Thankful for Love by Peggy Bird Page A

you get the degree you want from Blue Mountain?”
    “Maybe. I’m working with them to see what we can do with the credits I have, the classes they teach, and their transfer program. We’ll see.”
    “Anything I can do to help?”
    “You already have. You gave me a full-time job. It’s not only the best job I’ve ever had, but because of you, I didn’t have to give up my apartment and move back into my mother’s home.”
    “Sounds like you do more for your family than you do for yourself.”
    “I wouldn’t say that. I have friends. I go to school. All I ever wanted to do was teach, and I’m getting there. Slowly, more slowly than anyone on record, I imagine, but I’m getting there.”
    “What’ll you do when you get your teaching certificate?”
    “Teach on the rez. American Indians have the lowest high school graduation rates of any group in the country. I want to work to change that.”
    “If you need more time off for classes so you can get there faster, we can work out a better schedule.”
    “That’s generous of you, but you already do more than I could hope for.”
    Finally, dessert arrived and she could concentrate on eating chocolate and not on the concern she saw in his eyes as she talked about her family. She didn’t need to feel any closer to or warmer about the man sitting across from her, the man who was growing more attractive by the minute and not because she’d had a glass of wine.
    • • •
    Jack couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a meal as much as he was enjoying this one. Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d done something social with anyone other than his kids or his siblings. Somehow this evening, it didn’t seem to matter that he was older than she was, that he was her employer. She was a beautiful woman and he was a man, and they were enjoying each other’s company and a good dinner. He wanted it to go on forever. Although he thought it might be a good idea if he let her lead the conversation for a while instead of quizzing her like he’d been doing.
    He couldn’t get his wish that the evening not end. Eventually, the check arrived, and they had to leave. They both worked the next day. But he was determined to make sure they didn’t part without making plans for seeing each other again outside her job. He decided to ask her when they said good night.
    It didn’t quite work out the way he’d planned.
    When they got to her apartment building, she unhooked her seatbelt and started to open the door. “Thank you so much for a lovely dinner.”
    “I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t agreed to dinner with me, I would have been all alone, missing my boys.”
    “It does seem weird in the house without them, doesn’t it?”
    “You miss them, too?”
    “Of course I do. They’re amazing kids. You’ve done a great job raising them.”
    “And you’re doing a great job with them.”
    “On that note of mutual admiration, I better go upstairs.” She got the car door opened before he could stop her.
    “Wait. Let me walk you upstairs.”
    “I’m fine, Jack. I do this every day.”
    “Maybe you do. But I’m still walking you to the door. Between your asshole neighbor and no security on the front door, I’m not leaving you until I know you’re safe.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I give up. You can walk up the steps with me.”
    When they got to her front door, she unlocked it and put out her hand to him, making it clear she had a handshake in mind and started, he assumed, to say good night again. He had other ideas. Taking her proffered hand, he clasped it to his chest. With the backs of the curled fingers of his free hand he touched her cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who is as strong and levelheaded as you are. I admire you for your persistence in going to school and what you’re doing for your family.”
    “I’m flattered by your compliment, especially since it comes from the man rumor says is the most responsible