Page 34 of Unbreakable Love

“Whatever,” I muttered and shook the thought away.

So my student’s father was attractive. Big deal.

I’d resisted men before, and I could do it again. Which was a laughable thought in itself. There was no way Gavin would feel the same as me, so there would be no resisting.

“Yay me.” I dug into my grocery bag and pulled out my large stock pot.

After they’d dropped me off, I changed into jeans and a sweatshirt with the name of my sister’s college. My hair went up in a clip at the back of my head. I’d spent time grading tests and then since I had two more hours to kill and nothing to do before I came here, I’d prepped the vegetables, which left me with dicing the chicken as the only form of prep work I needed to do.

I opened the chicken and got to work and had just started dicing the second breast when I heard, “Be right back, Daddy!”

There was the quick rapid thumping of footsteps on wood floor and then there was Josie, dressed in flannel pants and a long-sleeved matching button-up flannel pajama top, a hint of a lavender shirt beneath her purple and pink and black plaid pajamas. She ran toward me, her long, wet hair soaking her top as she came closer.

“You’re here!” She jumped up and down and then climbed onto a stool on the opposite side of the island. “Can I help? I’m really good at helping. My grandma says so all the time.”

“Josie,” Gavin scolded, appearing and heading toward us. “Your hair is getting everything soaked.”

She whipped her head around and droplets flew off the ends of her hair.

I shrieked as some hit me in the face and brushed them off. “Your dad’s not wrong, Josie.”

“Sorry,” she replied. “I was just so excited you’re here and having dinner with us.”

“I know you are, munchkin.” Gavin set down hair ties and a brush on the island next to her. “So how about you sit here while I get your hair ready?”

“I wanna help.” Her arms crossed in front of her and plopped down onto the counter. “That’s the best part.”

“Sorry, Josie,” I said and waved my knife in front of all the ingredients. “I chopped most everything before I came. After I get the chicken cut up, I just have to toss it all in. If you want, though, when your dad is done with your hair, you can help me get the garlic bread ready?”

“Sweet!” She sat straight up.

I dared to glance at Gavin. He rolled his eyes at me and then set down the comb in his hand. “I’ll be right back. Forgot the towel and detangler. You’re good here?”

“Sure am,” I said and focused on the chicken.

Once it was cut, I moved everything over to the stove.

And that was how the next half hour went.

I worked on cooking chicken and quinoa soup while Gavin combed and brushed and then braided Josie’s hair.

I stalled for a moment, holding a can of diced tomatoes frozen in the air, lingering over the pot far after it’d been dumped in as I saw his fingers work with expert precision through Josie’s hair. He wasn’t only good at it, but quick, and Josie only flinched once while he worked.

When I’d started braiding Maize’s hair, she’d screamed and cried and thrown a fit every time I came near her for years until I figured out how to get her French braids in.

“You’re good at that,” I told him.

He barely glanced at me, but Josie broke out into a huge smile.

“I’ve had lots of practice.”

“Better than I could do,” I replied, winked at Josie, and turned back to the soup. A quick taste told me everything was hot and well-seasoned, and while it wasn’t gourmet, it was tasty and healthy.

“Are we ready for the bread yet?”

“You got it, slugger.”

“Slugger?” Her nose scrunched up.

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