Page 22 of Working for the Runaway Bride

“Is that your boyfriend?” Ava asks.

My face catches fire. “No.”

Grayson’s mouth twitches.

I glare at him before facing my class. “Everyone, please keep working on your pictures.”

“Who is he?” Ethan asks.

“He’s a mechanic.”

“What’s that?”

“He fixes cars.”

“Is he your dad?”

“No.”

“Is he a policeman?”

“No.”

“Is he a superhero?” Lily asks.

Grayson steps into the room. “Definitely not.”

The children stare at him. He stares back.

“This is a superhero dog.” Ethan says.

Grayson bends slightly to examine it. “I can see that.”

I press my lips together. Traitor.

“He flies with fire,” Ethan explains.

“Looks fast.”

“He fights aliens.”

“What kind?”

“Green ones.”

Grayson nods gravely. “Those are the worst kind.”

Ethan grins. The other children immediately abandon their work. Within seconds, Grayson is surrounded by brightly colored drawings and excited voices.

“I drew my cat!”

“This is me at the beach!”

“My mom says dragons aren’t real, but I think they hide!”

“I can do a cartwheel!”

Grayson looks at me over the tops of their heads. There’s something kind and patient in his eyes.