“I know, Sister. Why I wanted to get this done today.”
“Done?” She glanced at my loaded desk.
“I just got started. Luna is happy to help.”
“Luna Hastings,” she tried again with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Caleb tells me Saint Agnes has some of the best test scores in the state. And your grade-to-grade student retention level is in the high eighties. That’s wonderful.”
I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. How did she know all that stuff? I didn’t even know the retention percentages, so I definitely hadn’t informed her.
Besides, I preferred much more physical activities for our time together than nerding out about facts and figures.
Sister Tobias, however, was not impressed and grunted out something as she crossed her arms, flapping the sleeves of her habit. Not all of the nuns at St. Agnes wore them, but Sister believed in always looking the part.
That could’ve been why her gaze dropped to my neon green sandals. Hey, I’d been walking down at the lake this morning. I wasn’t wearing good shoes to clomp around in mud and dog poop.
“You did double-check with sweet Ivy about her truck stopping by for the social?”
“Yes. Three times.”
Sister Tobias had warned me that if my sister’s truck wasn’t there on time with the exact selection of ice cream treats she’d ordered, there would be hellfire to pay—and I would be the one paying it.
I was fairly certain Sister hated me, not unlike my own years in elementary school. I’d never been the teacher’s pet. More like the teacher’s worst spitball-throwing nightmare.
“Good, good. I hope she brings Rhiannon. She’s just the most adorable child.” Sister Tobias clapped her hands together.
“You’re in luck. Ivy’s bringing Rhi with her to help today.”
“She is?” Luna asked out of the side of her mouth.
I was almost sure Luna had met my sister along the way, since Kinleigh was Ivy’s best friend, but the first few times hanging out with your lover’s family were often awkward. So, I’d figured on keeping it casual. Ivy got along with everyone, and her husband was a damn rockstar. Or he worked with them, so same difference. If anyone would like and appreciate Luna being a little left of center in some ways, my sister should. She accepted everyone just as they were in any case.
“Yes, Rhi’s coming with Ivy as long as she can get coverage for the truck for a couple of hours. Oh, and assuming she can drag Rhi away from my mother. She has those two girls attached to her hips—Rhi on one side, Vivi on the other.”
“It’s nice that your mother’s other children gave her grandchildren.” Sister Tobias shot me a searing look and swished to the doorway. “Tell your sister to stop by on her way through. I have sweets for precious little Rhiannon.”
With that, she flew away. Only metaphorically speaking, but man, was it apt.
“Ouch.” Luna rubbed her chest. “Did she punch you or did it just feel that way?”
“She loves me. What are you talking about?” I looped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. I contented myself with a quick peek down her tank top in case my jailer returned. “Where did you learn that stuff about the school? You really helped out in the clutch.”
Her cheeks went rosy. “I did some research when you said you worked here. Just so I had some idea what your school might be like.”
“Wait, you didn’t pester me with endlessly annoying questions with answers you really don’t care that much about, you just checked it out on your own? You are basically my ideal woman.” I reached down to palm her ass under her mini skirt. Just one quick touch to hold me over. “And not only because you can quote statistics like a boss.”
“No?” She slid her hand up my chest, flicking her tongue along her lower lip as she cast a glance at the door. My girl liked to take chances, just like I did. “I thought it was my flexibility.”
“That definitely plays a part. Your thighs could crack a coconut—oh, shit.”
She laughed until she heard the sound of a child crying. “Is that wailer your niece?”
“Survey says yes.” I willed my newly intrigued cock back into submission before my family made it to the classroom. “She’s a good kid, but she’s temperamental sometimes. Her dad’s Irish,” I explained. “Born in Ireland. Both he and my sister have that ginger thing going on. I’ve heard it makes people snarly. Poor Rhiannon was cursed from the beginning.”
“I heard that,” Ivy said, nudging wider the partially cracked door so my niece could toddle inside the classroom on mostly steady feet. She was too busy crying to care about the new surroundings or even about me.
“Hey, Rhi-Rhi. How’s my best girl?”
She took one look at me and howled before clinging to her mother’s leg.