The sound of the first bell echoed over the din of children’s chatter as students made their way past Luke’s office to their classrooms. In five minutes, the tardy bell would ring, and another school day would begin. The routine was the same every time, and yet today felt different. He felt different. Keyed up. Unless something had changed, Owen would be back in class today, which meant Lily would be coming with him. And, as he’d requested, so would Megan. He felt fairly confident about his decision regarding Lily, but he didn’t have the foggiest idea how to act around Megan.
It wasn’t like they’d broken up or something. They hadn’t even dated. He could handle that. He’d never planned to be anything more than friends. But after the way she’d spoken to him, he wasn’t sure they even had that anymore. That shouldn’t be a big deal. Except the two days he’d spent with her and Owen had been the best days he’d had since moving to Paradise.
Pathetic, but true. He liked Megan’s sense of humor, her deep-rooted sense of loyalty, her toughness. And he really liked how she felt in his arms. Most of all, he liked how he felt when he was with her. She made him feel alive, in touch with the world beyond his work. And now, for reasons he still couldn’t quite understand, it was over.
He wasn’t sure he could go back to a Megan-free life. Two days, and he was addicted. Now he had to decide if it was better to go cold turkey and avoid her as much as possible, or to give in to his urge to check on how things were going in Owen’s classroom. If he avoided her, would she think he was angry? Was he angry?
Maybe a little. At least, he had been. She was the one who had kissed him, and yet she’d acted as if he were the one to blame. So, yeah, he’d been upset. But he was a big boy and knew that everything wasn’t about him. Now he was more concerned than anything. From what he could tell, she didn’t have a lot of people she could count on, and it wasn’t in his nature to just walk away.
Mind made up, Luke left the office just as the tardy bell was ringing. His footsteps sounded loud in the suddenly empty hallway. As he made the short trek, he reminded himself to focus on Owen, not Megan. His students were his first priority. His feelings for Megan, whatever they were, could wait until he was off the clock. There would be plenty of time for that brand of self torture later.
As soon as he opened the classroom door, he saw her. She was kneeling next to Owen’s chair, one hand on his shoulder and the other on Lily. And he realized, watching them together, that there was no way to compartmentalize his concern for Owen and his feelings for Megan. Yes, he wanted more than anything for Owen to be successful. But Owen’s success was in huge part due to his mother, and her support. And one of the things he admired about Megan the most was her dedication to her son. It defined her. There was no way to separate it from her, or her from Owen. They were a unit, a family.
And he was on the outside.
“Principal Wright. I didn’t know you’d be visiting us today.” Owen’s teacher, Ms. Feltz, met him at the door, and then directed the class to say good morning. He smiled at their chorused greeting. He might not have everything he wanted, but he did have a whole school full of kids that needed him and, most of the time, respected him. That was worth a lot.
“Good morning to you all. I suppose you have noticed the newest, furriest member of the class?” Giggles and nods responded. “Good. Well, I know she’s a super cute dog, and you all want to meet her, but as Mrs. Palmer and Owen are going to explain, she’s here for a special reason. She’s a working dog, and just like it is your job to pay attention to Ms. Feltz and follower her instructions, it’s Lily’s job to pay attention to Owen and follow his instructions.” Owen straightened in his chair at Luke’s words. “You already know you aren’t allowed to play around and distract your classmates from their work, and that goes for Lily, too. Let her do her job, or she won’t be able to keep coming, okay?”
Laughter gone, they nodded. He made eye contact with each child, hopefully impressing upon them the seriousness of the situation. When he was as sure as he could be that they would at least try to do as he asked, he turned the floor over to Megan. “Mrs. Palmer is here today to help Lily get settled in, and to make sure everyone is comfortable. So listen to her and, if you have any questions, you can ask her or Owen, or Ms. Feltz.”
“Thank you.” Having Megan smile at him was like feeling the warmth of the sun on his face after a month of rain. He wanted to stay, to hear what she’d say to the children, to see her smile again. But he had no logical reason to remain, and a full day of meetings and phone calls ahead of him. He’d made the right decision by coming to the classroom. He’d gotten his fix. It would have to be enough.
For now anyway. Because she’d smiled at him, maybe he hadn’t quite ruined everything after all.
If Megan had had any illusions that her life was tough, by midmorning Tuesday she’d reconsidered. Yes, juggling motherhood and a career on her own required some serious sacrifice, but it could be worse.
She could be an elementary school teacher.
Now that was tough.
Kids were constantly moving, asking questions, dropping pencils or needing bathroom breaks. The noise was nonstop, and she quickly developed a new appreciation for how hard Owen had to work to keep it together in such a high-stimulus environment. No wonder he came home exhausted each day. She was reaching that point herself and the school day wasn’t even half over.
