Page 53 of Act of Brotherhood
“Yeah. I know.” Cody led Garth to the school and in the side entrance. It was clear Cody knew his way around the place. Garth resisted asking just how many times Cody had been there. The shark-shifter pointed to a classroom door. “That one is the four-year-old room. Nicolette’s class. I’ll catch up with you later. I’m off to teach kids to wear a life jacket and to not look like a sea turtle in the water or risk being gobbled up by a great white.”
Garth rolled his eyes at the man.
Cody laughed and hurried away.
Garth entered the classroom and glanced around the room, noting all of the small pieces of furniture. While he wasn’t great with children, and had never thought he wanted any, he had to admit the thought was growing on him. He wanted them with Nicolette. His gaze swept to her. She was busy preparing for the arrival of the children.
She looked so sweet and innocent that it was hard to believe it was the same woman who had screamed out in pleasure throughout the night when they’d joined. The same woman who had artfully sucked him off.
His cell buzzed, indicating he had a text. He withdrew it from his back pocket and read it. The prisoner transport was called off. He didn’t know the hows or whys, and he didn’t care. All he knew was that it meant he could spend more time with Nicolette before he had to head back to PSI.
He didn’t want to leave her.
Hell, he’d been thinking of ways to talk her into joining him. Nothing he could think of sounded good, and tossing her over his shoulder and running off with her was frowned on in most circles.
His phone buzzed again. With a sigh, he checked to see if he was being recalled to home office. He wasn’t. What he saw made him smile.
Gram was awake, and so far, doing much better than expected.
Good.
Very good.
The serum had worked.
“Ms. Henebury!” exclaimed a little boy as he ran into the room and right for Nicolette. He hugged her thigh, and then stepped back, taking off his tiny backpack. “Today is our celebration!”
“It is,” she said, smiling wide before ruffling the boy’s hair. “Put your backpack in your cubby, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, rushing over and doing as instructed.
One by one, additional children arrived, all happy to see Nicolette and all excited about the party they were to have. Their joy would wane the minute they tasted the cupcakes.
Garth knew he should leave, but he found himself leaning against the cabinet, watching Nicolette as she interacted with the children, getting them ready for their day of fun activities. She was amazing with them. Clearly, she had a gift for dealing with children, and it was easy to see she loved her job.
The students loved her too.
A little girl with dark pigtails came to a stop in front of Garth and looked up, andup, andupbefore her eyes widened. “You’re tall like a tree.”
He grinned. “I suppose I am.”
“You have pretty hair,” she said.
Nicolette approached and grinned. “She’s right. You do have very pretty hair. I like it down but it’s nice back in a full braid too.”
Garth lifted a brow, wondering how she knew what his hair would look like fully braided.
The little girl laughed. “Only girls braid their hair, silly.”
Garth looked down at her. “That’s not entirely true. Some boys do as well.”
She tipped her head. “Like some girls have short hair?”
He nodded.
She seemed to think on it. “Okay. Come on.”
Before Garth could protest, the little girl had ahold of his pinkie finger and was tugging on him to follow her. He cast Nicolette a desperate look. She was too busy helping a little boy with his backpack to notice.
