“You mean my jottings?Sure.”
He chuckled.“They’re a little more than that.I’ll round them out, like I promised.”
“I’m definitely holding you to that.As you can probably tell, some kinds of paperwork are not among my favorite things to do.”She opened the file in front of her, unpinned several sheets, then left the office, gently bathing him in her aroma.
In a couple of minutes, she handed him the copy and replaced the file on the desk.
“Since I don’t hear Natanya screaming, I take it she’s all right?”he asked when Lizette sat.
Waving with one hand, she quipped, “And making friends already.”
Some minutes later, after discussing his ideas for expanding the syllabus, Lizette took him to the lab.
Her computers were not the latest model, but more than adequate.No doubt, thanks to the twins.
“What time do I have the first batch of children?”
She checked her watch, then said, “In fifteen minutes.It’s the older ones, including Luca.They’re on Christmas break from school, and they’ve all had lessons before.”
“Sounds good.”He pulled out a chair at one station and lowered himself, still focused on the sheet in his hand.The second he sat, shooting pains ran through his butt, and he sprang up like a projectile.Before he could determine what was on the seat, Lizette squeaked and hung on to his arm.He swung around and grabbed hold of her with both hands to stop her from falling.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to mow you down.”His lips grazed hers as he spoke, and Lizette’s eyes widened into a stare he couldn’t interpret.Fear?Panic?Shock?He didn’t know which was the case.Then she blinked several times in quick succession, which restored his equilibrium.Somewhat.
“That’s okay, I …” Her voice trailed off, and he realized she was clutching his shirt as their breaths mingled and their bodies melded together.
If they weren’t in a classroom and their situation was different, he’d definitely … Shomari blinked, and his head cleared.He relaxed his grip, then released her, but not fast enough, because a piercing voice shattered the tense silence.“Auntie Lizette, were you kissing the new teacher?”
Chapter 8
Luca’sbrighteyessweptfrom Shomari’s face back to Lizette’s while she tried to get her bearings.Now, if only her heart would behave and stop imitating the speed of a runaway train.
Emily, who walked into the lab behind Luca, swallowed a smile and looked away.Lizette couldn’t blame her.She probably looked the same way she felt, like a wild animal about to be run over by a speeding vehicle.On her way past Luca, she rubbed his head.“No, I wasn’t kissing him.I was falling, and he helped me stay on my feet.”
His gaze turned suspicious, but he said, “Okay.”
Thankfully, Emily intervened.“Remember, you wanted to ask Uncle Shomari a question.”
“Yes.”He waved while Lizette hurried to the door.“Bye, Auntie.”
Glad to escape, she went straight to her office.Luca was a darling, but prone to asking awkward questions.His mom, Regina, and Zack were engaged six months after they met when he was overseeing the daycare while Lizette was away at a workshop.Luca was back with her for the holidays since his mom ran a catering business, and this was her busy season.
Behind the desk, Lizette called Miss Whorms to figure out a new date and time for their meeting.At the end of the call, she was still unsatisfied because the consultant would not commit to meeting this week.Sighing, Lizette rose from the seat.What was she going to do?Applying to run a school required a substantial amount of paperwork, which she couldn’t bring herself to sit still long enough to complete while managing Wintertime.Besides, she despised filling out forms.She tugged at one of her twists and paced the room, plotting her next move.She’d have to find someone else to assist with the process.She closed the door because if she left it open, the little ones tended to wander in to say hello.
Having resigned herself to what only she could do, she opened the filing cabinet and pulled out the paperwork she needed.Time crept by, and she was absorbed in studying the proposal she’d started when someone tapped at the door.
“Come.”
Shomari stepped inside and approached the desk.“You didn’t give me a schedule, so I came to ask about the next session.”
Pointing to the seat, she said, “How did this one go?”
His ready grin startled her, and she reached for a pen which she spun between her fingers.Only the greatest restraint prevented her from licking her lips at the memory of their almost-kiss.The cotton candy in her brain cleared when he answered.
“It was interesting.”He raised both eyebrows and chuckled.“They really are sponges and soak up everything you give them.And they never stop asking questions.”
“Wait until your daughter gets to that stage.”
“Natanya isn’t talkative.Not yet, anyway.”
