Chapter 23
Working with kids clashed with sexy memories. Delilah”s legs were pleasantly sore after last night, and each time she moved and felt that soreness, mental images would flood her brain, each one hotter than the last. But then a toddler would come over and tug on the hem of her shirt, trying to get her attention for help with the potty or wanting a snack.
Delilah hadn”t been able to cuddle with Ben for very long last night. Soon after they had fallen asleep, McKenzie had woken up, and Delilah had to go back to her own bedroom to nurse her. Once she was done, she hadn”t known if she should go back to Ben”s bed or not. He hadn”t exactly invited her to sleep over, but she lived there already. It was weird. She had never been in a situation like this before.
She had opted, in the end, to remain in her own bed and not wake him up by going in again.
The problem with not going back in, though, was that this morning everything was the same as usual. He had made her a breakfast big enough to feed twelve and he had sat at the table for a minute with her, drinking his coffee. He had been very businesslike as he told her that he had an errand to run for the alpha today, driving a couple towns over to meet with somebody from a neighboring pack. It had something to do with the shifter who had broken into her house, but he didn”t have enough details to share with her yet.
Delilah”s chest had clenched with a strange sort of ache that radiated from her heart. She knew she didn”t have a right to expect more from him, they hadn”t talked about anything. Maybe last night had just been a one-time thing.
Well, that certainly wasn”t a positive thought, and Delilah had resolved to be a positive person, so she shoved it aside.
Now at work, she made up an off-key song about things happening for a reason, and she danced around a little bit with McKenzie as she prepared a snack for the older children. She carefully peeled cucumber slices and arranged crackers on plates with tiny, toddler-sized pieces of cheddar. McKenzie snoozed in her sling, warm and solid against Delilah”s chest.
She wondered what would change, if anything, between her and Ben when she came home this afternoon. He hadn”t said when he would get back from his errand. Would he even be there when she got back?
Once snack was over, Delilah directed the kids to clear their places. They went outside to play with Janine while Delilah cleaned up the snack area and got ready for story time. Sara and Evan, the two kids who enjoyed story time the most, had been obsessed with Madeline lately, so Delilah got it out and put it next to her chair. The story time area overlooked the shady parking lot, but dappled sunlight came through the branches overhead and gave the little area a peaceful, relaxed vibe. Delilah sat facing away from the window and nursed McKenzie, who had woken up.
”Good timing, little girl,” Delilah said. She had read some baby books that talked about babies coming up with their own feeding and sleep routine after a couple of months. She was glad to see a routine taking shape with McKenzie. ”Another milestone, little mama,” she said.
At the bar last weekend, Viviana had told Delilah that she didn”t need to worry too much about McKenzie”s shifter abilities until she got older. McKenzie would have sensitive shifter hearing and an above-average sense of smell. She”d be stronger and faster than her human peers, too.
”So when she starts walking, put your running shoes on,” Viviana had warned.
It was incredible to think of this little one walking anywhere, but that was another thing she”d read in the baby books—it all went faster than you could even believe.
Once McKenzie was finished nursing, Delilah joined everyone outside for playtime. When it was time for stories, the six kids lined up eagerly at the door. They followed Delilah inside and each selected a mat to sit on in front of her storytelling chair.
Delilah read aloud, losing herself in the story despite the fact that she had read the same tale seven times in the past two weeks. Midway through the part about Miss Clavel suspecting something amiss with the girls, Evan raised his hand.
”What is it, Evan?” Delilah asked.
In his clear, pure voice, he asked, ”What kind of car do you drive, Teacher Delilah?”
”Evan, let”s save that conversation for after story time, okay?” Delilah said.
Evan put his hand down, but his attention was on the window.
Delilah started reading again, but this time it was Sara who interrupted her.
”Teacher Delilah, we should talk about your car now.”
Delilah looked up. Sara, Evan, and the four other children were all staring outside.
Delilah glanced over and saw a man peering into the windows of her car. She stood up suddenly. ”Janine!”
Janine came rushing out of the office. ”What is it?”
”I think someone”s trying to break into my—”
While she watched, the man took a bat and smashed in the driver’s window. Evan screamed.
”I think you should take the kids to the snack room,” Delilah said. Janine was already herding them out. ”I”ll call the police.”
As she watched in horror, the man at her car suddenly looked up. His gaze met hers. Heart pumping wildly in her chest, she recognized him. It was the grouchy man from the pawn shop.
If Delilah hadn”t had McKenzie strapped to her chest, she might have been tempted to go out there and confront him. As it was, though, she had to ensure her daughter”s safety first. She retreated back to the snack room with Janine and the children, already dialing 911. The kids watched, eyes wide and curious, as Delilah provided her name and phone number and gave a report of the incident.
When she hung up, she looked at Janine. ”An officer will be here soon,” she said. ”I”m so sorry.”
”It”s not your fault, dear,” Janine said. ”We”re just gonna stay in here until the nice police officers give us the all-clear, okay?”
Delilah knew they would be safe inside. All the doors had extra strong locks, nothing like the flimsy lock she”d had on her front door before.
While they waited for the police, she texted Ben. If this had something to do with the rogue shifter, he would need to know.