Page 43 of At His Wife's Behest

Connor nodded, his gut twisting that he’d lied about a sick mother to get the last-minute week-long vacation. “Mom’s great, thanks.”

“Good to hear.”

“I should go see what state my classroom’s in.” Connor raced away as fast as he could without running. He entered his room, feeling like it had been a million years since he’d last been there. After checking messages and cleaning off his desk, he prepared for the day, his gaze flipping to the doorway every time someone passed.

“Mr. Q!” his first student yelled as he crossed the threshold. He gave Connor a hug and grinned. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too, buddy.”

One by one, his students arrived, most telling him how much they had missed him. He’d missed them, too. The final bell rang and no Abigail—nor Kellan. He forced the concern from his mind and focused on his kids. “Let’s get the wiggles out. Up! Up! Let’s shake it all out!”

He shook his arms and body, along with his students. Once they’d moved for a solid minute, he stopped. “Okay! Let’s get out our math workbooks, everyone.”

Fourteen little bodies went digging for their workbooks. And one little body arrived late, her father trailing in behind her.

“Morning, Abby,” Connor said before lifting his gaze to Kellan. Kellan’s face was pink, eyes traveling anywhere but Connor’s face. “Welcome back,Mr. Rhodes.”

When Kellan finally looked up, he noted fear in the man’s eyes. Marching closer, he paused at the front of Connor’s desk. “Can I speak with you privately for a moment?”

Connor searched his face before turning to the class. “Open up to page fifty-six and read over the first word problem at the top. I’ll be right outside, so no funny business.” He playfully glared at one of his most well-behaved kids. “That means, you, too, Jack.”

Jack giggled, and Connor turned to follow Kellan out.

Once they were alone, the awkward tension nearly choked Connor. “What’s wrong?”

“I, ah…” Kellan sighed. He stared at Connor, longing in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he whispered. “I…” He shook his head, smiling, but the fear returned to his eyes. “I just wanted to…” A look of disgust crossed his face. “Are we going to be okay, you and I? Me coming here in the mornings and dropping Abby off?”

Connor stiffened. He’d gotten the sense that Kellan was about to say something much different.Stop getting your hopes up.“Why wouldn’t we be? I’m a professional. You are, too. We canhandle this until the end of the school year. It’s only another month, and Abby will have another teacher next year. You can avoid me after that.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to avoid you.”

“Maybe it would be best if you did,” Connor murmured, pain lancing his chest. If he couldn’t have the man, he sure as hell didn’t want to be tormented every damned morning.

“You don’t… want me around?”

“I didn’t say that,” Connor said.Seeing you is breaking me. Why can’t you understand that?“Don’t put words in my mouth.”

Kellan stared at him, his face blank.

“If that’s all? I’ve got a class to return to.”

“Yeah,” Kellan whispered.

Connor spun, heart aching, and forced himself to get through the rest of the day without thinking about Kellan Rhodes again.

8

The following morning, Kellan asked Emma to take Abigail to school. It had just been too damned hard seeing Connor again and not being able to touch him.

“But that’syourlittle morning thing. I get her in the evenings.” She gazed at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit. What is it?” Emma glared. “I know when you’re upset. Is it your father?”

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