“I need to get ready,” is all I say before heading toward the doorway. He stops me by grabbing my wrist, pulling me toward him. “East, I’m not kidding. I told you last night that I have conferences with administration today. All the teachers and substitutes do.”
“Breathe, Piper.” His instruction comes in a calm, raspy tone that sends shivers down my spine despite my bitterness. “You’re not going to get anywhere if you stay angry.”
I’m half-tempted to make a Dr. Phil remark when his lips surprise me by brushing my cheek in a soft peck. His hands move strands of unbrushed hair away from my neck before his mouth moves down my jaw and peppers a trail of lush kisses over my pulse. I swallow as his breath teases my sensitive skin, my muscles loosening as I close my eyes.
“What are you doing,” I whisper.
He draws back just enough to speak. “I’m helping you calm down.” Before I can answer, his mouth continues working my neck, nipping, sucking, licking, then moves back up to meet my lips.
Hyperaware that I haven’t even brushed my teeth, I move my head to the side causing him to kiss the corner of my mouth. “I really need to get ready and force Ainsley to get dressed and eat. I’m on a tight schedule because I need to drop her off at Jenna’s house on my way in to work.”
With that, I gently push him away and sidestep him. I freeze when he says, “I can watch her here.”
Blinking, I slowly turn.
He shrugs. “The shop doesn’t open until five on Mondays. It’s not a big deal. Doesn’t make sense to take her somewhere else if I’m going to be here anyway.”
My throat thickens with a mixture of worry and gratefulness. He’s never watched Ainsley all day before—just if I had to run a last-minute errand that usually involved tampons because I somehow ran out.
He misinterprets my expression. “Unless you don’t trust me.” His gruff voice pulls me out of my thoughts, causing me to shake my head.
“It’s not that,” I promise lightly, offering him a smile in reassurance. “I just don’t want to burden you by watching her. I won’t be back until after two depending on how long the back to back conferences go. Then I need to run to the store.”
“I’ll go to the store.”
I wet my lips, knowing I don’t have time to contemplate this. If he watches her, it’s less stress on me. I won’t have to worry about being late or picking her up after the long day I’m sure to have where we go over new policies and expectations for faculty and staff.
“Okay.” I clear my throat. “I have a list started on the fridge of what we need. You should add milk and eggs to it, and probably bread because we’re almost out.”
He just nods.
“And Ainsley needs to get up and eat.”
Another nod.
“And she can’t watch TV all day.”
His lips twitch up. “Got it.”
I stare at him for a moment, knowing I should give him a basic rundown of everything. Like where he can reach me if he can’t get through on my cell, or what Ainsley should do since she doesn’t start Kindergarten again until Wednesday. Knowing her, she’ll rope him into watching movies or eating more candy. I took away her stash after her stomach bug on Saturday and she’s been bitter since.
But I don’t have time. Easton is smart and he’s good with Ainsley. I do trust him despite my hesitancy. “Okay. Well…” I jab my thumb toward the stairs. “I’m going to get ready and then tell Ainsley to come down here. Then I have to run or else I’ll be late.”
“Okay.”
He doesn’t say much else before I go upstairs and do exactly what I say. I slip on a gray sweater dress and black leggings and then quickly run a brush through my frizzy red hair and clean my teeth. When I reach Ainsley’s room, I see her lying in bed hugging her new teddy bear from Christmas.
“Easton is watching you today,” I announce, walking in and sitting on the edge of her bed. “I really need you to help me out here, Ains. I’m tired and have a lot going on today. I need you to go downstairs and eat something for breakfast. Don’t pull anything with him because I will find out. Understand?”