Abby…I’ve kicked myself many times for not getting her number, or hell, even her last name. But at the same time, there was something about that night, knowing nothing was ever going to happen between us. I know I let my guard down, shared more of myself than I would have normally. And I’d like to think she did, too. That doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about the feel of her soft lips under mine, or the way her curves fit against my body perfectly, or the hot little moan she made when I nipped her lip.
Nah, I haven’t thought about that at all.
Monday morning I’m putting away some paperwork in my office in-between sips of coffee when I hear the sound of the school bus rumbling to a stop outside. That’s my cue to head down to the grade one classrooms and help wrangle the kids outside.
Half an hour later, my coffee is empty and I’m trapped on a bus with forty-seven small children who all seem to be talking at the same time. The teachers have them under control, and I know my job as chaperone won’t really start until we reach the farm and split the kids into groups. Which means I can zone out for a few minutes.
“Mr. Corser?”
A small voice interrupts my thoughts and I turn around to see one of our newest students, Layla Simpson, looking at me.
“Yes, Layla?”
“Didja know that my mom is gonna be there today?”
I lift my eyebrows and feign interest. Normally I love the chatty nature of kids, but today I’m just damn tired. “Really? She’s one of the chaperones?”
“Nope.” Layla pops the p, and her face breaks into a grin. “We live at the farm. My Unca Steve hurt his leg, so we came to help. Mom is the boss.”
I vaguely remember Ethan mentioning that Steve had hurt himself. As Dogwood Cove’s mayor, he knows what’s going on with most of the town’s residents. “Well, that’s nice of you. Is your mom going to lead the class around today?”
“Yup.” She pops her p again and a smile quirks at the edge of my lips. This kid is full of sass. “She even said that I could help. If my teacher said so. An’ Miss Denton said I could. I’m gonna be teachin’ everyone how to brush the goats.”
The pride in her voice makes me smile. This kid is something else. “That sounds great, Layla. I can’t wait to learn all about the goats.”
She settles back into her seat with a grin. I don’t have kids myself, unless you count the two hundred students I’m responsible for, but I have to admit she’s cute sitting there, swinging her legs back and forth as she looks out the window.
A short while later, we pull up to the Martin family farm. In the winter, Steve has Christmas trees for people to come and cut down, a pumpkin patch runs in October, and if I remember correctly, he’s got some farm animals he raises as well. Goats, cows, chickens, that sort of thing. I can recall Ethan’s sister, Mila, saying something about a live nativity this year, which confused me until her boyfriend, Jackson, who happens to be one of the vets in town, mentioned his business partner was overseeing the Martin Farm animals for it. I’m curious to see howthatall works out….
My focus is on getting the kids off the bus in a sort of organized fashion and split into their groups. The teachers have already given me the list of who goes in what group, and mine is filled with seven rambunctious kiddos who are filled with hyper wiggles of excitement.
I’m busy attaching brightly coloured stickers to all of their coats, so I don’t realize Steve has come up on a pair of crutches with someone beside him until I hear a familiar voice speaking to one of the teachers. When I turn around, for a moment I wonder if I’m still asleep and dreaming. But then her eyes meet mine and widen.
“Abby?”
“Reid?”
Okay, she doesn’t exactly sound happy to see me. Not gonna lie, that’s disappointing, even as I am still filled with confusion about what she’s doing at the farm.
“Mom!”
Understanding hits me with the force of a Mack truck as Layla breaks free from her class to run over and hug Abby around the legs.
Well, shit.
The woman I’ve been lusting after for a month…is the mother of my newest student. And to make matters worse, she’s standing under a sprig of plastic mistletoe.
Shit just got awkward.
Chapter three
Abby
Oh my God. Does the universe hate me?What is going on right now?!I’m having a hard time breathing, much less formulating thoughts or words. Reid is standing in front of me, looking absolutely delicious in a long-sleeved Henley and a puffy vest. The hat slouched low on his head frames those eyes that drove me wild, and even though he looks just as surprised to see me as I am to see him, he also looks…hopeful? Happy, even. His eyes dart up, and when mine follow, I mentally curse. I forgot Steve asked me to decorate the barn for Christmas. What the hell was I thinking, hanging up mistletoe?
Whatever. If this guy thinks he’s getting a kiss in front of my daughter and all these other kids, he is majorly mistaken.
My daughter’s voice breaks through my internal freak out. “So then Mr. Corser said he wants to learn about the goats from me. But Robby Macintire said I didn’t know anything about goats, and I said I did, and I said that I would make him pick up their poop.”
