“Lizzy. At this point, formalities are null and void.” She shakes her head, shifting on her feet. “Anyway, nice, uh, workout.”
“Mr. Hot Deputy?” I can’t help but tease her.
“What? I didn’t say that. I said…Mr. Howdy Putty.”
“Nice try.” I laugh, unable to hold it back.
“Pretend you didn’t hear that?” She gives me her best smile.
Shaking my head, I inch toward her, ignoring the inner voice in my brain yelling,ABORT. “I appreciate the compliment,Ms. Andrews.”I emphasize her name just to make her shift on her feet.
I should step back, move along and forget I heard her, but something about this woman draws me in. She’s like a lighthouse, shimmering her light every so often so I know I’m not too far from the shore.
“Lizzy.” She’s quick to correct me.
Her eyes bounce between mine and then to my arms before returning to my face.
“We’re gonna work together, and I don’t need any more awkwardness sitting between us. I’m already oh-for-three with you between the call, my traffic ticket, and this. How about we start over and pretend that I’m a different person?”
“Not gonna work.” I tilt my head. “I kinda like this person.”
What are you doing, man? Stop flirting.
“Really?” Her nose scrunches up.
That makes me pause. Why would she doubt that? She’s a beautiful woman, and she seems like a good person. Laundry spewed around her bedroom aside, but that doesn’t make you better or worse.
“Don’t question that.”
“It’s a flaw. I can’t help it.” She shrugs. “Anyway, I was talking about Howard Putty, soooo we’re good.”
I toss my head back and laugh, then shake my head. “Nice try.”
“It was worth a shot. I didn’t mean it in a demeaning way.” Her lips purse, and she avoids my eyes.
“No worries. I’m gonna get back to my work out.” I finally snap out of the flirting trance. Flirting with women isn’t something new for me, but it usually has an end goal attached—slipping into bed together. Lizzy isn’t the type of woman to fit that bill.
“Right. That’s a good idea, great. Not that you need it. Um…never mind. I’m gonna go disappear in those bushes now.” She points to the row of bushes beside us.
I chuckle and let her off the hook. She seems embarrassed enough without me ragging on her any more than I already have. Besides, we need to work together, and I don’t want anything blurring those lines.
I step out of my car and walk toward dismissal to pick up Walker. I know I can’t avoid Lizzy since she’s his teacher, and after last night’s encounter, I don’t know if I want to. She’s funny and quirky.
I normally don’t think twice about quirky women because they could be annoying. Or maybe that’s just been my experience. I can’t box all people together for having a common trait.
You’re the problem, not them.
Right. Got it, brain. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Sighing, I run a hand down my face and look for Walker. I’d rather be surrounded by children than be stuck with my own thoughts—even though twenty seven-year-olds isn’t my idea of fun.
“Uncle Nate!” Walker waves at me before grabbing his backpack that’s thrown haphazardly on the floor.
I look to the left and see Ms. Andrews turning her head toward me. She’s talking to another teacher, and a part of me fills with pride that she stops her conversation to look at me. I smirk and nod as a way of greeting.
Her smile is forced when she aims it in my direction, but it transforms to pure adoration when she looks at Walker and listens to what he’s telling her. That smile punches me in the gut. The way she looks at him makes me feel an unfamiliar sensation.
Walker may be my nephew, but I love him like my own child. He’s probably the only one I’ll ever have. Seeing her care about him begins to claw away at the debris I’ve piled up around my heart. It’s a dangerous thing.