“Yep,” Lyra confirms, “Mr. Ice said Mr. Dirty is going to be making his chili.”
I blink as Alan looks my way, his hardness all gone, a smile in place, and I am completely confused right now.
“You know my daughter?” I ask the obvious, and the man chuckles, “Yeah, but normally it’s Matty bringing and picking her up. You must be Ms. Robins?”
I nod and mumble, “Yeah, uh, Holly. Ice told me to come to the clubhouse around five-ish.”
“Alright, I’ll give him a call and then buzz you in. Dirty should meet you both outside,” he says, and I nod and mutter, “Uh, thanks,” confusion still filling me.
My daughter is friends with people I have never even met before.
I don’t know how I feel about that.
After a few minutes, Alan opens the gates just as Caleb rushes out of the front door and I drive through while Lyra, in the back, waves at Alan as we drive past.
The noise from my car gets louder and I wince as I pull up next to Caleb, standing next to who I’m guessing is Dirty but I don’t pay him any mind. My sole focus is not running over a child and thinking of a plan to just drop Lyra off, then go again, not wanting to impose.
Maybe I can lie and say I’ve booked my car into the garage.
Crap, isn’t Caleb’s dad an owner of a garage?
Just as I turn off the ignition, my thoughts running wild, Lyra shouts, “Hi, Mr. Dirty,” from the back seat, and I chuckle at her excitement and say, “Go on then,” and she squeals as she climbs out of her seat and opens the door, only for Caleb to be there to help her out.
Shaking my head, I follow suit and climb out of the car, focusing on the kids celebrating that their plan—one I soon realized they formed at break time—has kind of worked. Still, I don’t plan on staying, though, for months, Caleb has wanted me to meet his father, and I guess he’s now getting his wish.
Caleb says, “Ms. Robins!” with excitement like he didn’t see me all day, and I giggle before saying, “Hi Caleb.”
“Are you ready for some of Dad's chili?” he asks excitedly as Lyra rushes over and my mouth parts in shock as the figure beside me kneels, and my shy little girl throws herself at the man I’ve never met, and I can’t help the gasp that escapes me.
I’ve never seen her react this way to a man before, not even Matty, and I have to admit, I am really confused.
The man holds her tightly, and all I see is the top of his man bun, and I swallow hard.
Does she see him as a father figure?
Do I need to cut her time with Caleb outside of school down?
Is she attaching herself to him?
Crap, she’s not going to like having her play dates cut down.
I turn slightly, and I give Ice a tight smile, noticing him by the door, and he smiles back before I turn to Caleb and, clearing my throat, I admit, “Actually, Caleb, I was just dropping Lyra off. I thought I could come pick her up in a few hours.”
The light in Caleb's eyes instantly dips, and I hate myself instantly while the man beside me looks my way and, without meaning to, we lock eyes, dark blue ones instantly trapping me, and oh holy crap, my stomach tightens.
Oh my…
I can feel my pulse hike up as I stay locked in with him, the attraction, the sparks, instantly there, even with the beard and man bun, something I never thought I would be into, but here we are.
I want him.
Oh crap, crap, crap.
I’m instantly drawn to him. I want to throw myself at him, but he’s my student’s father.
Oh no, What am I doing, lusting after a student’s father?
No, no, nope.
