Free Fringe Benefits by Sandy James Page A

to give them any reason to look at you too hard. Sure, being department head isn’t a big deal, but it’s important to
me
. I want to move up in the world, hopefully be a principal one day. You think the school board would approve me for any administrative job if I got involved with someone under my supervision?”
    Nate’s lips thinned to a tight line.
    “And you and I both know that there’s also a difference in our ages, and not just a year or two.”
    “Not enough to matter to me,” he insisted.
    “It’s eight years, Nate. That’s a lot in my book.”
    The frustration of desire unquenched was bad enough, but now she had to deal with something she wasn’t at all used to.
    Self-pity.
    Dani folded her arms under her breasts. “I don’t want to fight about this anymore.”
    “We’re not fighting,” he said. “We’re…
discussing
.”
    “We’re
fighting
,” she insisted. “Which is exactly why we can’t do this. We have to work together, and now we have to live together. It’s better if we don’t complicate things. Okay?”
    He reached his hand out. “Dani, please.”
    “I mean it. We can’t do this. Not now. Not ever.”
    Nate heaved a sigh before he gave her a curt nod. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. I’ll be nothing but your colleague and your tenant. Happy now?”
    Dani nodded, glad she’d won.
    So why did she feel like crying?

Chapter Eight
    The next Saturday, Dani stepped out on her porch, cradling her cup of coffee between her hands. It was moving day for Nate, and she was worried about meeting his brother.
    A blue pickup was backing into the driveway as he signaled directions to the driver. A walnut bedroom set, a thick mattress, and a box spring were piled in the truck bed. Since the basement was furnished in every room but the bedroom, those items would be all he would need to settle in.
    “That’s it!” Nate smiled as he hopped up the porch steps. “Do I need a key?” His smile was better than caffeine to perk her up. “Or did you leave the door open?”
    “No key needed this time,” she replied. “But I do have your spare. It’s sitting on the kitchen island with the garage door remote. There’s a Post-it note on it with the keypad code.”
    A brunette with short, stylish hair exited the passenger side of the pickup while a tall blond guy jumped out of the driver’s side. The man looked like Nate with glasses, which meant he had to be his brother. She blinked, trying to clear her sleep-fogged brain so she could remember his name.
    Patrick.
    At least she wasn’t so old her memory was starting to go.
    The woman came to join Dani and Nate on the porch while Patrick popped open the truck’s tailgate.
    “You must be Nate’s mom.” Dani smiled, not sure whether she should shake the woman’s hand. Since she hadn’t known his mother was coming, she wasn’t at all prepared for what to say.
    “Guilty,” the woman replied, returning the smile. “I’m Jackie Brennan. You must be Danielle.”
    “Guilty,” Dani echoed. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
    “Oh, hell yeah.” Jackie nodded toward the truck. “Nate, go help your brother.” Then she glanced to Dani. “Where’s the door to the apartment?”
    Having no idea what Nate had told his mother about the basement suite, Dani could only reply honestly. Thankfully, he beat her to the punch.
    “There isn’t a separate entry, Mom. We can just carry stuff through the front door.” Directing his attention to Dani, he added, “We brought extra rugs to put on the floor to protect it.”
    “Thanks, but there’s no need,” Dani replied. “Robert brought over shrink wrap that movers use about half an hour ago. It’s ready to go.”
    Damn
. Now Jackie probably thought that she was OCD about her home. She was, but she didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with Nate’s mother.
    “Good thinking.” Jackie’s tone seemed genuine. “Now, about that coffee…”
    Relieved yet still nervous, Dani led Jackie