“Mom,” Owen whispered, tugging on her sleeve. “What happens if Lily needs to use the bathroom?”
They’d been over this at least three times already, but for some reason Owen was still fixated on the question. That happened now and again. It was almost like his mind got stuck and no amount of reassurance seemed to help. She just had to wait it out; eventually he’d move on. Until then, he’d worry, sometimes obsessively. “Remember, I said that she goes out every three hours. You’ll walk her to the spot I showed you, behind the school.”
“What if I get lost? Or I forget? What if she has an accident on the floor?” His horrified expression made it seem like having an accident in the classroom was the absolute worst thing that could happen to someone. And maybe to him it was. “You won’t get lost, it’s just down the hall. And if you forget and she needs to go, Lily will let you know, just like she does at home.”
“What if I don’t notice? Like, if I’m busy taking a test or something?”
Ms. Feltz glanced their way, sending a wordless reminder that the students were supposed to be working quietly. Even if Megan could figure out a way to reassure Owen, this wasn’t the time or place for what would assuredly be a long conversation.
“Listen, let’s take her right now and then you won’t have to worry.”
“Now?”
“Yes. I’ll go with you and make sure you remember how to get there, okay?”
“But I’m not done with my worksheet!”
Ms. Feltz sent another, sterner look their way.
Crap. Not good. “Fine, you finish your work, and I’ll run out and take her myself. You can go with me next time.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Taking Lily’s leash, Megan tried to be as unobtrusive as possible as she navigated between tables to the front of the room. Still, she attracted quite a bit of attention and decided she’d ask about Owen moving to a spot closer to the door tomorrow. That would at least make these little trips less disruptive.
That still left the issue of Owen’s anxiety about the task. She wasn’t sure what to do about that.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
Luke’s voice came from somewhere behind her. Spinning, she somehow tangled Lily’s leash around her ankles, tripping herself up and confusing the poor dog.
“Here, let me help you with that.” His hand on her shoulder was probably meant to steady her, but the memories his touch sparked were more unsettling than the sudden loss of balance. Standing on one leg, she quickly unwrapped the leash and took a much needed step back. Space was a good thing. She just wasn’t sure there was enough of it in the universe to keep her from reacting to this man.
He let his hand fall back to his side, a sheepish grin on his face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s fine.” Megan shifted the leash from one hand to the other, hating how awkward this was. What a difference a day could make. One dumb decision, one loss of control, and now everything was different.
Before, when he’d just been Owen’s principal, she’d sometimes been anxious because she was worried about her son and his education. Now, she still had that to deal with, but there was this big barrier between them, one she’d thrown up. Necessary, but uncomfortable. She didn’t know what to say, or how to be around him. How did you go back to a purely professional relationship with someone after something like that?
Seeing she had her balance, Luke motioned for her to continue walking, falling into step beside her. “Is everything going well in the classroom?”
“Just fine. Why?” What had he heard? Could the teacher have contacted him with complaints already? Owen had been a bit loud, and the other students did seem a bit distracted, but it was the first day. “Just working out the kinks, figuring out a routine, that kind of thing,” she explained, trying not to sound defensive.
“Good. I just wondered...you seemed pretty pensive. When I saw you leaving with Lily, I was worried.”
“Oh no, I’m just taking her for a bathroom break. Owen was in the middle of something, so I’m taking her myself.” They’d reached the end of the hall and she paused. Was the conversation over or was he going to follow her outside? Did she want him to? She hated this...this feeling of uncertainty. “So, I’d probably better do that. Take her out, I mean.”
“Right. Of course.” He stepped forward and pressed down on the heavy metal bar that activated the door. “Ladies first.”
She stepped past him, careful not to accidentally brush against him. At least outside she could put more distance between them, have a bit of breathing room. Lily, unconcerned by human drama, made her way briskly to the grassy area that ran between the back of the school building and the faculty parking lot. Once there, however, she took her sweet time. Apparently every grass blade needed to be smelled individually before she could choose her spot.
Megan mentally willed the dog to hurry. The sooner Lily was done with her business, the sooner she could escape whatever awkward conversation Luke was planning. The chaos of the classroom suddenly seemed like a refuge in comparison to the noise in her own head.
“I’m sorry.”
Once again, Luke’s words had her spinning around in surprise. At least this time she hadn’t hog-tied herself in the process. Of all the possible ways she’d imagined this conversation could go, him apologizing to her hadn’t been on the list.
“Why?” she blurted, confused.
“Because I somehow upset you, and I didn’t mean to do that. I never meant to make you uncomfortable.”
Her brain tried and failed to make sense of his words. “You didn’t do anything. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I was the one who made advances. And then I was so rude to you.” She shook her head, remembering. “You didn’t deserve that, I’m sorry.”
