Romancing the Wallflower

by Michelle Major

  “Now throw it back,” he told her and she flipped the fish into the reservoir. There was a splash, and the fish shimmered on the surface for a few seconds before swimming off.

  “Bye, fish,” Rhett called, then glanced up at David. “Can we skip stones now?”

  “Sure, buddy. We’ll collect the fishing gear and head over to you.”

  “I’ll get more ready.” Rhett smiled, then walked back toward his rock pile.

  “I held a fish,” Erin murmured, still holding her arms out in front of her.

  “Like a pro,” David confirmed. He pulled a bandanna out of the pocket of his cargo pants and took her hand in his, gently wiping each of her fingers.

  “I’m going to need to shower for days to get the fish smell off me.”

  “One hot shower should do the trick,” he said with a smile. “If you’re looking for a volunteer to scrub your back...”

  She yanked her hands away from his. “You shouldn’t tease me.”

  He leaned in and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “Who says I’m teasing?”

  Heat spiked through her, and her whole body flooded with need. As if unaware of her reaction, David simply grabbed the fishing pole and net and walked off the dock toward Rhett on the shore.

  She followed, trying to keep her focus on the boy. That’s why she was here—to help with Rhett. Anything more would surely end in emotional disaster.

  * * *

  David climbed the front steps of Crimson Elementary the following Wednesday afternoon, cursing himself for believing he finally had his life under control.

  After Sunday’s fishing excursion, something had changed with Rhett. His nephew had always been a bit distant, as if Jenna had warned him about coming to rely on Uncle David. Although he understood the sentiment, the tacit rejection still stung. But between the fishing lessons and skipping stones across the placid surface of the reservoir, the boy had started to relax and engage with David in a way he hadn’t before.

  David gave a lot of the credit to Erin. Her presence seemed to bridge the gap that he couldn’t manage on his own. Rhett clearly loved having the attention of his teacher outside the classroom. Her easy smile and gentle encouragement softened the boy, and he was far more connected when she was around.

  The funny thing was, David felt the exact same way. Despite a long string of girlfriends, he’d never been one for domestication. He was used to tumultuous relationships—loud arguments and intense make-up sessions that he’d assumed were normal given how he was raised.

  Everything in his life had been emotional crisis and big scenes. But Erin made the ordinary bits feel just as exciting as the adrenaline rush that came from being swept along in a drama-filled haze.

  He hadn’t seen much of her since Sunday, despite dropping off and picking Rhett up from school every day and the fact that the boy had spent two afternoons in her after-school program.

  It was a relief to have a safe place for Rhett to be in the hours before David could break away from work. He’d hired another bartender so he didn’t have to deal with late nights, but with the plans for Oktoberfest and the festival’s highly anticipated beer competition well under way, this wasn’t a time he could take an extended vacation from the bar.

  Between school, Erin and a couple trusted babysitters, David thought he was successfully managing his newfound role of single parent. Then he’d gotten the call from the school’s principal, alerting him that Rhett had been in a fight with another boy during recess, the result of which would be a one-day suspension.

  Hell, even David had made it to third grade before he’d been suspended for the first time. So much for having things under control.

  He was buzzed into the building and headed for the reception desk. The woman behind it glanced up as he approached. She took him in head to toe and he saw her eyes widen. That’s when he remembered the T-shirt he was wearing, which had the words I’d Tap That emblazoned across the front.

  Way to make an impression.

  Rhett’s principal was going to love him. David did a mental eye roll as he wondered what Erin would think.

  Probably that she’d dodged a bullet when he hadn’t immediately taken her up on her offer to have an affair.

  A moment later, an older woman with a sleek brown bob and wire-framed glasses came out of the office to greet him.

  “Mr. McCay, I’m Karen Henderson, Crimson Elementary’s principal.”

  “Call me David,” he said as he shook her hand.

  “Thank you for coming in today. I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances. I understand from Ms. MacDonald that there have been some disruptions in Rhett’s home life recently.”

  David gritted his teeth as he followed the woman into her office. “Is Rhett okay? Where is he?”

  “He’ll be along shortly,” she said, moving behind her desk and taking a seat. “He’s with the school counselor at the moment. I wanted a chance to speak to you first.”

  The office was just as he remembered the principal’s office at the three different elementary schools he’d attended as a kid. His mom had a habit of moving frequently, taking short-term leases on whatever cheap apartment she could get near her latest boyfriend.

  “There’s no need to sugarcoat it,” he told her. “My sister is getting help for her problems. Rhett and I are coping as best we can. You can be sure nothing like today will repeat itself.”

  She nodded and opened a file on her desk. “I appreciate that, Mr. McCay.”

  “David.”

  “The other boy—the one he fought with—is also being disciplined. He’s a second grader at the school.”

  David felt his temper flare. How had Rhett managed to get in a fight with a second grader?

  “Why did it happen?” he demanded. “Rhett’s only been at the school a month.”

  She shook her head, her already-thin lips pressing into a tight line. “From what the teachers and I were able to get out of them, the other boy made a disparaging remark about Rhett’s mother.”

