Holly shook her head, unable to speak for a moment. How unjust was it that she lost her baby, that she would probably never have one of her own, when she would have loved it with everything in her. And then there were women like Farrah who could have children, and yet treated them like she had Shelby. The world had never felt more unfair as it did to Holly in that moment.
“I don’t understand. How family, a mother, could be so mean to a little girl for something like that.”
“Her mother, her whole family, are obsessed with beauty. They prize it. Any kind of physical deformity is a black mark against them, and they’re treated accordingly. Like servants. Even Shelby.”
“Poor Shelby.” Pressing her lips together, she tried to control the anger she felt on Shelby’s behalf, but it was almost impossible. “That’s why she was so shy and timid at first, isn’t it?”
“It is,” he said. “She’s finally coming out of it. I worried that so many years of verbal abuse damaged her permanently, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case.”
“Kids are resilient, but they’re also sensitive. Years of going through that could have scarred her for life, and she might not have recovered. I’m so proud of her.”
“You really are, aren’t you?” he asked, eyes soft as he searched hers. “You care for her a lot.”
“I care for all my students, but Shelby… there’s something very special about her. You have an amazing little girl, Mr. Gallagher.”
“Please, call me Ian.”
Swallowing hard, she found herself nodding without quite meaning to. His eyes were soft and mesmerizing, and she felt like she was drowning in the blue depths. He began slowly leaning down, his eyes dropping to her lips. Following suit, her eyes fell to his mouth, watching as his tongue swept across his lower lip, leaving it glistening.
Desire rushed through her veins, heating her blood. She wanted this. Wanted his kiss, more than she’d wanted anything in a very long time. God, how long had it been since she felt desire? Years, not since Kyle, that was for sure, and it was a heady feeling—
Abruptly realizing where her thoughts were going, and that she was on the verge of kissing Ian on the elementary school gym floor, surrounded by her students and fellow teachers, Holly quickly pulled back. It was only then that she noticed the song was over and a fast one was playing, and it sounded like it began a while ago. She’d been so wrapped up in their conversation, so wrapped up in him, she’d lost all sense of what was happening around her.
“It looks like the song is over. Thanks for the dance, but I really should get back. I’m here to work, after all.” She stepped back faster than she’d intended and stumbling on her bad leg.
Reaching out a hand, Ian grabbed her arm to steady her. He opened his mouth to say something, but Holly had to get out of there now. Throwing her hand up in a wave, she made sure she was steady on her feet, turning to go to the bathroom. She needed to compose herself before she had to speak with anyone else.
Walking as quickly as she dared, she warred with the emotions washing over her. Her body was disappointed, yearning to go back to Ian and finish what they’d been about to begin. Her mind was disappointed as well, but it was disappointment at herself for not keeping things professional, for not keeping Kyle at the front of her mind at all times. And her heart… her heart was heavy, full of guilt and shame over forgetting Kyle, and at the same time, full of longing for Ian, and pain at knowing nothing could ever happen between them. She was a mess, and she didn’t know how to deal with any of it.
IAN WATCHED HOLLY WALK AWAY AS FAST as she was able, only a slight limp belying the trouble she had with her leg. He’d forgotten for a moment where they were, forgotten the kids and her coworkers surrounding them. And even though he knew it was best that she came to her senses, he was still disappointed that he hadn’t gotten to kiss her.
Every worry he had, every thought about why it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with her, every thought period, had flown out of his head as he stared into her eyes. Even now, he was struggling to remember all the reasons why kissing her wasn’t a good idea.
It’s a great idea. She’s our mate, and it’s always a good idea to kiss our mate, his tiger said calmly, like he wasn’t uttering life changing words.
“What the fuck,” he whispered, stunned to his bones. Holly was his mate? And his tiger just said the words like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Dad,” came Shelby’s urgent voice from his side. “I know you like to swear, but you can’t say stuff like that here.”
Well, shit. “I’m sorry, sweets. I wasn’t thinking. I won’t do it again.”
Patting his arm, she said, “It’s okay. Just make sure you don’t. You could get in trouble.”
Smiling down at her, he ran his hand over her head. “You got it. You having fun?”
“So much fun!” she replied with a bright smile that hit him like a wave of warmth. God, how he loved seeing her like this. Shiny with the happiness that radiated from her and acting, for once, like an eight- year-old should. “What happened just a minute ago, when you were cussing?”
“Nothing you need to worry about, sweets. Just my tiger talking to me.”
Blue eyes forming full moons, she whispered excitedly, “You were watching Mrs. White when your animal talked to you, weren’t you? He said she was your mate, didn’t he?”
Freezing, Ian stared at his daughter in surprise. So much for acting her age. He forgot how perceptive she could be, so much so that he wondered if it was her shifter gift manifesting. It was like she could sense things and put the puzzle pieces together faster than humanly possible. Of course she noticed what he was doing and put two and two together. What was he going to tell her? Shifters could hear lies, and she was a tiger like him. She’d know if he tried to lie to her. Shit shit shit.
“I don’t—it’s—well, it’s complicated,” he finally said.
Taking his hand, Shelby led him off the dance floor to a quiet corner. “Dad, it’s not that complicated. You can’t be thinking you’re going to deny her, are you? Because that never works. You’ll just end up causing yourself grief while you fight it, and in the end, it’ll be pointless, because you’ll give in eventually.”
Eyebrows raising, he stared at his daughter. Sometimes she sounded so much more mature than her eight years. Another manifestation of her shifter gift, or just a product of her unfortunate upbringing with Farrah? Something else to ponder, and once again, as he did about a hundred times a day, he pushed down rising anger at Farrah. Anger would get him nowhere. All he could do was try to give her the life she’d always deserved.