“The girls are having fun, and they’re learning things in the process.”
“Because circlet making—” he made a circle with his fingers and set them on his head, mimicking her gesture from that morning “—is such an important thing for girls to know how to do in this day and age.”
“There’s more to life than learning the scientific names of a region’s flora and fauna.” She ground the words out.
He stood, leaning on his fists over the desk. “There’s more to life than being beautiful.”
She paused. Had he just inferred he thought she was beautiful? Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, then just as quickly swarmed in an angry mass. “I’m not teaching them to be beautiful.” She was shaking, anyway, so she released the energy by punching a finger in his direction.
“I know. You’re throwing in extra lessons. How to be a wild child in four short weeks.”
“I’m teaching them to find their own beauty and, by extension, the beauty in others, so maybe when they grow up and can think on their own, they won’t listen to the violence mongers who’ll try to tell them war is the road that leads to world peace.”
“And while you’re at it, teach them to grab their fairy wands the next time terrorists use planes to target our country’s capitol.” He flicked his fingers above her head. “They can sprinkle them with pixie dust and make all the mean people disappear.”
Summer’s ears were burning now. She leaned closer, bringing her nose within inches of his. “Behind that mannerly exterior, Rick Warren, beats the heart of a cad. An extremely anal cad, whose life is all neatly folded and color-coded because he can’t stand to have things mixed up a little. Everything, all the way down to his briefs, is black and white.”
“Or maybe he’s a marine—” his voice was a low growl “—who found it easier to organize the little mundane things so he didn’t have to think about them and could concentrate on the big things like how to keep his and his buddies’ asses from being shot off...not that it always worked.”
Summer swallowed as his words stuffed her own comment back into her throat. His blue-green eyes were sending out sparks like she’d never seen, and they were causing a fire in her belly. Some of it was anger, but part of it was the sheer excitement of being near him.
Just then, the door swung open to reveal the surprised face of Willard with the more surprised face of Charlie behind.
Rick and Summer jerked up to a standing position, and Summer cringed, realizing the position they’d been in probably looked as though they were either in a heated argument or about to kiss. It somehow felt like both.
Willard removed his baseball cap and shuffled into the room with downcast eyes.
“I didn’t know you were here, Summer, but I’m glad you are.” Charlie’s face held an expression she couldn’t read. “Willard has something he’d like to say.”
Willard looked up and bravely locked eyes with Rick. “I’m thorry for acting like a baby thith morning, Mithter Rick.”
“It’s okay, Willard.” Rick pointed to the paper he’d been working on. “I filled out the accident report so your parents will understand you didn’t do anything to cause this.”
The boy’s honesty was touching. “I’m sorry, too, Willard.” Summer patted his arm. “It was my fault for stopping the group. It was probably my squeal that stirred up the skunk.”
“Nonsense,” Rick said. “The stench should’ve warned me to watch more closely—”
Charlie’s impatient wave cut Rick’s speech short. “That’s neither here nor there. Willard and I have just talked to his mom, and she’s fine with it. She said not to worry about the clothes.”
“So is she coming to pick you up?” Summer’s lunch threatened to come back up.
“No, Mith Thummer.” Willard shook his head. “I don’t really want to go home. I wath jutht upthet when I thaid that.”
Charlie laid a gentle hand on Willard’s shoulder. “Go on, son. Tell them what you told me about why you were upset.”
Willard’s glance bounced from Summer to Rick before landing back down at his feet. He sniffed. “I wath afraid that the kidth would make fun of me and call me ‘thkunk boy’ and thingth like that.”
Kids could be cruel. Even good-natured kidding sometimes went too far, and this poor kid had the extra worry of a lisp. “We won’t allow any bullying, Willard,” she assured him. “Pretty soon, they’ll have forgotten all about the skunk, you