Molly ran her hands back and forth over the material of her skirt so that the paillettes changed from purple to aquamarine and back. The color-changing material made her unreasonably happy. She wasn’t much for dressing up and normally just wore either a white or black sweat suit, a pair of cat ears, and a tail, but when she learned that the kindergarten costume theme was “The Ocean,” well, she couldn’t help but release her inner mermaid. It helped that since she’d been training with Bridget at DS Fight Club, she’d grown more self-confident, even if her body hadn’t changed that much at all.
At the thought of DS Fight Club, she caught herself unconsciously looking around the crowded cafeteria, scanning the crowd for a certain curly-haired blonde and her handsome dad. She hadn’t seen Buddy much at all since that Saturday some weeks before, as her session times generally were in the evenings and he’d gone home to be with Lucy. The few times that she had seen him, he hadn’t approached her, but simply acknowledged her from across the gym with a simple wave or chin lift. He’d not mentioned the kiss at all, thank goodness.
She sighed. That kiss. That kiss had fueled more than one steamy fantasy and had gotten her through quite a few lonely nights. But she was being stupid. She’d sworn that she would never get involved with another parent, but damn if she wouldn’t seriously consider tangling with Buddy Thomas.
She saw Lucy and Maude first, holding hands and skipping, dressed in coordinating butterfly costumes, their parents trailing behind them. Colin was the most noticeable one, merely because of his size, but she only had eyes for the blond man walking next to him.
With a striking redhead. When Buddy touched the small of the woman’s back, Molly sank back in her chair, deflated. She was why he hadn’t mentioned the kiss or pursued any further interactions. Molly swallowed hard, suppressing the feeling of disappointment that roiled in her gut. She mentally kicked herself. Silly girl.
“Miss Mayhew!” Melissa’s sharp voice interrupted Molly’s musing. “We have a winner.”
“Hmm? Oh, here’s your prize, darling. You’ll have so much fun with these.” She handed a large basket stuffed to the brim with art supplies to a small bumblebee, who toddled away, grinning.
Maude and Lucy ran up to the raffle table, tickets clutched in their fists. Molly watched them with amusement as they consulted on which tubs to put their tickets in. Maude put all her tickets in one tub, but Lucy divided hers between several. She grinned at Molly as she held on to the last ticket.
“I like your costumes.” Molly grinned back. “I approve of the sparkle.”
“I like your costume, too,” Lucy said, leaning over the table to get a better look at Molly’s skirt. “Oh, it’s like my bag!”
“Yes, that’s where I got the idea.”
“Lucy, darling, what are you up to?”
Molly took her attention away from the girls and came face-to-face with Buddy’s companion. Up close, she was even more striking, with light blue eyes and dark auburn hair, though Molly didn’t think it was her natural color.
“I’m entering the raffles,” Lucy answered, her smile fading.
Molly watched the girl carefully. The woman put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder, and Lucy subtly shrugged it off.
A hand jutted into her view. Molly looked at it and followed the hand up to meet the woman’s eyes. She looked back at the hand and realized the woman was extending it for a handshake. Molly grasped it.
“I’m Molly Mayhew, Lucy and Maude’s teacher,” she said by way of introduction.
“I’m Natalie Rabineaux. Pleased to meet you.” Natalie didn’t hide her assessment of Molly, so Molly examined her just as boldly. “So, what are you?” Natalie asked with a small wrinkle of her nose. Molly narrowed her eyes and mentally reminded herself that she did not know this woman, thus she couldn’t actually dislike her.
“She’s a mermaid!” Lucy piped up. “Miss Mayhew, show her how your scales change color.”
“Yes, I am a mermaid, and these are my scales.” Molly ran her hands over the top of her skirt, highlighting the change in the color. “The theme for kindergarten is the ocean, so . . . mermaid. Something fun, right?”
“Hmm . . . right.” Natalie continued staring at Molly—long enough for Molly to go from awkward to irritated. “Well, I need to find my man, make sure he’s not gorging himself on junk.” She leaned close to Molly and whispered conspiratorially, “He has a tendency to do that, you know.”