“No apology needed, and I’m glad to know it wasn’t something I did.” He grinned that slow burn of a smile that made her insides melt. “For the record, I didn’t mind your advances one bit.”
Her heart skipped a beat as his meaning hit her. “Then...why did you stop me?” She glanced around, making sure they were still alone.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice so she had to strain to hear him. “Because it was either stop while I still could, or lift you onto that countertop and have my way with you. And as appealing as that was, I knew it wasn’t the right time or place.”
The expression on Megan’s face when she realized what he was saying told him the desire flooding his senses was far from one-sided. She could deny it, but words wouldn’t erase the dilated pupils and flushed cheeks, or the flutter of pulse he saw at her throat.
Unfortunately, that was all the reaction he was going to get. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a giggling group of kids came around the corner, followed by the school’s PE teacher.
“Coach Destefano.” He gave a small salute to the woman and received a wave in return. “Tennis today?” The courts and a small storage shed housing some sports equipment were the only things on this side of the school, other than the parking lot itself.
“You got it. Got a few kids with a real decent swing. I’m thinking we might be able to put a team together this year.”
“Great. Set up a meeting and we’ll talk.” He could probably find some funds somewhere for that. Maybe hit up the local tennis club for sponsorship. Florida had plenty of professional players; maybe he could get one to make a donation. Adding more fundraising to his to-do list wasn’t appealing, but he knew how beneficial afterschool sports could be. Making a mental note to look into it, he waited until the coach and her class were out of earshot before turning back to Megan.
Too late. She was gone.
Disappointment flared but didn’t diminish the triumph he’d felt when he’d seen her reaction. Nothing was truly resolved between them, yet he had a better feeling for where he stood. Where they would go from here, he didn’t know. There was a lot to consider. His job, for one. Maybe he’d take Grant up on his offer to look over the paperwork he’d signed with the school board. Nevertheless, even if he was in the clear legally, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be ethical issues to consider. To say nothing of the optics of it all.
Paradise was a nice town, but there were times he wondered why the place even had a newspaper since the rumor mill ensured everyone knew everything that happened to anyone well before it could hit the printed page. In a big city, no one would care about his dating a student’s parent. But in Paradise, it would be big news. Was he willing to deal with that? Was Megan? What about Owen?
Luke shook his head, as if to physically shake the swirling thoughts into some kind of order. He was getting ahead of himself. Just because Megan felt some attraction to him didn’t mean she wanted to do anything about it.
What if she does?
That question circled through his head the rest of the school day. Somehow, he managed to get his work done, though his customary focus seemed fractured. Ms. White, with her usual directness, asked if he needed to take a sick day after he asked her the same question three times and still didn’t remember the answer. He’d assured her he was simply tired, and then gotten a lecture on the importance of sleep and the benefits of warm milk with a splash of bourbon at bedtime. She’d said that last part with a conspiratorial wink, warning him to keep her advice to himself as not everyone understood the medicinal benefits.
Luke had agreed, struggling to keep a straight face. He’d heard stories about the amount of “medicine” consumed at the monthly card games she and the other grand dames of Paradise attended. He was pretty sure there were fraternity parties that were less rowdy. Still, her concern touched him, so he nodded with an appropriate amount of gravity and assured her he’d take her secret to the grave.
He’d hoped to catch a few minutes with Megan in the cafeteria at lunch, but had been stuck dealing with a student found vandalizing school property. A bit of a harsh term for doodling a heart with a boy’s name in it on her desk, as he’d pointed out in a private email to the teacher who’d sent her to his office. The poor girl had been humiliated at having her crush exposed, so he’d just given her a warning and a bottle of all-purpose cleaner to remove her artwork. Not a big deal, but it meant he’d had to eat a sandwich at his desk instead of stealing a few minutes with Megan.
Now it was almost time for the dismissal bell, and he wasn’t going to miss his chance again. Assuming things had gone well today, she wouldn’t be back in the classroom on Wednesday. Then who knew when he’d get to see her next. He wasn’t sure what, if anything, was going to happen between them but he knew for a fact that letting things drop, without any further contact, didn’t feel right.
He made it to Owen’s classroom two minutes before dismissal, and chose to wait outside rather than to disrupt the class. His earlier visit had been explicable, but a second might arouse suspicion. Or maybe he was overthinking things. Either way, he waited and watched, the small glass window in the old oak door giving him a clear view. She’d moved, he noticed. Now Owen was at the first desk, closest to the door, with Lily between him and the wall. It made sense. Lily was now out of the way, where she wouldn’t be accidentally stepped on or tripped over by a distracted student, and boy and dog had easy access to the exit.
