“Morning, Mr. Morgan!” Savannah sings out, not bothering to slow down in her race with her brother Liam as the sibling duo run to their designated room.
“Good morning, Savannah,” I say, smiling broadly when they both get to Stacey, who’s waiting for them in her section of the first floor. There are already two dozen children playing and laughing, getting their excitement out, and another half dozen to go. My class is the first one, closest to the front door, filled with a mix of kids who are four and five years old, and shared with Miss Sandy.
There’s one student in particular whose absence forces my gaze to move back to the clock on the far wall. Any minute now and Henry will walk through those double glass doors. He’ll probably press his hand to the painted print of his palm that we did last week to decorate for September. It forms a pattern of fall leaves and is taped to the lower half of the door.
That moment is what I’m waiting for. He’ll let go of his mom’s hand and she’ll peer through the window, and those beautiful green eyes will meet mine.
With an asymmetric grin, fate gives me exactly what I ordered. Little Henry, with his dark, thick floppy curls falling in front of his forehead, races to the front door. It’s not quite a mohawk that Autumn gives her son, since it’s just a little higher on top. She told me it’s because she loves his curls. His skin’s a bit lighter than mine; a tawny brown. Henry’s treasured Iron Man backpack hits the cement and the woman I’ve been waiting for bends down in her sundress to scoop it up for him.
With a simper on her lips, she moves her gaze from her son to me. Those green eyes spark, her smile widens and I can hear that feminine sigh that I know she just let slip from those full lips as she looks away.
The first thought I had about Autumn Holloway is far too inappropriate for this setting. As is my reaction every single time I see her.
Last year, she teased me, giving me mixed signals. Watching her gather Henry as they enter, I remember how I asked her out almost a year ago. She declined. Clearing her throat far too many times and that rosy hue that drives me wild staining her cheeks.
I gave her space, but every day since then she’s given me that same shy smile paired with covert glances. Every. Single. Day. This year, the tension is even thicker and my longing for just a chance is even worse.
The front door opens, bringing in a refreshing fall breeze. “Mr. Morgan!” Henry yells although he’s not paying me any attention at all as he races past me to the gate where Miss Sandy is already waiting for him.
“Miss Sandy!” he calls out with the same enthusiasm as I tell the five-year-old good morning and watch Sandra take him back. He’s a happy kid and reminds me of my own son, Chase. Who just happens to be his best friend.
“Sorry I’m late,” Autumn says, holding the backpack with both hands.
“No worries,” I respond and hold out my hand for the backpack. I have to grin when she stares at my hand for a moment too long and then shakes her head with her eyes closed. She opens her eyes, her gorgeous green gaze finding mine before she passes over her son’s backpack.
“Right, right.” Her smile widens, beautiful and filling me with warmth as she stares back at me and says, “You’d think I’d remember this from last year.” With the backpack now in my hand, I swallow thickly.
“No worries,” I tell her again and inwardly scold myself. Say something else. Damn. This woman does something to me. I co-own the preschool and I don’t want to push boundaries, but I want her.
I’ve never wanted a woman like I do Autumn. Her sweet blushes, her shy smiles, her luscious curves—I want it all.
As she signs her son in, I can’t take my eyes off of her. That is, until her hand whips around, pen still between those fingers, to point at me and say something. She doesn’t get a word out though other than “shit.”
My disposable coffee cup was practically filled to the brim still and luckily only lukewarm since some of it splashed onto her forearm.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, obviously in distress as she pushes out the words, frantically wiping up the mess with a stack of tissues she pulled from her purse. Mom-ready.
I almost say “no worries” yet again as I grab some paper towels, helping her clean up the mess that I could and should take care of by myself to put her at ease. Almost. Almost but I don’t.
Stopping myself, I wait until the chaos has left her beautiful gaze.