrusion, but the heat in his eyes could have melted iron. Around eight?
