Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Chapter Seven
“Where is Emma?” Linc questioned two of the boys as they set up in the classroom.
“Not sure, Linc. I can go to the office and see if that’s where she is.” Darby Smoot, the younger of the two, made the offer.
“Please do. Remind her that she is signed up for this class and we need to get started.”
The boy nodded and dashed out the door.
Linc sighed as he looked around the room. She’d gotten him to agree to teach this class but he wanted her with him. There was something very calming about that woman. She calmed the loud cacophony that seemed to echo in his head when he had to do painting things with others. That had always been his private getaway and the only reason he agreed to teach the class was because of Emma.
It was a full room and he expected as much. Not that they would all stay for the entire thing, but as with Mitchell and Tully, when they did something, the kids lined up to be a part of it.
The class wasn’t going to be very structured. He wanted them to figure out what they liked to paint. He would be around to help, if needed.
“Let’s get started then.”
“No bowl of fruit at the front to paint, Linc?”
He glanced at the door and shook his head as Mitchell walked in the room, two more kids following him.
“I have faith in my kids, Mitchell. But if you’d like something simple, I can get a basketball for you. You may know what they look like.”
“I’ve seen one or two.” He smacked the kids with him on the shoulder and they hurried in to claim a spot. With a jut of his chin, Mitchell had him moving in his direction.
“Everything okay?” Linc asked in a low tone when he reached his friend.
“Yes. Just seeing how you’re doing. Haven’t talked to you in a few days. If you need anything with Mr. Stevenson, just let me or Tully know. We’ve been giving you space since we know that’s taking up your time, making sure everything is smooth for his sporadic drop-ins.”
He knew and he missed them. He, Mitchell, and Tully were close. Even when they’d each been involved in their professional careers, they’d spoken at least once a week.
“I’m good. I have a lot to tell you both.”
His friend grinned, eyebrows waggling. “About your fiancée?”
A rare spike of jealousy toward Mitchell spiked through him. Emma and Mitchell would make an attractive couple.
“You need to stay away from her.”
Mitchell rolled his eyes. “You’re just like Tully about Dawson. Just because I talk to her doesn’t mean I want her up against the wall.”
“Keep it that way.”
Mitchell waved off the threat and Linc let it go. The man was his best friend. He didn’t have to worry about him trying anything with Emma.
“Tomorrow, dinner at my place. I’m not taking no for an answer. Bring something good.” Mitchell backed out of the door.
“How does dinner at your place turn into me bringing the food?”
“Shouldn’t neglect me.” With a two-fingered salute, Mitchell jogged off.
Rolling his eyes, Linc went in the room and gave the kids his attention. Not much later, Darby came back and approached him at the front of the classroom. When the kid handed him a folded note, he took it and gestured for him to head to his spot and join in the painting.
Slicing through the tape, he unfolded the sheet.
On a phone call with a parent. Will be there as soon as I can.
Emma.
That was it.
Damn it, he missed her.
Placing the note in his pocket, he walked around and helped when asked, answering questions as he moved from kid to kid.
This was the last class of the night and it wasn’t even going to be an hour. He thought it went well and was cleaning off the last of the brushes when a tingle of awareness moved over him.
“How’d the phone call go?” He didn’t turn from the sink, just continued to clean.
“Fine. How did the class go?”
There is something wrong with me if just hearing her voice makes me smile like a fool.
“Not bad. They’re finding out what they like. I do believe I have an attendance problem, though.”
“And you?” Emma asked, the sound of her footsteps growing nearer. “Did you enjoy it? And what do you mean you have an attendance problem? Were there too many in the room? Next time we could take it to the room with the removable divider if you need more space.”
He didn’t respond until she was beside him at the sink. Then he cut his gaze to her and stared down at the top of her head, noting how her hair was up in a haphazard bun at the base of her neck.
“I did. I meant I have a certain woman who said she would be attending this class if I taught it, and she wasn’t here.” Emma sank her teeth into her lower lip again and he wanted to press his thumb to it instead. He cleared his throat.