“Poppy!” Belle runs up as I let the bundle of womanly curves slide to the floor. My gaze runs over her, from her tall, high-heeled boots—no wonder she tipped on the chair—to her faded jeans and long-sleeved green T-shirt that matches her eyes. Wild reddish curls are tamed in a messy bun. My fingers ache to brush back the soft tendrils of hair escaping around her face. She smells like sunshine and…yes, berries. I want to know if it’s her shampoo. Her shower gel. Her lotion. Or just her.
“H-hi.” Poppy’s face suffuses with pink, causing her freckles to stand out in relief.
Meeting those wide eyes, I struggle to find my voice.
In lieu of a greeting, I reach up and grab the container of brushes she’d been trying to reach. When I hand it to her, our fingers touch.
Her breath draws in, making me wonder if, like me, she feels the spark of electricity.
I can’t seem to break free from her gaze until Belle tugs at my shirt.
“Yes?” I ask, without looking away from Poppy.
“All the mommies are staring at us.”
“Oh!” Poppy says as her gaze finally breaks free. I turn to find the parents staring, their mouths open, eyes as wide as Poppy’s had been.
Shit. So much for making a quiet entrance and exit.
Poppy comes to life in a flurry of agitated movement. “Children, take your seats. We’ll get started in just a few minutes.”
Belle is bouncing in pleasure, all her shyness gone. “Are you really the art teacher?”
She grins at Belle. “I certainly am, little one.”
“I thought you taught at the elementary school,” I say.
“I do. Also. When our school stopped teaching art classes, Sadie helped me start these lessons after school and on weekends. It’s small, but we’re hoping to make up for a little of what the children lost. Art is so important.”
“We came into the store and bought paints and books and Biscuit, my new puppy,” Belle says.
Poppy’s eyes widen.
“Her newstuffedpuppy,” I clarify.
“Ah, got it.” She grins.
“Sadie, the nice lady with the mermaid hair, told us about your class.”
“Hmm. She does have awesome blue hair.”
As if on cue, Sadie sticks her head into the doorway.
“You doing okay in here?” she calls out cheerily.
“All good,” Poppy says.
Sadie winks, then disappears back to the main shop.
“You better make your escape before you start a riot with the parents.” I turn to see several women taking photos. The others are looking on with glazed eyes. Several dads seem to be gearing up to approach.
Normally, the attention doesn’t bother me. Much. I’ve learned to block it out. But I don’t want it to impact my daughter.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I ask Belle.
“Of course. I’ll be with Poppy.”
I nod and pat her shoulder awkwardly. She tugs at my shirt. I lean down, and she surprises me with a kiss on my cheek. In the last month, she’s taken to hugs, but this is the first kiss I’ve gotten. I swallow a fiery ball of emotion.
