Page 10 of Turn My Crank

"Ready, daddy?" Susie tugs on my hand, pulling me from thoughts I shouldn't be having while my six-year-old is standing in front of me.

"Ready, squirt." I grab my keys off the counter. "Let's get you to Anna's."

The drive to my neighbor's house takes all of two minutes. Anna's been a godsend since we moved to Oak Bluff three years ago. A retired teacher herself, she loves having Susie over and has become like family to us.

"Well, don't you look nice," Anna comments when she opens her door, her eyes taking in my clean jeans and button-down shirt. I'd even put product in my hair, something I rarely bother with for just hanging around the house.

"Hot date?" She raises an eyebrow, ushering Susie inside.

"Something like that," I admit, feeling heat creep up my neck. "Thank you for watching her tonight."

"Anytime, you know that." She waves me off. "You deserve some fun. It's been too long."

Too long doesn't begin to cover it. Not since Julie left us when Susie was barely two have I allowed myself to get serious about anyone. A few dates here and there, but nothing that made my heart race like it does when I think about Lacy.

"I won't be late," I promise.

"Take your time," Anna winks. "Susie and I have a movie night planned, don't we, dear?"

Susie nods enthusiastically, already halfway to Anna's living room. I lean down to kiss the top of her head. "Be good, princess. I love you."

"Love you too, daddy!" She calls back, clearly more interested in the prospect of mac and cheese and movies than saying goodbye to her old man.

Back in my truck, I tap my fingers nervously against the steering wheel before making a quick stop at Sal's Pizzeria and the corner store. Thirty minutes later, I'm parked outside Lacy's small bungalow on Maple Street, a hot pepperoni pizza on my passenger seat and a six-pack of craft beer beside it.

This is crazy. I'm her student's father. There are probably rules against this sort of thing.

But then I remember how she looked at me after our kiss, her green eyes wide and wanting, before she stammered something about professionalism and hurried away. That wasn't the look of someone who wasn't interested—it was the look of someone fighting the same battle I've been fighting all week.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab the pizza and beer and walk up to her door. Three quick knocks before I lose my nerve.

When she opens the door, my breath catches. Her hair is down, falling in soft waves around her shoulders, and she's wearing leggings and an oversized sweater that slips off one shoulder. She looks comfortable, beautiful, and completely surprised to see me.

"Colby?" Her eyes dart from my face to the pizza to the six-pack dangling from my fingers.

"I brought dinner," I say lamely, as if that explains my unannounced appearance at her door.

"I see that." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture I've noticed she does when she's nervous. "What are you doing here?"

I take a deep breath. "Can I come in? The pizza's getting cold."

She hesitates for just a moment before stepping aside. "Sure."

Her house is small but warm, filled with books and plants and soft-looking throw blankets. It feels like her—inviting and intelligent.

"Kitchen's through there," she points, and I follow her direction, setting the pizza and beer on her counter.

"I'm sorry for just showing up," I start, turning to face her. "But I've been thinking about you all week, and I couldn't stay away any longer."

She crosses her arms, but I can see the pulse beating rapidly at the base of her throat. "We talked about this, Colby. I'm Susie's teacher."

"I know." I step closer to her, not touching, just close enough that I can smell that vanilla scent again. "And I respect your position. But Susie will only be in your class for a few more months, and then what? We pretend there isn't something between us?"

"Is there something between us?" Her voice is quiet, but there's a challenge in it.

"You know there is." I hold her gaze. "I haven't been able to think about anything else since I kissed you. And if there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's that you miss all the chances you don't take."

She uncrosses her arms, her shoulders dropping slightly. "I've been thinking about you too," she admits. "More than I should."

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