“Eight-thirty,” she confirmed.
“See you then.Have fun with your puzzle, Cassidy, and good luck thinking up a genetics question I can’t answer, Noah.”
He merely nodded to her, flashing her one of those sexy smiles of his that completely undid her.Her face heated up in response.Of course it did.She always blushed when he smiled at her.
Noah watched the door close.“I like him,” he announced and went back to his notebook.
Cassidy said nothing.But she was smiling secretively at whatever she was writing.
She might have a serious problem on her hands.Because she liked him, too.
On Monday the kids asked, with studied casualness, if they could come to her office after school instead of going to the diner.
Bonnie said yes because she wasn't born yesterday and it was easier to observe Gray’s interactions with her children from close range than to wonder about it from a distance.
Noah came through her office door at a dead run after school, backpack half off one shoulder, spiral notebook clutched against his chest.Poor Gray.
Behind him, at a brisk walk, came Cassidy.She pointed accusingly at Noah.“I told him he’s supposed to walk into official buildings and not run.”
“Noted,” Bonnie said with a tiny smile.
Privately, she was pleased that Noah didn’t let Cassidy boss him around.At least not all the time.It was good for Noah to be independent and good for Cassidy not to always get her way.
Noah dropped into the chair beside her desk and demanded, “Has Gray been here today?”
“No, he hasn’t.”
Noah's face lit up.“He might still come.It's only four o'clock.”
“He’ll come,” Cassidy said with serene certainty, settling at her table by the window and pulling out her homework.
“I have TWELVE questions,” Noah announced, opening the notebook.
“Do your homework, Noah,” Bonnie said.“If Gray stops by, then you can think about your questions.”
“But the questions ARE ...”
“...not your homework.You're in second grade.Do the actual homework your teacher sent home.”
Noah pouted but pulled a rumpled worksheet out of his backpack.Cassidy finished her homework quickly and took out a new library book.
“He may not come in today,” she said, mostly to herself.
“There's still time,” Cassidy said calmly, turning a page.The certainty in her voice was either genuine or an extremely good performance.Bonnie’s money was on the latter.Cassidy was nearly as eager to talk with Gray again as Noah was.
The hallway door opened.
Noah leaped to his feet.
Grayson walked in carrying a manila envelope and wearing what Bonnie privately identified as his office clothes: pressed and starched shirt, dark jeans, the belt buckle she'd since learned was a prize for qualify for the World Rodeo Championships in saddle bronc riding a few years back.Gray murmured a greeting to Cassidy and glanced down at Noah’s notebook, a faint smile hovering on his lips.
“Guess what?”Noah said.“I have twelve questions.”
“Hello to you, too, Noah,” Gray said.He looked at Bonnie.“I have the inspection request forms the county requested.Do you have a minute to look them over?”
“Of course.”She took the envelope from him.“I'll process these while you fill out the facility certification form.It'll take you about fifteen minutes, and then this whole batch of forms can go over to the county clerk’s office.”
“Understood.”
