Love Lessons by Margaret Daley Page A

table. “All I have to do is glue this to the paper and it will be ready.”
    Alexa sat next to Jana. “I like what you’ve done.”
    â€œDad, how many do you think we should make?” Jana peered at him then swung her gaze to Alexa then back to her father. “Is everything all right?”
    One corner of his mouth hitched up. His dimple appeared, although from the reserved look in his eyes, the grin was forced. “It will be, when Sugar comes home.” He picked up a blank piece of paper. “I think we should make thirty or thirty-five, then if we need more we can make more.”
    â€œThat sounds like a plan.” Alexa withdrew a brown marker from the box.
    â€œYeah.” Jana began working on another poster, her head bent over it, her attention totally focused as she printed out the words.
    Across the table Ian caught Alex’s gaze. The half grin vanished, to be replaced with a cold expression that, as she held his look, melted into a neutral one.
    An hour later thirty-five posters were completed and ready to go. Alexa shoved to her feet, arching her back and stretching, she rolled her head in a full circle to ease the tension that had stiffened her whole upper body.
    She pushed in her chair. “It’s time that I go home, but I’ll be back early tomorrow. If it’s all right with your dad, after breakfast we can start putting up these posters.”
    â€œFine.” Ian rose. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
    â€œBe here early. We’ll be ready to go.” Jana stacked the posters in a large pile.
    Alexa gathered her purse and jacket from the couch and started for the foyer. Ian’s presence behind her caused her tension to return full force and knot her shoulders and neck even more. After opening the front door, she spun aroundand said, “You don’t have to walk me to my car. It’s just parked in the driveway.”
    â€œI know.”
    She stepped out onto the porch, and he followed. Hurrying her pace, she crossed the yard while digging around in her oversize purse for her keys. She was emotionally drained and didn’t want to engage in any more verbal battle.
    As she unlocked her car door and thrust it open, she said, “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
    â€œAlexa, I’m sorry for earlier.”
    Her jaw dropped, and she straightened to face him. She couldn’t think of anything to say to him.
    â€œYour heart is always in the right place where Jana is concerned. I’ve seen that on more than one occasion. You thought you were doing what was best for my daughter, and I can’t fault you for that.” He took off his wire-rimmed glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m just worried about Jana and I said things I shouldn’t have in my office.”
    But you meant them. If she was smart, she’d back away from this family, put in her time and leave with her heart intact. “I understand. See you tomorrow, early.”
    She quickly slid behind the steering wheel, her hands shaking. She wasn’t going to be smart. She could tell. She cared about Jana—and Ian—too much. The thought of the almost kiss earlier that day stayed with her as she drove to her house.
    By the time she reached home, she’d dismissed what might have happened near the woods and pulled her calm mantle about her, knowing that otherwise her mother would discern something was wrong besides Sugar being lost. Her mom knew how to read her, and Alexa had never been good at hiding her feelings for long. And worse,Gloria had witnessed the almost kiss. Her mother would want to know how she felt about Ian.
    When she entered her duplex, Alexa found her mother waiting for her in the living room. As Charlie got up to greet Alexa, Gloria put the book she was reading on the table next to her.
    â€œYou haven’t found Sugar yet, have you?” she asked. “I can tell by the look on your face. How’s Jana