“Hmm,” was Molly’s noncommittal response.
The stare down ended when Buddy approached the table with three caramel apples.
“Oh no, I seem to have a surplus of caramel apples,” he said, winking at Molly as he handed Lucy and Maude each a candy-coated treat. Maude grinned and thanked her uncle, while Lucy clapped her hands and took the offered apple, immediately biting into it.
“Do you think she should have that?” Natalie was looking at Lucy with a look of such disgust on her face that Molly did a double take at Lucy, peering at her to see what the other woman could possibly find so repulsive.
“ ’S fine, Nat. She doesn’t have a lot of sugar normally,” Buddy said around a mouthful of apple. “ ’S really sticky.”
Natalie rolled her eyes, and Buddy and Lucy grinned at each other.
“Hey, Mol—er, Miss Mayhew.” Buddy grinned and took another bite of his apple. Molly couldn’t help but notice Natalie’s narrowed eyes as she looked between Buddy and Molly.
Molly set her jaw. You know what? Fuck this.
“Hello, Mr. Thomas.” She inwardly winced when she saw Buddy’s reaction to the formal address, but she shoved her emotion down. She didn’t need any man drama, and the fact that Buddy seemed to be attached to this woman who seemed to have a problem with her? No, best nip those feelings in the bud.
The three adults stood and looked at each other in awkward silence until the announcement was made that both Maude and Lucy had won a raffle basket. Molly, thankful about having something to do that didn’t involve dealing with adults, handed over the prizes.
“Oh, the dance contest is starting!” Lucy and Maude thrust their baskets at Buddy and took off to the opposite side of the cafeteria, leaving Buddy awkwardly juggling a half-eaten candy apple and two glittery baskets.
“Let’s join them, Buddy. It looks like fun.”
Molly marveled at Natalie’s transformation and was glad that she found at least something to be enthused about when it came to Lucy. But the raffle was over, as Lucy and Maude had won the last of the baskets, and Molly didn’t think she could stomach staying and watching Buddy and Natalie dance with Lucy. So Molly excused herself from the festivities and began to make her way to her car.
She was halfway through the parking lot when she heard the scrabble of feet treading on the gravel. She flipped her keys between her index and middle finger and turned, only to have Boone crash into her.
“Molly, darlin’, I’ve been wanting to talk to you all night.” Boone ran his hands over her shoulders to rest on her upper arms. He held them lightly, but Molly knew the power in his hands.
“But, Boone, I don’t want to talk to you. Have a good night.” She wriggled out of his grasp and took two steps away before he caught her hand—only this time, the grasp wasn’t gentle, and it forced her keys out of her grip.
“Well, it seems that thug doesn’t want to talk to you since he’s got that young thing to keep him company.” Boone continued to hold her hand but loosened his grip ever so slightly.
“I don’t know what you me—”
“Oh, come off it, Molly. I know you, and that Thomas guy is catnip. Single dad, a little rough around the edges.” Boone scoffed and retightened his grip. “The guy was involved with some shady characters, Molly, really shady.”
It was Molly’s turn to scoff. “Please. Colin Carmichael is as upstanding as they come, and DS Fight Club has raised a lot of money for the Boys and Girls Clubs and rec centers. You’re just jealous.”
Molly shrieked when Boone pulled her to him and got in her face. “Jealous? Of a homeless street fighter? Please.” Then, miraculously, Boone gave her some space. “You know what? Never-fucking-mind. If you want to slum, I’ll let you slum.” He shoved her and stalked away, not noticing or caring that he’d caused her to fall.
Molly lay on the rough gravel for a few moments, catching her breath. Boone had a temper, and he’d grabbed at her before, but nothing like this. Now she was doubly glad about the self-defense classes and personal training. At least she had a clue about what to do; she just needed to act more quickly. While she hoped there wouldn’t be a next time, she knew there would be, and then? She’d be ready.