Page 9 of Turn My Crank

"I should check on Susie," I say, breaking the moment.

We both stand and walk back into the house. In the living room, we find Susie fast asleep on the couch, her small face peaceful in slumber.

"She's knocked out," Colby says with a fond smile. "Movie was clearly riveting."

"It's been a long week for her," I say, watching as he gently brushes a strand of hair from his daughter's face. The tenderness of the gesture makes my heart ache.

"I should probably get her home," he says reluctantly.

"You could..." I begin, then stop myself. But Colby is looking at me expectantly, and I find myself continuing. "You could put her in my guest bedroom. Let her sleep a bit longer. It's Friday, after all."

He studies me for a long moment, and I find myself holding my breath. "That might be nice," he finally says.

Together, we carry Susie to my spare room, tucking her under the covers of the twin bed. She doesn't stir, just curls onto her side with a soft sigh.

We stand in the doorway watching her for a moment, then quietly back out, leaving the door ajar. In the hallway, we're suddenly very close, the narrow space bringing us together.

"Another drink?" I suggest, my voice barely above a whisper.

Colby nods, but doesn't move away. "Lacy," he says softly, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sends tingles across my skin.

"Yes?" I whisper, hardly daring to breathe.

"I've been wanting to do this since the first parent-teacher conference," he murmurs, his hand cupping my cheek.

Then he's leaning in, and I'm meeting him halfway, our lips coming together in a kiss that starts gentle but quickly ignites into something more. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me close, and I find my hands in his hair, holding him to me.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Colby rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"I've been thinking about that for months," he admits.

"Me too," I confess.

He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his expression serious. "This isn't just... I'm not looking for something casual, Lacy. I have Susie to think about."

"I know," I say, my heart racing. "Neither am I."

His smile is slow and sweet, and when he kisses me again, it feels like a promise. Of what, I'm not entirely sure yet, but as I sink into his embrace, I find myself hoping it's a promise of everything I've ever wanted.

five

. . .

Colby

A week. That's all it's been since I kissed Lacy Reeves in the school parking lot, and I swear it feels like I've been walking around with a fifty-pound weight on my chest ever since. I've tried to keep my distance—it's the right thing to do. She's Susie's teacher, for God's sake. But I can't get her out of my head.

"Daddy, are we having pizza tonight?" Susie bounces on her toes as I help her pack her backpack for Anna's house.

"Not tonight, princess." I zip up her unicorn backpack and hand it to her. "Anna's making mac and cheese, your favorite."

"With the crunchy stuff on top?" Her eyes widen with anticipation.

"With the crunchy stuff on top," I confirm, tapping her nose. "And you're going to be good for her, right?"

"Always!" She grins, revealing the gap where her front tooth used to be. The tooth fairy visited last weekend, a milestone I celebrated with perhaps too many photos sent to my parents.

I glance at my phone, checking the time. Six-thirty. Lacy would be home by now, probably settled in for a quiet Friday night with a book or whatever teachers do when they're notshaping young minds. I think about how soft her lips were against mine, how she smelled like vanilla and something uniquely her.

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