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“No. That comes later,” Sicily added.

“All right, enough of this. It’s time for y’all to go home.”

“Oh, now Ms. Jones wants us to go home,” Carrie said.

They teased her as she shooed them away.

“Go change your clothes and meet me on the bus. Don’t get left behind!”

The students disbursed, and when the room emptied, Carla turned around, only to be swept up in Jacob’s embrace again.

“You know, I’ve wanted to tell you all day that I love your hair.”

Carla’s eye widened. “My hair?”

“Yes. This sandy brown color is your natural color?”

“Yes.”

“And these thick curls are your natural texture?”

“It’s an afro,” she said dryly.

“It’s beautiful.” His gaze carried over her mane and then dropped to her eyes. “You’re beautiful.” His dark regard dropped to her mouth.

“Thank you.” She blushed, watching him eyeing her lips. “If you want to kiss me, you don’t have to wait for my permission.”

His lips dove into hers, and heat covered Carla’s skin as she allowed him to taste her mouth. Warm, soft, firm, but inviting, living in the sweetness of Jacob’s kiss was heaven. If it were up to Carla, she would kiss him forever.

His arms drove up and down her back, and as if they weren’t already tightly plastered, he strengthened his embrace.

“Mmmm,” she moaned into his mouth.

If Carla didn’t know any better, she would think she was falling in love with Jacob, and that was a feeling that not only scared her but thrilled her all the same.

Chapter Fifteen

When the class returned the next day, the paint was dry, and it was on to the next phase, to decorate the building. With the help of designers who’d been hired to come in and perfect the students’ touches, they turned the Boys & Girls Club into a fun-filled atmosphere with different colors, playful furniture, game corners, and a library for reading.

Outside, crews had dug the claylike soil deeper than before, adding to the length of the small lake already there. Once the water supply line was installed, filling the lake came quickly, and the students were excited to see it filled to capacity.

They worked the three days of the redesign tirelessly. On the last day, camera crews were allowed a tour of the Boys & Girls Club Community Center, and the students were allowed to swim in the lake.

“Come on, Ms. Jones, you and Mr. Boyfriend have to get in with us!” Sicily teased.

Carla pursed her lips and shook her head as Jacob slipped an arm around her shoulder. “I’ve been reduced to Mr. Boyfriend. What happened to Mr. Rose?”

The girls giggled and ran to jump in the lake. Carla turned her smile up at Jacob. “That’s what you get for putting a sista on blast.”

“Speaking of putting a sista on blast.” He lifted her and tossed Carla over his shoulder, striding to the lake. “I hope you have a set of dry clothes.”

Carla’s eyes lurched. “Oh, my God, don’t you dare, Jacob!”

“Do it! Do it! Do it!” the students chanted.

Jacob wiggled his brows as he passed Pricilla, who stood to the side laughing and knowing Carla was going to freak about her hair.

“Jacob!” Carla screamed.