Page 103 of A Forgotten Heart
He lowered his lips toward hers, but Elsie leaned back and bopped her finger against his nose. “You, sir, are an upstanding teacher, a leader in the schoolroom, and an example of good behavior for the entire county. You’d better behave.”
He tilted his head, an ornery grin on his face. “Starting tomorrow, perhaps.”
He leaned in again, but she pushed against his chest and maneuvered out of his arms. She pointed to the dustpan she’d left on a bench by the back door. “There’s still work to be done, Mr. McGraw.”
Mr. McGraw. And she was Mrs. McGraw. She’d never tire of saying that.
She weaved through the desks to reach the dustpan, Nick still at the front of the room, a roguish posture in his shoulders.
“I have an idea.”
She didn’t turn around. She couldn’t encourage him.
“We’ll make the children clean the room.” His footsteps approached her from behind. “Or better yet, bribe them.”
She turned on her heel with her fists on her hips. “Really. I can tell who’s gunning to be the favorite teacher.”
He stepped closer slowly. Intentionally.
Elsie inched back, her hands held out in front of her. “Nick. Stop being such a rascal.”
A sly grin appeared on his face, and he drew closer. “A rascal? Since when does kissing my wife make me a rascal?”
He lunged forward to catch her waist, but Elsie evaded the move with a squeal.
He followed her through the desks, his pursuit slow and methodical. Elsie laughed and braced herself behind his teacher desk.
He lurched to the left. When Elsie evaded the other way, he changed direction and caught her skirt in his hand. “Ah-ha!” He reeled her back to him, but she didn’t try to stop him. “I’ve got you.”
Elsie tried to calm her breath. “You sure do.” Outside, Patch barked. She smiled bigger. “Just in time for our company.”
“Ahhh.” When Nick loosened his grip, Elsie slid away. Nick’s arms flopped to his sides as he groaned. “Who invited my brothers?”
Elsie picked up a pile of readers on his desk. “You did.”
He scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t think that through very well.”
Boots stepped through the cloakroom and into the classroom, but it wasn’t one of Nick’s brothers. Instead, it was Mr. Jamison, one of the school board members.
Not her favorite person in the world. Especially when he hadn’t been fond of the idea of her retaining her teaching position after marrying Nick.
Patch followed him in, the dog’s movements edgy. Elsie knew how he felt.
“Patch, come.” When his dog came near, Nick motioned for him to lie down. “Mr. Jamison, how can I help you?”
Mr. Jamison’s eyes scanned the room. Elsie didn’t miss how the board member’s eyes skipped right over her. “Good day, Mr. McGraw.”
Nick paused, glancing over at Elsie, but the man didn’t even acknowledge her.
She smoothed a loose lock of hair behind her ear and turned toward the bookcase to put the readers in their place.
Mr. Jamison came farther to the room. “It’s looking good in here. A very nice classroom indeed. You’ve done an excellent job making things ready.”
Elsie kept her back to them, straightening the bookshelf.
“Thank you, Mr. Jamison, but it wasn’t me. It was mostly Elsie.”
Elsie’s hand hesitated on the book as she twisted toward Nick.
