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“Like he wants to rip your clothes off and devour you in one bite.” My cheeks heated as memories from that morning came flooding back. “You’re totally blushing right now.” She smirked before taking a sip of her sweet tea.
“Well, that was quite the vivid picture you painted.”
“I think you’re operating more off memory than imagination,” she accused playfully, prodding for information
“I plead the fifth,” I said as I speared a piece of chicken onto my fork. She wasn’t getting any more out of me. I’d already said too much.
She giggled and held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I guess a girl’s gotta have some secrets.”
The following week, we met with the other volunteers and the art teacher, Mrs. Smith, who was in charge of coordinating the festivities. Gavin slipped into the room at the last minute, mumbling his apologies for being late. He took a seat next to Mrs. Smith at the table in the front of the room, and his eyes immediately found mine. He held my gaze for a moment before turning his attention to his partner. Brynlee elbowed my ribs, but I refused to look at her. She snickered triumphantly next to me.
I tried to listen as Mrs. Smith explained that she was working with the students on creating most of the decorations. They had some seasonal decor stored away to supplement what the students made.
“Mr. Phillips has offered to build some of the larger decorations like the arbor we’re going to use as the backdrop for pictures,” Mrs. Smith announced, offering Gavin a soft smile. He nodded in acknowledgment as murmurs of praise went around the room. “Is anyone else here good with power tools?” she asked, glancing around the room. All the volunteers looked at each other, no one speaking up to claim they had experience. Gavin’s gaze landed on me again, and one side of his mouth quirked up.
“Melody helped renovate her grandparents’ bed and breakfast over the summer. She knows her way around a power tool,” Brynlee announced, and the innuendo wasn’t lost on me. I elbowed her in the side just like she’d done to me earlier.
“What are you doing?” I whisper-growled from the side of my mouth.
“That’s wonderful. You can help Mr. Phillips with some of the bigger items,” Mrs. Smith announced.
“Just trying to be helpful,” Brynlee whispered back.
“I’m going to murder you,” I said low enough so no one would hear.
“You’re going to thank me when this is all over.”
“Not likely.”
They went over a few more talking points before the meeting adjourned with plans to get together again the following week. Brynlee and I stood from our seats in the back of the room and made our way to the door. Gavin had just finished speaking with Mrs. Smith when we reached him.
“So how did you get roped into doing this?” Brynlee asked.
“Apparently it’s one of the assistant principal duties that I overlooked when I signed my contract.” He chuckled as he slipped the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder. “Must’ve been in the fine print.”
“I, for one, can’t wait. I always love the fall festivals. Our cheer squad used to help with them when I was in high school,” she explained, turning to me. “The kids have such a great time. Plus, there’s always tons of apple desserts. The apple dumplings the Methodist church makes are downright sinful,” she mused with a waggle of her eyebrows.
“That sounds wonderful.” Excitement for the festival bubbled up in my chest. Fall was my favorite time of year, and this would be Elijah’s first school related event.
“I just realized this will be both of you guys’ first times,” Brynlee chimed in, grinning innocently. “I’m glad you’ll get to experience it together.”
My face heated as Gavin dropped his gaze to the floor and chuckled. “I’ve gotta run. I promised Eli I’d take him to play miniature golf this evening.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“You should bring Harper. The kids would have a blast.”
“She’s with her dad,” Brynlee replied somberly. “It’s his weekend.” Brynlee told me her story over lunch one day, and my mouth had fallen open in shock. Her ex—Harper’s dad—had taken off on their wedding day, leaving her a note with his best man. She was pregnant and scared and didn’t know what to do, but the best man, Macon, stuck by her side and they became best friends. They ended up falling in love a few years later, and just as things were getting serious, Harper’s father, Sean, came back after having no contact the whole time and nearly derailed their relationship. Luckily, Brynlee and Macon’s love weathered the storm, and they were now happily married. It also sounded like Sean had stepped up since coming home and now was a great dad.
“That’s right. Our kids are on opposite weekends.” The joys of being divorced.
“We’re going to have to do something about that.”
“Definitely,” I agreed and bid them goodbye. As I strode down the hall toward the exit, I chanced one final glance over my shoulder to find Gavin watching me. Or, more accurately, watching my ass. His gaze lifted to mine, and although I’d caught him ogling me, there wasn’t an ounce of regret in his expression. My body flushed at the unapologetic smolder in his eyes, and a shiver ran up my spine. I wanted that heated look on my bare skin. I wanted those big, rough hands gripping my hips as he pumped into me again.
Stepping out into the warm September evening did nothing to cool the heated blood pumping through my veins. How was I going to make it through the next few weeks without jumping his bones?
The better question was, did I want to?