He was wondering whose idea it had been to switch when Megan looked up and caught him watching. She started. For a moment, he was afraid she’d be upset at the intrusion. But then a small smile softened her expression and he relaxed, nodded in return. Just then, the bell rang, and instantly the atmosphere changed. Children jumped out of their seats as if on springs, scrambling for backpacks and lunchboxes. Moving aside, he let the jostling herd pass through the open door. A few students said hello to him, but most were too intent on making an escape to notice he was there.
Once the initial chaotic flood receded, he cautiously poked his head through the doorway. “Is the coast clear?”
“Mostly,” Ms. Feltz answered, a grin on her face. “I suppose I should try to get them to be more civilized at dismissal but—” she shrugged “—I figure as long as they behave themselves during class time, I won’t fault a little extra enthusiasm when it’s over. Some days I kind of feel like running and shouting myself.”
He chuckled, picturing the fortysomething woman with the beginnings of gray in her hair scrambling with the rest of them in the mad dash for daylight and freedom. “I know exactly what you mean. And,” he reassured her, “don’t worry, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to check in with our furry friend here to find out if we should expect her back tomorrow.”
Megan looked from him to the teacher and then at Owen and sighed, the sound carrying in the now quiet classroom. Something tightened in his gut. After seeing Lily in action this past weekend, he hadn’t expected there to be any problems. The look on Megan’s face seemed to say otherwise.
“For the most part, things went very smoothly.” Ms. Feltz jumped in, her matter-of-fact tone easing the tension in the room.
“But?” he asked. Megan wouldn’t look so concerned if there wasn’t more to the story.
“We had a bit of trouble with figuring out the best way to handle her potty breaks.” Megan answered for her. “Owen’s not quite comfortable taking her on his own yet.”
“I was busy!” Owen insisted defensively. “The other kids might finish while I’m gone, and then I won’t know what to do.”
Ah. So the issue wasn’t Lily, it was Owen. That was something he’d failed to consider and, from the look of frustration on Megan’s face, he wasn’t the only one. Even the normally steadfast Ms. Feltz seemed at a loss. “I told him I wouldn’t penalize him if he needed extra time to care for Lily but...”
But given Owen’s rigid thinking, that hadn’t done the trick. “I see. So, if we set aside that issue for the moment, would you say Lily was otherwise helpful?”
His question, meant for all of them, was answered by Owen himself. “Yeah. When my pencil broke, I got mad. It was the new red one. My favorite,” he explained. “I wanted to throw it, but Lily told me not to.”
“Um, okay.” Luke looked to Megan for help. He’d learned that service dogs could perform some amazing tasks, but he was pretty sure the ability to speak English wasn’t one of them.
“I think what Owen means is that she nudged him, or put her head in his lap. She’s trained to distract him when she senses he’s getting upset.” Megan reached down and stroked the big dog’s head. “It’s pretty effective.”
“Right, that’s how she tells me. And when Jake was standing too close to me in line, Lily got between us so I didn’t have to push him away.”
“No pushing,” Megan replied automatically. “Use your words. If someone is in your space, you need to ask them to back up.”
Good advice. He imagined Owen did his best to follow it, but given the number of times the boy had been sent to his office for discipline issues, he hadn’t been very successful. If Lily was helping with those issues, she deserved to be there. “So the only issue is the bathroom breaks, is that right?”
Three heads nodded in unison. “Okay, so what if he took her... I don’t know, when there is free time or something?”
“What? I don’t want to miss recess,” Owen objected.
“Oh, right.” It was a logical solution, but from a kid’s point of view, it probably seemed like a punishment. Not what he was going for. “Sorry, just trying to brainstorm.” He absently scratched his head. There had to be a way around this. “How often does she need to go out?” he asked, trying to grasp the scope of the problem.
“During a school day? Once, maybe twice, to be safe,” Megan responded.
“It doesn’t take long, right? I could ask around. Maybe one of the staff would be willing to do it.” Hell, he’d do it himself if need be, although how he’d find the time to duck out twice a day, every day, he wasn’t sure.
“No.” Megan shook her head. “The staff here works hard enough, and I’m pretty sure their job duties don’t include walking dogs and picking up poop.”
Luke rocked back in surprise. Megan was the last person he’d expected to object. After all the effort she’d put in to making this happen, he couldn’t believe she was giving up now. He was about to tell her so when she made him an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“This was my idea, so I’ll do it. Like you said, it won’t take long, and one of the benefits of working from home is being able to set my own hours. I’ll just run over and take her out myself. If that works for everyone else, I mean.” She turned to Owen’s teacher. “I promise, I won’t do anything to disturb the class.”
The woman smiled, obviously relieved to have a possible solution. “That sounds fine to me.”
Now all eyes were on him, waiting for his final decision.
A chance to have Megan on campus every day? Hell yeah, that worked for him. He only had one question.
“When can you start?”