“You shouldn’t have to be used to it.Isn’t it time they grew up?How old are they, forty?”
“Better not let them hear you say that.They’re my age.Thirty-six.”
He smiled.“You’re still a baby.”
“I’m not a baby, you’re just middle-aged.”
His eyebrows shot up.“Middle-aged?”His eyes twinkled.“You’ll pay for that, little one.”
He walked toward Natalia and Brittany with his hand extended.A scant few seconds later, he escorted them to the door.“It’s my policy that parents do not watch practice from inside the pool area.Please feel free to avail yourself of a seat in the lobby until practice is over.”
I stood with my mouth hanging open as he walked toward me, stopping only to tap my chin with the tip of his finger.
I shook my head.“That was amazing.”
“You’ll find I’m a traditional man, and it’s a man’s job to take out the trash, little spitfire.”
I barked out a shocked laugh as I watched him walk toward the students.
The practice went off without a hitch and I managed to avoid the Brady Bunch until the very end.
Daire had the kids gathered together while the other two teachers rushed to get ready before the students.He was a nurturer, an encourager, which made him an ideal coach.
It would also make him a wonderful father.
I stood by the wall, squeezing the excess water out of my hair while keeping an eye on the group in case anyone got any bright ideas about getting back into the water.
“Do you have designs on our new teacher, Harley?”
Angry with myself for automatically freezing at the sound of her voice, I turned slowly to face Natalia and Brittany.Unfortunately, with how close they stood to me, I had to tip my chin up to meet their eyes.
“Thank you so much, Harley,” Daire’s deep voice came from behind me.
I whirled around and stared up into his handsome face.He looked over my head at Natalia and Brittany, ice in his eyes.
“Am I right, Natalie?Breanne?I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say how grateful we are that Harley went out of her way to make this space available to the swim team.”
Natalia recovered first.“Of course.We were just telling her that.”
I turned back to her.“Yes, you were saying?”
Her eyes narrowed imperceptibly.“Thank you for your hospitality.These kids worked really hard to make it onto the swim team.Not everyone is cut out for it, as you know.We’re grateful we had you for our backup.”
Her subtle insults found their mark, as it always did, only now I refused to let her see,
Daire held his arm out toward the changerooms.“Ladies.We can’t have the kids out there waiting unattended.I’ll remind you that parents are not permitted on the pool deck.”
“Of course,” Natalia purred, her saccharine smile making my teeth ache.And that was saying something.
They swung their hips the whole way out the door, but their intended audience had his eyes on me.
“Am I still on probation or are you ready to take a chance?”
“I want to.I wantyou,” I admitted.
Do you have designs on our new teacher, Harley?
Physically, we were wildly mismatched.
