Page 47

“I am highly interested in seeing where you came from and how you grew up.”

“As am I. Except, I kind of know more than I probably should.”

“How do you know? Did you ask my sisters about me?”

“Well, I…” she cleared her throat. “I’ve looked into you.”

“Looked into me?”

“Yeah. I mean—”

“You were stalking me.” It wasn’t a question. He peered at her.

“No! God, no. I mean, I was curious about your life,” she rushed to add. “But not to the point of following you home or anything.”

“Yet, you’re here. In my home.”

She raised to her elbows, staring at him. “You gave me the address.”

His smile developed into laughter, and she swatted him. “God, how do I keep falling for your jokes!?”

He drew her closer to his mouth, placing a kiss against her temple.

“It’s okay. I’m better at telling jokes than you.”

“Now, I don’t know about all that.”

He laughed and kissed down her face, and suddenly the warmth of the room wasn’t only because of the fire burning.

Chirp. Chirp.

A sigh ushered from Carla. It seemed as if every time she and Jacob got close, that phone of hers would go off. She had a mind to power it down until she left. Retrieving the phone from her pocket, she took her eyes across the notification.

It was an email from Principal Sharp. Rising completely, Carla tapped the notification and read the email.

“Oh, my God!” Her face brightened, and she turned to Jacob. “Principal Sharp approved the campaign!”

“That’s excellent. Congratulations, beautiful.”

She stared at him, and he pulled her back to his chest. Scooping Carla under his arm, she shimmied on her behind on the floor.

“This is so great. I can’t wait to tell the kids when I get back to school Monday.” Her thoughts churned, and she thought about Sicily. There was something she needed to do. It was necessary.

“How much time will you need to get the waivers and permission slips from the kids’ parents?”

Carla bit down on her lip. “Maybe two weeks. Is that too long?”

“It’s fine. The constructors and designers are already completing the hard work. I’ll have the students help each other with creating the interior look of the rooms. They’ll have to work together and be worn out by the time it’s finished.”

Carla laughed. “Good. That’s what they need.”

She turned her head to look up at him. “Thank you, Jacob. I appreciate you doing this with me.”

He planted another kiss on her forehead. “Don’t mention it. You are easy to work with.”

“You would say that until I am the boss.”

“Why don’t we test that theory?”