Page 51

“Ignore it?” said Ava. “That’s your suggestion.” She stepped away and her voice went back to normal. “Just pretend nothing happened? Seriously, you are absolutely the most irritating—”

She was cut off by Hope’s hand on her arm.

“You don’t need to do this,” Hope said quietly, dark eyes calm and kind. “We don’t need to make everything an argument. You know what I meant. I simply meant that I’m not going to push anything. I understand that you might not be in a place where kissing seems important or necessary to your life. No hard feelings, no regrets. No follow ups necessary. That’s all.”

Ava opened her mouth but no words came out so she shut it again. She simply nodded.

“Alrighty then,” said Hope. “I’ll leave you to your evening.”

She picked up her purse from the closet and walked out of the classroom without looking back, leaving Ava to watch her go with a sharp feeling in her chest and an overly-warm sensation in her stomach. And possibly in other areas of her body.

IF SHE TRIED very hard, she could ignore the fact that anything had happened. It was actually easy at the beginning. She just paid more attention to the leaves changing color, or to the bite of chill at her nose.

But then she’d forget that she was supposed to be paying attention to those things and remember instead the press of Hope’s lips against hers.

Which was ridiculous.

This couldn’t happen.

She was too tired even to think of all the reasons that nothing could happen.

Yet her mind circled back again and again to the kiss and again and again she felt warm inside, she felt her body responding to it.

Which was exactly why she needed a distraction, she told herself, as she marched through the door of the bookstore.

“Back again?” Mila chirped, popping up from behind the counter.

“Behind the counter again?” responded Ava because honestly, what was the woman doing down there?

“You’re out of luck this time,” said Mila. “Ag’s here. So if you’re allergic to babies then you’d best skedaddle.” She reached down and pulled up the wriggling infant.

“Is that really the best way to treat customers?” Ava asked. “I mean, telling them to skedaddle doesn’t seem like a great way to make money.”

“You’re the one that treated my daughter like she was a uranium bomb.”

“I did not.”

“You did too,” Mila said.

“I was… having a bad day.”

Mila snorted.

“No,” said Ava, suddenly determined that she was going to put this right. She was good with children. Okay, she was getting better with children. “I was. Hand her over. Come on.”

Mila looked at her doubtfully, but Ag was gurgling and holding out her arms already, so finally she passed her daughter over and Ava took her in her arms.

“Hold her head a bit better,” Mila said. “And put an arm under her bum, yes, like that.”

Mila’s arms were full and suddenly she was looking into deep blue eyes that regarded her with infinite curiosity. “See?” she said, voice lowering. “I can do this.”

“Huh,” said Mila. “I suppose you can. Which is a miracle all things considered. Mind you, I’ve heard that the kids are well into you. They think the sun shines out of your… nether regions.”

“Do they?” Ava asked, somewhat surprised. She really hadn’t considered whether or not her students liked her, but now she was considering it, she found it gratifying that they did.

“They do,” said Mila, stretching out her arms to take Ag back. “She’s got a book and a teething ring down here. Hold her too long and she’s likely to drown you in drool.”

Ava hurriedly handed the child back. She might have changed but she hadn’t changed that much. “I’m looking for a distraction.”