The air between us buzzed with unspoken excitement as we drove to San Antonio. Ken fiddled with the stereo, landing on an indie rock playlist on his phone. He crooned along, deliberately off-key, his auburn hair alive with streaks of gold, his hazel eyes lit up like jewels.
A laugh burst from my chest. God, he was adorable. Then he turned my way and smiled, and my heart ached at how much I wanted him. Not just the sex—though I couldn’t wait for that. But I wanted to be with him, to spend time with him, to wake up next to him.
Wherever Ken was, I wanted to be there too.
“Hey, how was Mia’s doctor’s appointment?” he asked curiously, pulling me from those thoughts. “We missed her in class this morning.”
I squeezed Ken’s hand. “The appointment went really well. Mia’s doctor said the new medication is working, aside from that last incident which appears to be isolated.” A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I relayed everything the doctor had said. “She’s doing great, Ken. I’m so grateful.”
The words were almost hollow compared to the depth of my relief. Seeing Mia thrive was like a ray of light breaking through the storm clouds that had been our lives.
Glancing over at him, I saw the worry in his eyes melt away, replaced by a look of pure joy.He understood.“That’s wonderful news. I’m so happy to hear it.”
I nodded. “She’s been through so much, but she’s such a tough kid.” Letting out a long sigh, I turned my attention back to the road. “And you? How was your day at school?”
Ken’s face dropped, shoulders slumping as he settled deeper into his seat. “I actually had a bit of an incident today before I left.” He hesitated, then continued. “Someone complained about this little pride flag on my desk. Principal wants it down, says it might upset parents.”
What? “That’s bullshit.” A surge of frustration washed over me as I glanced over at him. Ken was an amazing teacher, and yet someone wanted to make things harder for him or get him in trouble. “What are you going to do?”
A small, proud smile tugged at the corners of Ken’s mouth. “I’m keeping it up. It’s important for my students to see that everyone is welcome in my classroom, no matter who they are or who they love. It’s never too early to teach acceptance and understanding.”
I gripped his hand tighter, proud of this man sitting next to me. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure about that. I just…I’m tired of feeling like I have to apologize for existing. We should be past all of that by now.”
“You’re absolutely right,” I told him. “Don’t let anyone tell you different. And for what it’s worth,thisparent thinks that having that flag on your desk is a fabulous idea, if your principal needs to hear another viewpoint on that.”
Ken’s smile widened, and he leaned in for a quick kiss on my cheek before sitting back and gazing out the window, the weight of the world momentarily lifted. “Thanks for being on my side.”
“Always,” I replied, and I meant it. I’d found something rare and precious in this small-town kindergarten teacher with a heart full of honor and integrity. Ken was a good man, and with any luck, he’d be my man. “And I’m glad you told me—but I want you to put all that away from your head this weekend, birthday boy.”
Ken laughed. “Will do. Nothing but good thoughts.” He glanced out the window, grinning at some cows laying in a pasture. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. A whole weekend, just the two of us.”
I took his hand, lacing our fingers, marveled at how perfectly they fit together. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself,” I said, my voice low and promised.
The easy affection between us, the effortless banter—it was like a balm after Jacob’s rejection. Being with Ken made me feel lighter than I had in ages. I lifted our joined hands to my lips, brushing a kiss on his knuckles. “Just…thank you. For being you. For this.” I gestured vaguely at the highway. “I didn’t realize how badly I needed it until now.”
“We both need it,” Ken replied softly, understanding shining in his eyes. “No matter what happens when we get back to reality, we’ll always have this weekend—and I intend to make the most of every second.”
The dark promise in his tone, so strange coming from that innocent face, sent heat unfurling through my belly. My jeans grew uncomfortably snug as all the blood in my body rushed south.
Christ.If the mere thought of what lay ahead affected me this strongly, I wasn’t sure I’d survive the night.
Death by sexy kindergarten teacher.
But what a way to go, lost in the throes of passion with the man who had captured my heart so completely.
***
We arrived at the hotel at the perfect time, missing rush hour traffic. The hotel soared above the heart of downtown San Antonio. A uniformed attendant opened the door and took my truck keys with a broad smile. Terracotta pots with vibrant flowers flanked the entrance. I grabbed my suitcase, joined Ken with his bag, and we leaned in close as we entered the building.
We crossed the polished marble floor of the lobby to the front desk. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elegantspace, and the faint strains of classical music drifted from hidden speakers.
It truly was a different world, one far removed from the simple familiarity of Blanco Springs.
Within minutes, we had our room keys and were alone riding the elevator to the top floor. Ken crowded close beside me, his thigh pressed against mine. His smoldering gaze and the thumb drawing circles on the back of my hand made his intentions clear, and I loved him for it.
Love?Yeah, might be.
