An image flashed through her mind—her and Tinker in a bed, a camera on a tripod pointed at them. She didn’t think it was possible to feel even hotter, but a bead of sweat formed at her temple. “I—. I’m?—.”
Tinker laughed again. “Good night, Abby.”
“Good night.” Her voice came out high pitched and squeaky as the phone went dead. She stared at the blank screen for several seconds before tossing it on the bedside table.
He was diabolical. He put that image in her head and then just said goodnight. Like she was supposed to get any sleep with thoughts of his bare ass moving up and down. Clenching as he thrust.
Oh god. She flipped the lamp off and flopped down on her side, punching the pillow for good measure. It was a long while before her brain shut off and she was able to fall asleep.
Here to help
Tinker watched as the man behind the reception desk punched a few numbers on the phone, messed up, hung up, and started the whole process over again.
He glanced up at Tinker before turning his chair slightly and cupping his hand around the mouthpiece of the receiver. It didn’t help.
“Can you come to the front office, please? There are some…” He glanced at Tinker from the corner of his eye. “Some people here to see you.
“I don’t care! Just get here now!” He replaced the receiver in the cradle and turned back to the front, now with the fakest smile Tinker had ever seen plastered on his face.
“She’ll be a moment.” He folded his hands primly on the desk.
“Uh-huh. Thanks.” Tinker knocked on the counter and the guy jumped. Tinker rejoined James and Ben at the front of the reception office.
They’d both agreed to meet Abby to discuss helping with her showcase. He’d sent her a couple of messages earlier in the afternoon to let her know but hadn’t heard back. She probably wouldn’t be comfortable with two strange guys showing up, saying we’re here to help, so he’d come to help with introductions.
“Jumpy little fella,” James said.
“Think it’s the vests?” Nick asked in a low voice.
“Could be,” James said. “Could be he’s just twitchy.”
Tinker grunted as movement at the door caught his attention. Abby and another woman pushed through the glass door. Abby’s hair was twisted up and held with a clip, a pencil sticking out of the knot.
She glanced between the twitchy guy behind the counter and Tinker. “Hi…what are you doing here?”
“You said you needed help with your showcase,” he said.
“Uh, I did. Who are they?”
He pointed at the man next to him. “This is Nick, he’s an electrician, and this is James, he’s a wood working genius. I sent you a couple of messages earlier about them coming, but I guess you didn’t get them.”
She shook her head. “I’ve had my phone on silent all day.”
A door with a placard that read “Principal” opened, and a man in a suit and tie exited with a couple who stared at the group of men with startled expressions.
“Uh…Phillip, can you please escort Mr. and Mrs. Garcia out?” the suit asked the guy at the reception desk.
“Of course,” Phillip said, standing quickly and gesturing for the couple to follow.
Tinker and his friends stepped back so the couple could pass. Abby’s mouth twisted as they walked by, but he wasn’t sure why.
“Abby,” the suit said. “Who are your guests?”
Abby squared her shoulders. “Oh, right. They’re here to help with the showcase. Since Penny is out on maternity leave, we need outside help this year. They’ve kindly cleared their schedules to help. This is Christian, and Nick, and James.” She pointed at each man in turn. “Gentlemen, this is the principal of the school, Isaac Newton.”
James, the oldest of them, held out his hand. “Your parents were physicists?”
Newton smiled wryly and shook James’s hand. “No, but they had high hopes for me. Unfortunately, theoretical physics didn’t interest me, and I went into mechanical engineering before switching to teaching. We really appreciate your help, gentlemen. This showcase is a big deal for a lot of our students and the highlight of our school year. The school doesn’t have a football team, but if we did, this would be our homecoming game.
