kiss. “Because I can’t imagine going another day without seeing you.”
I flushed from head to toe. “Is that so?”
“It is. How do you feel about that?”
“Right now? Like I don’t want to get out of this bed.”
He laughed. “Fine. I’ll be the responsible one. We should get to work. If we hurry up, then I’ll see you sooner.”
“That is good logic, Donoghue.”
I hopped out of bed, and he smacked my ass as I reached for my discarded dress.
I yelped, “Watch it.”
“How could I do anything else? Look at that ass.”
I rolled my eyes and shimmied back into my dress. “Hours of ballet will do that.”
“Won’t find me complaining,” he said as he pulled his suit back on.
He tugged me tight one more time and kissed me breathless before driving me back to Piper’s house.
I tiptoed through the dark, empty house and just made it into my room when I heard a parade of feet running toward me.
“You didn’t come home last night!” Piper cried.
I sighed heavily. “I didn’t.”
“And you’re still in your dress.”
“Yep.”
“I’m so proud of you!” Piper said with a laugh. “Tell me everything. Well, not everything. Ew. But tell me most things.”
“As much as I would love to do that, I really need to shower and get to work.”
Piper pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. “Come on. At least tell me something.”
I waved her off and headed toward the bathroom. “Isaac and I were together last night, and I’m seeing him again when I get off work.”
“Eep! That sounds serious.”
I paused before walking into the bathroom and contemplatively looked back at Piper. “It is, I guess.”
Piper started to ramble about her excitement. I knew why she was so excited. She thought if I was happy enough with Isaac, as I once had been, then I might make a different choice. I might decide to stay here in Lubbock instead of go back to New York. But I didn’t want to think about that choice. Or the fact that I really only had one more week in town.
My chest tightened. One more week. It wasn’t enough time.
I shook my head to drown out Piper’s ranting and grabbed a quick shower. Afterward, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, threw on leggings and my favorite sweater, and then went straight back out the door.
The radio announced a storm on the horizon. Possibly the first snowflakes of the season. I’d believe it when I saw it. Lubbock weather tended to do whatever it wanted. Snow when it wasn’t in the forecast and clear skies when it was supposed to snow. Everyone prepared like a blizzard was coming, but no one really believed it would happen.
When I parked in front of the studio, a couple in power suits was already waiting for me at the entrance. I took a deep breath before exiting. The wind buffeted against me as I jogged to the front door. Maybe a storm really was coming.
“Hi. Sorry I’m late,” I said, reaching for my keys. It was only five minutes, but the look on their faces told me everything I needed to know about what was about to happen. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m Angelica Lawson, and this is my husband, Bart.”
“Ah, you’re Katelyn’s parents,” I said, realizing immediately where this was going. I pushed the front door open and gestured them inside. “Why don’t we go into the office, and we can talk?”
I directed them down to Kathy’s office, dropping my purse on the floor next to the desk and taking an authoritative seat. Katelyn’s parents settled uncomfortably before me. They were middle-aged and clearly well off, based on their appearances. Angelica’s suit was top of the line, and her forehead didn’t move. I recognized the signs from the donors back in New York. Bart’s hair was thinning, and he wore a grim expression, as if it were his job.
“Now, how can I help you?” I asked, raising my chin and waiting for the inevitable.
“We came to discuss your mistreatment of Katelyn,” Angelica said haughtily.
“Mistreatment?”
“You kicked her out of class!” Angelica cried.
“I did no such thing,” I said immediately. “I told her that if she wouldn’t comply with my rules that she could leave, and she chose to do so.”
“You had no right,” Bart growled.
I held my hand up. “Before you continue, I would like to make it quite clear that I have every right to run my classroom as I see fit. I am not here to coddle the children. I am here