Patricia Johns - Falling For The Cowboy Dad

“It’s not that. Apparently they were involved a lot with Carol-Ann, so when she passed guardianship to me, they were already in the picture,” he replied. “Anyway, the child welfare lady is coming back in two weeks, and I want to have something to show her—something to prove I’m the right one for my daughter, as stupid as it is that I even have to defend that...but Poppy needs to learn stuff that I can’t teach her.”

Billy was in over his head, and like he had done in the past, he was coming to her. There’d been a time when she would have done anything he asked...

“I’m not sure what you’re worried about,” Grace replied. “She’s doing just fine. I mean, if anything, she’s miles ahead.”

“And she’s bored,” he said.

“You know what they say about reading to kids—” she began.

“No, she’s really bored. She needs more than I can give her...intellectually. I don’t know what to show her next, and she’s constantly asking me to teach her something. Look, I can just feel it. She needs to learn stuff, and I’m at a loss here.”

“I could recommend a tutor—” she started.

“Why not you?” he asked, and he met her gaze pleadingly.

“I’m not going to be here long-term,” she countered. “I’m very, very temporary.”

“For the next couple of weeks, then,” he said. “I trust you, Gracie. If you could teach Poppy some extra stuff—satisfy that curiosity of hers—I think it would go a long way toward showing social services that they have nothing to worry about.”

“You’re going to be fine,” she said, and she wished she sounded more certain. He would be...wouldn’t he? This was his daughter—his family situation didn’t include her. “I’ll definitely give her some extra challenge in the classroom, and I can send some books home that you could read with her.”

Billy swallowed. “So that’s a no?”

No. That was the right answer here. She should turn him down and send him to a teaching assistant or some local tutor. But she’d always been his answer, his trusty friend, and while they’d been apart for a few years, falling back into their old patterns seemed as natural as breathing. That was the problem with Billy—he fit into her heart too perfectly, and she never could say no to him. Not that it made any difference in how he’d seen her. Billy admired her, trusted her... He even thought she was funny. He just didn’t love her in return.

Just then Poppy came back with the book under one arm and a hopeful look on her face.

“I got it!” she said. “Daddy, you’ll like this one. It’s got a bear fixing a car, and you like fixing cars, right?”

“Yeah, I do,” he said with a smile, then he looked over at Grace hopefully. She knew what he wanted, and if she hadn’t spent the last three years trying to purge him out of her system, agreeing to teach that insatiable little sponge would have been a pleasure.

“You hungry, Grace?” Billy asked instead.

“Uh...” Grace shrugged. “I suppose.”

“Why don’t you come with us for an early dinner? My treat. Poppy and I like pizza, and I seem to remember you liked sausage pizza.” He shot her a familiar smile. “Besides, maybe you’ll give me some credibility with my daughter. I told her we were friends.”

The sound of high heels echoing down the hallway made Grace look up, and she saw Mrs. Mackel coming toward them.

“Hello, Poppy,” the principal said with a smile. “How was your first day?”

Poppy made a face. “I didn’t like it.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” the principal said. “I have a feeling tomorrow will be better, though.”

Poppy didn’t answer, and Mrs. Mackel turned her attention to Grace.

“Do you have a moment, Miss Beverly?”

“Sure.”

They stepped aside, and the principal handed her a slip of paper with a phone number written on it. “I just spoke with the principal at an elementary school in Denver. You applied for a job starting in September, I believe?”

“Yes—” Grace’s breath caught in her throat.

“He was just checking on your references, and I gave him a glowing one. He asked that you give him a call. He sounded very interested in you.”

A surge of delight throbbed through her heart, and she shot the principal a grin. “That is wonderful news!”

“I agree!” Mrs. Mackel said. “Whichever school gets you is incredibly lucky! I’m happy for you, Grace. I hope it isn’t premature, but congratulations.”

Grace would call the principal in question just as soon as she could, and she looked over to find Billy watching her quizzically. Mrs. Mackel headed back down the hallway, toward the school office.

“You got offered a job?” Billy said.

So much for discretion. “I hope so... It looks that way.”

“Where is the school?”

“Denver,” she said. “But nothing is confirmed yet. I need to return a phone call.”

“Yeah, you bet.” He nodded quickly, but the glitter had gone out of his eyes. He pressed his lips together in a firm line. This was hers—she’d been looking for full-time work for a year now, and to finally have a request for her to call back after checking her references was a massive accomplishment. She’d never gotten this far in the process before. Not that he’d know that.

“Billy, I wasn’t staying—” she began.

“Yeah, I know.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. She didn’t need him to understand this, did she? They couldn’t be the pair of best friends they used to be...

“You did the same thing to me when you took off with Tracy,” she reminded him with what she hoped was a teasing smile, but she wasn’t sure she managed it.

“Hey, you’ve got to do what’s good for you,” he said, scooping up his daughter’s hand in his broad palm. “I’m happy for you. I just wish I had you around Eagle’s Rest for longer.”

Why did she feel like she was abandoning him? It wasn’t a fair emotional reaction to this. She didn’t owe Billy Austin a blasted thing. She wasn’t his fallback in time of need—she was a woman with a life of her own, and her life was moving forward at long last.

“So, what about that pizza?” he said.

Okay, it seemed they were over her news and back to dinner plans. She pushed down some irritation. She should say no, bow out...but she had a feeling that she’d have reason to celebrate, and there was no harm in some pizza, was there? She eyed Billy for a moment, then smiled. “Give me a minute to return this call, and you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Miss Beverly?” Poppy whispered, and Grace bent down to catch the girl’s words. “Who’s going to teach me calculus?” Poppy stared up with solemn sincerity.

Grace looked up at Billy and saw hope glimmering through his own solemn expression.

Maybe she could help him out for a couple of weeks. What could it hurt? If she refused, she’d only think about him constantly anyway. Besides, some time with him might help to break the spell. He was a man—nothing more or less—and a lot had changed since he had run off with Tracy. Maybe some time together could prove that to her, and she could shake her heart free of him for good.

“Well, tonight I can’t show you calculus,” Grace said, “but I can introduce you to fractions...”

“Fractions?” Poppy’s eyes lit up. “What’s that?”

“I’ll show you with the pizza,” Grace promised.

“So...” Billy caught her eye. “Are you saying you’ll help me out?”

“Yes,” she said with a small smile. “I suppose I am. For two weeks. But that’s all we’ve got, okay? After that, you’ll have to find someone else.”

“Thank you. You’re one in a million—you know that?” He shot her a grin, and she felt something inside of her melt.