“I’m pretending it’s someone’s head,” she said, this time placing down the rest of the tubes with a little less anger.
Toby laughed. “I hope it’s not one of your students.”
“My students are angels.”
Toby lifted an eyebrow.
“Most of the time. It’s your friend who I’d love to throw this at.”
She was pleased that after last night, she’d fallen out of truly, madly, crazily in lust. Yep, no heart flutters or funny, tingly feelings. Well, the tingly part when she thought of him—which happened a lot—was still around, but it was probably something she might need to see a gynecologist for.
“That friend of mine has just sent you a delivery.”
“Already? I only sent him a text with a list two days ago.”
“I guess he has connections. There’s a truck outside waiting to be unloaded.” Toby pointed over his shoulder.
Racing to the window, she peered out. “Oh, wow. That’s a big truck.”
“The driver wants to know where you want it all to go.”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Recess is almost over. Can you watch my kids for a few minutes?” When Toby nodded, she added, “Don’t forget to tell them to put their paint shirts on.” With that, she ran out the door.
When she reached the truck, she skidded to a stop and tried to keep her excitement under control. She couldn’t believe the kids were not only getting free music lessons, they’d get to play on brand-new instruments.
A man with a clipboard approached, and two other men went to the back of the truck and opened the doors. “You Jade Brennan?” Clipboard Man asked. Without waiting for her to answer, he passed her the delivery docket she needed to sign.
Quickly scribbling her name, she then glanced at the equipment being unloaded, not able to hide her smile.
“Where would you like us to put them?” one man asked.
“Follow me.” Once in the hall she pointed to a corner of the room. “Put them there.”
The man holding a couple of guitars put them where he was instructed and scratched his head. “You’ll need a lot more room than that spot. The truck is piled with the stuff.”
And he wasn’t wrong.
After they unloaded everything and left, Jade stood dumbstruck in the hall. Yamaha keyboards, Gibson and Fender acoustic and electric guitars, Pearl drum kits, every kind of wind and string instrument, tambourines, xylophones, and microphones. There were also music books and stands and things she didn’t even recognize. There was more than one of each instrument and in different sizes. She assumed to accommodate for the smaller and bigger kids.
This was musical heaven, and Nate did this for them. Now she was back to being truly, madly, crazily in lust. Who was she kidding? It had never left.
He’d gone beyond anything she could ever have imagined. She needed to thank him for such generosity. But she decided to write it in a text, because if she called him, she’d probably say something silly like declaring her love for him, and she’d already offered up her first-born child, so that wouldn’t be good.
Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she typed a message.
Thanks for the new music school. I hear Juilliard is locating here soon.
It didn’t take long for a reply. I’d much prefer the School of Rock.
Jade laughed. Thank you. It’s amazing. The kids will love it.
You’re welcome. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
Jade’s heart fluttered behind her ribs. Then another text came through.
We can discuss a program.
Of course it was to discuss music. How dumb was she to think, even for a second, it was for anything else? She texted back a time and a place.
