Her Imaginary Husband (Contemporary Romance) Read Online Free PDF

be disgusting, Nikki. How are his funds?”
    Nikki ground the heel of her palm into her eyes. “I’m not privy to the financial records of my colleagues, Ma. He must be making more than I am, though. He’s been teaching for a while.”
    “Is he old?”
    “No, not old. Just older than I am.”
    “Well, you’re not getting any younger. If he’s single, you should make a move.”
    “Ma—”
    “It’s nice talking to you, Honey. I do wish you’d initiate the call sometimes, though.”
    Not likely. “Sorry, Ma. I’ve been crazy busy.”
    “Just don’t be too busy to find a nice man.”
    “Yes, Ma.” The connection died and Nikki rested the phone so it balanced on her nose and forehead. “Meriwether, you are infinitely less aggravating than my mother, even when you yerp in my shoes.”
    Meriwether purred loudly, and the sound blended into the vibrating phone. Nikki gingerly lifted the phone a few inches above her face and stared at the screen somewhat cross-eyed.
    I’ll call you tomorrow. A text from her mother.
    Nikki dropped the phone over the side of the bed and promptly fell asleep.

8~Stupid Bee!
     
    Nikki hit the snooze button twice before finally getting up to realize she’d never changed into her pajamas. She showered and dressed in six minutes. Grabbing a pair of flats in one hand and her purse with make-up kit in the other, she rushed to the car. There, she slipped on her shoes and applied her mascara while her ten-year-old car warmed up. She studied her reflection. Even in the dim light, she really did look about eighteen years old. Oh well. She’d be thrilled about that when she was forty. All the same, she pinched the skin beside her eyes, willing just a few wrinkles to appear. Who’ll take me seriously as an authority figure if I look like their lab partner?
    Running up the back steps of the school, she ducked her head trying to avoid eye contact with Officer Ross. No luck.
    “So, Coach Fallon, are you planning on taking your class running again today?”
    “Huh? Oh. No.” She flailed her hand and opened the door. “That’s a special thing for the first day,” she said sheepishly, glancing down at her feet. Oh. My. Gosh. She had grabbed mismatched shoes—one black and one blue. Nikki stared heavenward. “What did I ever do to You?”
    “What?”
    Her gaze snapped back to Ross, and she tried to stand in such a way that her feet were behind her, which resulted in a strange lean that closed the door on his face.
    He looked at her through the little window in the door, a bemused smile on his lips.
    “Gaaah!” She gargled in frustration and shuffled as fast as she could to room 31.
    Ten minutes later, students started arriving, and Nikki could hear them out in the hall. She couldn’t go out there with these shoes! How was she going to teach?
    The door across the way opened, and Gayle came out. “Hey, how’d that first day go? And how come you didn’t join us for lunch in the department lounge?”
    “We have a lounge?”
    She gestured with her thumb at the room she’d just left. “It’s smaller than a walk-in closet, but it’s ours. It’s got a secret stash of Lunchables, too.”
    “Lunch! I forgot to pack lunch!”
    “Well, you can brave the cafeteria or come hide out with us. See you then? I want to hear all about your first day.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there.”
    “Watch out,” she said, glancing down the hall. “Here comes Trouble.”
    Nikki turned to find Will approaching with a lop-sided grin. “You know,” he said, drawing out the word in a long note. “You really are supposed to check your mailbox in the office, Mrs . Fallon.” He held out a stack of memos and envelopes to her. Just as she was about to take them, he snapped them back to his chest protectively. “But I am happy to deliver them to you if you ever find yourself running behind schedule.”
    Nikki grabbed for them. “Thank you, Coach Carlin. That’s very considerate and totally