  Everything in David went still—only for a second. Then memories from his childhood, of his mother and the fights he got in defending her honor, crashed through him.

  “I want to see Rhett,” he said through clenched teeth. “And Erin. Where’s Erin?”

  The principal’s shoulders stiffened. “Ms. MacDonald,” she said, placing an emphasis on the name as if to remind him of his place, “is out of the building today.”

  “Out where?”

  “At a district-wide training. Rhett’s class had a substitute teacher. Mrs. Mills has been a sub at the school for quite a few years, longer than Ms. MacDonald has been here. She’s quite capable.”

  “She’s not Erin,” he said. At the woman’s frown, he added, “Ms. MacDonald. Rhett has a special bond with Ms. MacDonald.”

  The woman’s frown deepened. “Be that as it may, she’s his teacher, Mr. McCay. Nothing more. Whether it’s with Ms. MacDonald or another member of our staff, your nephew is in good hands at our school.”

  There was a knock at the door, and it opened to reveal another woman who looked to be about ten years younger than the principal. She was petite, with bright red hair and a kind face. “Rhett would like to see his uncle.”

  Karen Henderson nodded and the door opened wider to reveal Rhett standing next to the redhead.

  David stood, not sure where to start with the conflicting emotions simmering inside him.

  To his surprise, Rhett launched himself forward and covered the space between them in a few hurried steps. The boy reached out, and David automatically lifted him into his arms. Rhett held tight, his small body shaking as he clung to David.

  “It’s okay,” David whispered, even though it was a lie for both of them. “You’re okay.”

  “We need to tal
k about the situation,” the principal said softly, and Rhett’s hold on David tightened even more. “He has to understand—”

  “I’ll make sure he understands,” David said. “Right now, I’m taking him home.”

  “Mr. McCay—”

  “A one-day suspension.” David glanced over his shoulder as he moved toward the door. “He’ll be back in class on Friday.”

  He didn’t bother to wait for a response. Settling Rhett’s weight on his hip, he walked out of the school and toward his truck, which was parked at the curb. “Let’s get you buckled in,” he said gently, and after a moment Rhett’s arms went slack.

  “Are you hurt?”

  The boy gave a slight shake of his head.

  David settled him in the booster seat Jenna had helped him install and strapped him in, the buckle clicking shut.

  Rhett kept his head lowered, and David didn’t say anything else. He needed to get away from the school and also wanted some time to rein in his emotions. Anger was part of it—some of it aimed at Rhett for getting into the fight in the first place. But most of it was leveled at Jenna, for putting all of them in this situation.

  He flipped on the radio as he pulled onto the road, and a raucous country song about whiskey and women who broke a cowboy’s heart filled the cab.

  It fit his mood perfectly.

  Not that his heart was broken. He wasn’t fool enough to open himself up to that kind of trouble. But betrayal swept through him nonetheless. He’d so quickly come to rely on Erin—her sweetness and the kindness she’d shown toward Rhett. He’d wanted to believe...that it was more than a sense of duty. Of course she had other responsibilities, and caring for Rhett was part of her job.

  He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Rhett with his head still down, wringing his small hands together in his lap. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, as though he was also struggling to hold it together.

  David’s anger melted away. He still wanted answers from his nephew, and for the boy to understand that fighting at school wouldn’t be tolerated. But the kid was hurting and probably felt totally alone in the world. David knew a lot about being alone.

  He didn’t want that for Rhett.

  Downtown Crimson was bustling as he turned the truck onto Main Street. The weather was perfect for the first week of October, still warm with just a hint of cool to the air. High on the mountain, the aspen leaves were changing from green to gold. Soon the riot of color would extend down into town, and the weekends would be busy with fall tourists and a few hunters on their way to higher elevations.

  He pulled the truck to a stop against the curb and punched in a quick text to Tracie. He was supposed to have a meeting this afternoon with the head of a regional bottling company to ensure that everything was on track for the Oktoberfest celebration. He was going to have to delegate, even though it killed him to relinquish that kind of control.

  He’d catch up later, he told himself. Right now, the more important work was with his nephew.

  “This isn’t your parking spot.” David undid the buckle of the booster seat, and Rhett climbed out of the truck to the sidewalk.

  “I thought we’d stop at Life Is Sweet for a cookie on the way home,” David told him, pointing to the sign above the bakery a few doors down.

  As they walked, Rhett said quietly, “I got in trouble today.”

  “I know, buddy. That’s why I was at the school.”

  “Do you still want to get me a cookie?” There was a hitch in his voice that made David’s chest ache.

  “I sure do.” David ruffled his hair. “We’re going to need to talk about what happened, but I think a snack will make both of us feel better.”

  “Yeah,” Rhett agreed after a moment, and slipped his hand into David’s.

  The chimes above the door jingled as they walked in. Despite living in Crimson for almost three years, David had only been in the bakery a handful of times. He wasn’t much for sweets and didn’t drink coffee. Besides, there was something about the cozy feel of the space that made his skin itch with a need he couldn’t quite identify.

