I take a deep breath, my palms clammy. This was not what I was expecting when Declan pitched the job to me, and now I’m not so sure how I feel about all of it. I’ve never been so conflicted in my entire life.
I quickly change and sweep my blond hair into a high ponytail before rolling up the sleeves of my white blouse. When I’m finished, I walk back to the garden, letting my bare feet sink into the soft earth.
Owen and Charlotte are desperately trying to keep the four-year-olds under control as they toss seeds everywhere. I can’t hide my smile at the chaos before me. It’s pandemonium, but it’s also joy.
“So much for an organized garden,” Charlotte huffs, frustrated.
“Perhaps the young ones would be better off on watering duty?” I offer, and both their heads swing in my direction.
Owen sweeps his gaze over my attire, the corner of his mouth kicking up. When his stare catches my feet, he arches a brow.
I ignore his silent question as Charlotte stands and takes my advice. “Time to water the flowers!” she yells, followed by enthusiastic squealing.
Owen gets up, dusting the dirt from his hands and knees. “Ready, Miss Riley?”
After I nod, he leads me to the flower garden, assigning me to pull weeds. The monotonous task has me lost in a meditative state. I revel in the dirt beneath my fingers. I’m so used to death and blood that planting life feels better than it probably should.
It doesn’t take long for the weeding to take an interesting turn when the light patter of water falls into my hair. The children hold hoses straight up, dousing everything like rain.
I smile at their laughter and soaked hair and clothes. Charlotte stands with her hands on her hips, but she's smiling and chuckling along with the children.
Too focused on the kids, I don’t notice Owen behind me until a strong stream of water pelts me in the back. As I swing around, I’m blasted in the chest with another.
Yelping, I dodge the stream, trying not to trample the plants in the process. My feet slide on the dirt that has suddenly become mud. Rushing forward, I grab a free hose as another stream of water hits my head, soaking my hair. My fingers curl around a free hose, and I turn on him. In an instant, his shirt is drenched.
Owen appears shocked, pausing his pursuit of me. But a devious grin soon replaces his surprise, and he runs toward me.
I squeal, laughing, and dart out of the way, shooting the water behind me, hoping to catch him as he speeds after me. We chase each other until every inch of us is dripping, but we still don’t stop, both of us wanting to best the other.
It takes Charlotte turning off the main valve to get the children to stop, including us. The water slows to a trickle from the head of the hose.
“Time for lunch!” she yells at the children, who run for the outdoor tables next to the school, leaving the hoses and sprawled seed packets where they are.
Dropping my hose, I put both hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. There is mud everywhere now. It covers every inch of the ground and travels up my borrowed overalls. Big, brown spots dot my white blouse and bare forearms. I reach up to find more mud caked in my hair, and I laugh.
Owen watches me with a smile large enough that his dimple is on full display. He’s covered in the same amount of mud, and his blue T-shirt clings to his body, revealing every detail of his muscular torso.
“You ruined my fun, you know,” I say, trudging toward him and in the direction of the building.
He raises a brow.
“I was quite enjoying my weeding duties,” I clarify.
He chuckles, stepping to my side. “Your smile would indicate our hose war was just as fun.”
I catch myself. He’s right. I’m smiling like a child. I quickly firm my lips into a straight line.
Owen catches me and laughs harder. “You seem like all business, Miss Riley, but you surprise me.”
I realize we’ve both stopped walking and are far too close to each other, but I find myself not wanting to move away.
“I know how to have fun, Mr. Mills.”
“Is that so?” he baits me, but I step back, and he lets me.
“Why a school?” I need to change the subject.
“These kids didn’t have a great start in life, and they can’t learn in high-stress situations. I wanted to give them a more relaxed place, with lots of time outside. They needed a safe place.”
