I might as well call it a day and let the kids color a town map and label the different parts so I can sit and catch my breath.
Natewasgoing to kiss me. I wasn’t imagining that, right? Would I have let him? I’m not sure I had much of a choice since I was pulled in, head leaning back so his lips would have easy access to mine.
Would I have let him? It’d definitely not be aligned with my determination to focus on my career.
“Ms. A?” Great, all my students are calling me that nickname now, and it only makes me think more about Nate.
“Yes.” I blink and look at my class.
“Are we gonna start?”
“Of course.” I am scatterbrained and need to get myself leveled.
I’ve always been focused and on top of my job, and now this man is making me into a mess in the one place I always had things under control. I may not make my bed every morning, but my lesson plans are always done a week or two in advance and my classroom is impeccable.
One man isn’t going to interfere with my career. I need to get it together, keep that line between Nate and me clearly defined, and not stare at his biceps because they are the cause of distraction.
So are his eyes, and jaw, and scruff, and the dimples he hides but every so often aims your way.
Yeah, I’m screwed.
Chapter 13
Nate
Walkingaroundthespringfestival, I don’t have much to do but keep an eye out to make sure everything is okay, which it is because this is Emerald Bay where people help each other up when they fall not bring out their smart phones to record.
“Deputy Moore, hi!” A girl waves at me. Her parents smile and thank me for the work I’ve been doing in the classroom. Apparently, the girl goes home and tells her parents everything she’s learned.
I guess my work here is actually serving for something.
“Deputy! Come ‘ere!”
“Yeah! Cooooome.” A group of children cheer, and I look around hoping no one is watching but it’s useless. Everyone is smiling as the kids wave me over, jumping up and down.
I walk over to them, arching my eyebrow. They’re standing by the face painting stand, one of them getting a Batman face painted.
“Deputy, you gotta get your face painted!” one of Walker’s friends says.
“Yeah, you should do Spiderman,” Stephanie comments. “Right, Ms. A?”
I turn my head and see Lizzy standing a few feet away. Somehow I had missed her, but now I can’t keep my eyes off her. She’s wearing form-fitting jeans and a school T-shirt with the Shark logo on it.
All of the students in her class are calling her Ms. A now, and I wonder if Walker spilled that it was me who came up with it. Regardless, I like the smile that lifts her lips when she hears it.
“Yup, I think Deputy Moore should support our school this way,” she says.
“Really? And what about you, Ms.A?“ I arch an eyebrow, challenging her.
“You should get Elsa!” Stephanie says, clapping.
“Elsa would be fun,” Lizzy says, looking at the woman who’s in charge of face painting. “Can you do Elsa?”
“Of course.” The woman smiles, pointing to the empty chair. “Sit down.”
It’s my cue to step away and stop teasing her. Instead of leaving, I stay and watch the way she giggles when the blue paint touches her skin.
I should go away and continue working, but her mood is infectious and has me smiling. Lizzy is the type of person that shines happiness. She’s like a rainbow, whenever you look at her, you can’t help but smile. It makes her even less attainable—something you admire from a distance but know you’ll never catch.