Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I linked my hand with Simon’s, returning her grin. “Great. The more, the merrier.”
She laughed. “We’ll meet you there. Half an hour?”
“Sounds good.”
“Dad, can I go with Angela and Auntie Holly?”
“If you want.”
I watched as he strapped her in the back with Angela and waved them off, blowing kisses. He was affectionate with his daughter, which I loved seeing.
He turned to me. “I guess I didn’t think this through very well. You have your car.”
“I do. But I’ll follow you to your place, and we can head to the restaurant together. I’ll go home from there later.”
“Sounds good.”
Eleanor exited the building, walking to her car. She glared at us the entire way, making Simon frown.
“Isn’t that one of the teachers?”
“Yes. She teaches the other grade three class. Thank goodness Mia didn’t get her as a teacher,” I muttered as she drove away, hands on the wheel at ten and two, and checking the lane opening three times. She pulled out carefully and drove away slowly.
“Is she mad at you or something? What was the look for?”
I sighed, leaning against my car. “She and I don’t see eye to eye over children—or anything, really. She’s strict and uptight. Runs a very regimented classroom. Thinks I’m flighty. Informed me I was unprofessional earlier, and I shouldn’t be dating you.”
“What?”
“She likes to express her opinions. She thought you kissing me in front of the kids was ‘scandalous.’” I held up my fingers, making air quotes.
He cupped my cheek, looking concerned. “I caused you trouble?”
I shook my head. “She causes herself the trouble. I don’t care about her opinion. I think she was jealous you kissed me, not her. Besides—” I grinned “—I like your kind of trouble.”
“I don’t want to cause you problems at work. I wanted to show you I wasn’t hiding. I would never hide my affection for you.”
“I know. I love that about you. How open you are with Mia. Holly and the girls. Me. Eleanor went through a nasty divorce a few years ago, and she is still bitter. I ignore her the best I can.”
“If she gives you any trouble, let me know. I’ll talk to her.”
“You don’t have to fight my battles for me, Simon.”
“If I caused them, I should.”
“You caused nothing. It’s her problem.”
He leaned forward and kissed me. His lips were warm, his late-afternoon scruff rubbing on my skin as he tilted his head, kissing me deeper. I wrapped my arms around his neck, enjoying the feel of him pressed against me. We were at the edge of the parking lot, hidden from the road by the thick trees, the school around the corner. We kissed for long moments until he drew back, resting his forehead against mine.
“Now I’m the one with the problem,” he muttered lowly.
I began to laugh, reaching down and stroking him through his jeans. “You have a big one there, don’t you?”
“You’re not helping, Chippy.”
“You want to slip into the woods, and I’ll solve your little problem?”
He looked down at me, shocked. “You’re not serious.”
I had only been teasing, but suddenly, the thought of him in my mouth, groaning his release as he gripped the bark of the tree turned me on. I knew his ex had been cold, only using sex as a weapon, disdaining any spontaneity. I wanted to give him this moment. To watch him dissolve under my touch. I slowly shook my head. “Not kidding.”
His gaze darkened, and his grip on me tightened. “Amy,” he ground out. “Don’t tempt me.”
I eased back, heading toward the trees. I glanced over my shoulder. “Come join me, Simon. You know you want to.” I waggled my fingers. “Let’s go, big boy.”
He caught up to me fast, spinning me around. His kiss was blazing hot. He delved his hands under my sweater, spreading his fingers wide on my skin. I pushed him back against the thick trunk of an evergreen tree and dropped to my knees. I reached for his belt.
“Let’s see what I can do to help you.”
His head fell back, and he groaned as I engulfed him in my mouth.
I planned on making it good for him.
SIMON
I sat at the table, smiling at the antics of the girls. They were coloring, laughing, and enjoying themselves. Although Mia was older than her cousins, the girls got along well and were good friends. Evan had Brandon on his knee and was sipping a cup of coffee. Holly and Amy were talking quietly. Holly rolled her eyes when Amy told her about Eleanor. “She’s an excellent by-the-book teacher. Never goes outside the lines, never bends.” She paused. “Never smiles. She was one of the adults on a field trip, and she chastised Angela for laughing too much. Called her a troublemaker. I spoke with the principal about her and told her when Angela started grade three I would not allow her to be in that class. Evan wanted to go to the school and chat with her himself, but I convinced him to leave it. I think it might have gotten ugly. He wants the kids to be kids. Laugh, play, enjoy their childhood. Eleanor seems to want them to be little robots that are perfect.” She finished her coffee. “She doesn’t like me either, Amy, so you aren’t alone.”