7. Christian
Inever really pictured Raven as a preschool teacher until I witness her getting acquainted with the kids in our town. She introduces herself at first with a simple song she made and a sweet voice, bringing laughter to the kids on the get-go. Then, when she encourages the kids to use her song to introduce themselves and they get to it, I know she’s going to be a hit and will have no problem fitting in.
Half an hour later, it looks like she’s been teaching here for years as the kids excitedly answer her questions and ask theirs. Honey Lee watches, too, but she saunters over to me after a while.
“She’s a natural at this.” Honey Lee beams. “I wasn’t sure if I should let her assist, but it looks like this might be the best thing for her.”
Not for me, especially when my suspicion of Raven wanting to drive to school by herself proved to be correct. At least, I anticipated it. I don’t tell Honey Lee this, though.
“Hmm. I heard she’s been teaching for eight years.”
“Yeah. She’s heartbroken to leave her kids in the city behind, but it had to be done. At least she gets to teach here before the school break.”
And after the school break, what will Raven do? I try not to think about it.
“I caught up with Aaron earlier. Impressive woodwork.”
She lights up, much as I see my sister light up when Nick is mentioned in her presence. To me, it’s still a strange sight seeing these two so in love when I witnessed them growing up in our childhood years.
“I know, right? I told him he should do furniture on the side.”
“He should. He’s got the talent.”
“I told him the same, but he loves this hobby. And he says you shouldn’t make your hobby your job so you’ll keep enjoying it.”
That’s…pretty smart, and I scan my mind for something I like other than being a Navy SEAL. I suppose I love numbers and I made that my job, too, but hey, I still enjoy it.
“Smart of him.”
“I like smart guys.”
“Oh?” I grin. “Is that why you had this huge crush on me back then?”
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops. “Who told you?”
“Clara might have mentioned.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes. It’s a reaction that tells me she considers it hilarious now, which I do, too. It’s funny how information that made me wistful in the past feels like a dream now, enough that we can talk about it without feeling awkward.
“That was in high school. Puppy love and all that.” She huffs. “Aaron knows, by the way.”
“And?”
“He teased me for days. He says I had a type.”
“If arrogant, popular jerk in high school was the type, then he’s spot on. Also…had?”
Her grin widens. “He’s my only type now.”
I chuckle. “You and my sister sound so similar sometimes, it’s uncanny.”
“It’s called love, Christian. You should try it sometime.”
I shake my head. “No, thanks. Not my thing.”
She shakes her head, too, then returns to Raven’s side until the kids are distracted with an activity. The two women murmur to each other, and something Honey says has Raven breaking into the sweetest, widest smile.
And just like that, my entire body’s aching for things I don’t understand.
I swallow it down, then lock it in when Honey Lee takes over and Raven ambles over to me. She still smiles, but not as much, and the loss of that—and the remembrance of how cheeki-ly she smiled when I first met her—lingers in my mind.
“Nervous?”
Raven takes a deep breath, the only indication that she is. But she gathers it in.
“I thought I’d be faced with prim and proper kids, but I guess kids are kids everywhere.”
“Nah. These are intimidating.” I smirk. “They’re sinister. You better watch out.”
Amber eyes twinkle. “They’re so sweet. And bubbly.”
“You’re used to bigger crowds, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. But I like this small crowd for a change. It means I can focus on them better.”
I study her, noting that despite the nerves, there’s a relaxed vibe to her that she could only have gotten from the kids. It’s certainly a change from her semi-agitated state earlier, which brings me to thinking…
“How was your sleep last night?”
Her expression shifts, a glimpse of something I can’t read before she shuts it down. Anger streaks as I remember the first time that I comforted her from her nightmare and told her it’d be okay when all I wanted to do was find her piece of shit of an ex and break his face. Yes, not just his fingers.
I want him gone. I want her protected at all times, and I already know I’m going to make use of my full capacity to keep her safe. But that bastard needs to get his justice, and my fury might just be more than enough to make it happen.
To my surprise, Raven’s cheeks flush, a vibrant pink that draws my attention.
“Raven?”
She blinks and clears her throat. “It was a good sleep.”
Frowning, I sidle closer, my hand reaching for her cheek before I stop at the last second. “Any nightmares?”
The pink becomes an almost violent shade of red, then returns to that lovely pink tinge that mystifies me. She shakes her head.
“No.”
I can’t tell if she’s lying, but then again, I didn’t hear her scream last night. I ease up at that and nod.
“Good. No nightmare is good.”
Her gaze flicks to my mouth, watching it move as I speak to her in a whisper so the others won’t hear. Belatedly, I realize I haven’t moved away yet, and I can smell it: peaches, just a slight whiff that jumps in my blood.
You bathed in peaches? Almost slips out of my mouth, but it’s a good thing I still have some self-control because, hell…what else follows that line of questioning?
Was it good?
Did you enjoy yourself?
It’s toeing the line into the forbidden. And I can’t do the forbidden, no matter how tempting it is.
When I don’t say another word, she goes back to the kids, checking their activities one by one and offering sincere praises. She’s not as bubbly as Honey Lee, but there’s an ethereal quality to her that calms them down, and I realize they’re not as jumpy and overactive as they were earlier.
I wander off to check on Aaron again and chat him up a bit, then return to the room to find the kids busy with another activity. Raven strolls through the tables to check on their work, then returns to Honey Lee’s side. They chat about something before Raven throws her head back in laughter, a honeyed sound that warms the atmosphere up.
It’s such an open, raw gesture that my body tightens in places it shouldn’t and the oxygen leaves my lungs. The attraction takes me in a chokehold, one that won’t let go no matter how I yank.
It’s an attraction I don’t want. It’s certainly one I don’t need.
And it takes everything inside me not to march toward her and…what? Carry her to her car? Drag her home and taste that mouth again?
Taste all of her again?
Raven approaches me once more, her successful day shining on her face and touching something inside me. So, I close down my emotions and keep my voice neutral. It ends up sounding brusque, maybe even grumpy.
“Done with class?”
Surprise lines her features at my question before she nods. “Yeah.”
I nod back, blunt and cold. I can’t help it.
Not when the other option is to give in.
“Good. Now let’s go home.”