  The woman who owned Life Is Sweet, Katie Crawford, was always friendly and he’d met her husband, Noah, on several occasions.

  But a bakery was different from a brewpub. There was a sense of community that radiated from it, and David had never had a desire to be part of any community.

  Yet somehow he knew it was the right thing for Rhett.

  Maybe for both of them.

  He ordered two chocolate chip cookies and a milk for Rhett, then they took a seat in the small café area at a wrought iron table. There was a young couple at the table next to them, both with steaming coffee mugs in front of them and both tapping away on their phones. David had seen the same thing happen with people in the bar. They came in groups but instead of talking, they spent their time scrolling through social media or dating sites.

  It made him feel old at twenty-nine that he wanted no part of online dating. He hadn’t even thought about dating since his move to Crimson—at least until he’d met Erin.

  With a sigh, he put her out of his mind as best he could and focused on Rhett.

  The boy was nibbling the edge of his cookie and had a tiny smear of chocolate at the corner of his mouth.

  “A second grader?” David asked casually, figuring the best way to deal with today was to get straight to the point.

  Rhett shrugged. “He was only a little bigger than me.”

  “That’s not really the point.”

  Rhett paused midbite and glanced up. “Mommy said you got in lots of trouble when you were a kid. She told me not to be like you.”

  David sighed. Thanks, Jenna.

  “That was probably good advice, but here we are. Want to tell me about the fight?”

  Rhett shook his head, his shaggy hair falling across one eye. Add a kid’s haircut to the to-do list, David thought.

  “We have to talk about it, unless you’d rather go back to the school and talk to Ms. Henderson and your teacher.”

  “Ms. MacDonald was gone today,” Rhett said glumly. “I can’t tell her.”

  Right. Erin hadn’t been there to run interference. David knew he had no right to be angry but couldn’t seem to stop the feeling of betrayal that washed through him. Erin made him believe he wasn’t alone in caring for Rhett. That he had things under control. It was somehow easier to direct his frustration toward her than to any of the other things in his life that seemed beyond his control. “Then tell me.”

  “He called Mommy a bad word,” the boy said, breaking the remainder of his cookie in half. “Real bad.”

  “What word?”

  Rhett scrunched up his nose, as if he’d smelled something rotten. Then he climbed off the chair and moved to David’s side. He stood on tiptoe and when David bent toward him, whispered the word slut in his ear.

  Blood roared in David’s head as he stared down at his five-year-old nephew. “Do you know what that word means?”

  “Isaac said Mommy’s boyfriend is his daddy, and she stole him from Isaac’s mommy.”

  David didn’t know much about the man his sister had been dating for the past few months. She’d told him he had a good job and they were just having fun together. Either she didn’t know or had forgotten to mention that he also had another family. One that was targeting Rhett.

  “What’s Isaac’s last name?”

  “I don’t know,” Rhett answered, climbing back into his seat. “He came up to me when I was on the monkey bars and pushed me and said mean things about Mommy.” He gripped the milk bottle tightly. “I got really mad. I didn’t mean to get into a fight, Uncle David. Then the teacher came and yelled at me and he cried and she yelled more.” He shook his head. “Ms. MacDonald never yells no matter how mad we make her.”

 
; “Ms. MacDonald won’t always be there for you, Rhett.” David didn’t mean for his words to come out harshly, but the boy’s bottom lip quivered.

  “He shouldn’t have said what he did about your mom.” David gentled his voice and leaned forward. “Did you explain it to your teacher and the principal?”

  Rhett shook his head, and by the set of his jaw David understood why. Rhett was young but still old enough to understand there could be some truth in the other boy’s accusations. Not the name-calling. That was inexcusable. But Jenna had a history of making poor choices in men.

  Just like David’s mother. He’d spent too much of his childhood trying to protect his mom without even realizing he was doing it. Making excuses for why she missed parent-teacher conferences, pretending she was picking him up around the block when in reality he walked home, forging signatures on forms and permission slips every year.

  He’d tried to protect Jenna, but in the end he’d failed her.

  He wouldn’t fail Rhett.

  “I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he promised the boy. “But if anyone gives you trouble, talk to a teacher instead of fighting. Talk to me. I’m here to help you, Rhett. It’s my job.”

  “I thought your job was making beer.”

  David smiled, but the muscles of his face felt stiff. “I do that, too, but nothing is more important to me than you. Nothing.”

  Chapter Six

  Erin walked into Elevation later that night, her eyes scanning the bar for David.

  Instead, the gorgeous bartender who’d given her the once-over last Sunday met her gaze.

  “He’s got the night off,” she said as Erin approached.

  “I went upstairs and rang the bell,” Erin admitted, “but he didn’t answer.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want to talk,” the woman said and turned her back on Erin to grab two pint glasses from underneath the shelf behind her. “To you,” she added over her shoulder.

  Erin felt color rush to her cheeks. She was well aware that David didn’t want to talk to her. She’d been trying to get in touch with him since she stopped at the school after her district meeting and Karen Henderson told her what had happened with Rhett on the playground.