“I can’t believe that’s your mom’s boyfriend,” I heard Eileen’s friend Riley say. Her class was lined up next to mine as the school assembly let out. Knowing better than to single out my daughter during the school day, I remained perfectly still. “He’s kind of hot,” Riley added.

I believe I choked at the exact same time Eileen did.

“Oh my God. Gross!” Eileen curled her lip in disgust. Thank God for that. I thought these girls were ten. I made a mental note to keep a close eye on little Miss Riley.

“Are you okay, Miss Watson?” asked one of my students.

“Oh, I’m fine, Mason. Just had a frog in my throat.”

He smiled in response. The little sweetheart.

I led my students back to the classroom to gather their bags for dismissal. It was Friday and the day had ended with a school-wide assembly featuring Sunview’s finest sharing lessons on safety and the value of the word no. Sam had volunteered to be part of the presentation, charming the pants off of … well, probably just me, but whatever. It wasn’t hard for him to do.

Hopefully Riley was the only student who’d been taken with Sam—the idea of little ten-year-old girls writing my boyfriend’s name in their diaries was too much to contemplate.

To tell the truth, it felt kind of silly calling him my boyfriend, given that we were both in our thirties with him pushing forty. But I wasn’t about to refer to him as my lover—that was for women who were not single-mom elementary school teachers. So, boyfriend it was.

“Becca! Don’t forget your homework folder.” I wound my way around students eager to get home and play all weekend. I was eager as well. The girls and I were going on a weekend getaway with Sam. It would be the first time we’d gone away as a little posse. But I wasn’t even nervous. Kate and Eileen adored Sam, and he was so good with them. He struck the perfect balance between friend and role model, while giving them the male influence they’d been sorely lacking. Not that Mike wasn’t still in the picture, but he hadn’t rearranged his priorities in the least. In fact, the girls’ last two visits had been canceled due to work conflicts.

I had to remind myself daily to tread lightly and not incorporate Sam too quickly into our everyday lives, but it was an act of futility. He was loved by all the Watson girls, and he gave it right back in kind.

And the most surprising part to me was how easily and naturally it had come. There I’d been, making calculated plans about my life, putting up boundaries, and Sam busted right through all of it, making it known that he wasn’t going anywhere.

I sighed, recalling how great he’d been during the presentation today and looking forward to getting all my little ones off to their parents so I could have him all to myself. Well, kind of to myself.

As I watched my last kiddo climb on the school bus, I felt him behind me. It was odd how quickly we’d grown this connection. I turned.

“Nice presentation, Officer Martinez.”

His mouth curved up on one side. “Well, thank you, Ms. Watson. Care to take this conversation inside where it’s more private?”

He was right. The eyes of countless faculty members were on us, and I needed to remember I was at work.

“Right this way.” I waved him back to the building.

“Have you heard from Jill?” he asked as he opened the heavy door for me.

I felt my brow furrow and my gut tighten a bit.

My little sister had done a disappearing act the week before, quitting her job and giving up the lease on her apartment. One day she’d called and asked to store a few things in my garage, and the next day she was gone. It was completely out of character for her.

Luckily, she hadn’t changed her phone number, so we’d been exchanging texts. But I’d only actually spoken to her once. She laughed at herself as she told me she was going out to find herself. “I know it’s lame at my age,” she’d said, “but I figured if I waited until the big three-oh, it would be downright pathetic.” She still hadn’t told me the whole story with Hank, only giving me small bits and pieces when pressed.

I sighed and looked at Sam. “We texted last night. She’s working temporarily at a bar in South Carolina, but she’s not planning on staying for long. I just want her home.”

Sam put an arm around me. “She’ll be back. Don’t worry. She’s just stretching her legs.”

“Is that another of your dad’s terms?”

“Maybe.” He grinned, and my heart lightened a bit. I knew Jill was just going through a phase, but that didn’t mean I didn’t miss her like crazy.

When we got back to my classroom, Sam followed me in and shut the door behind him. Oh, so he was in that kind of mood, was he? I wagged my finger at him. “Sam, there will be no hanky panky at school.”

It did nothing to slow his approach. “Now who’s been talking to my dad? Hanky panky?”

Okay, so it was catching. But his dad was so charming it was hard not to find his little phrases rubbing off on me. Yes, I’d met Sam’s parents and, as predicted, his mother had gone apeshit at Sam bringing a “girl” home. My presence was now required at every family function, and I’d been warned that his mom would come and get Kate and Eileen herself if we didn’t bring them along next time. The thought didn’t scare me nearly as much as I’d imagined. Like I said, everything had been so simple with Sam since I finally allowed myself to open up to a relationship.

Sofia acted as my protector when the entire family was together, saving me from questions about when Sam and I were tying the knot or having a baby. I almost blacked out the first time those topics were raised, but Sofia had my back and told everyone in no uncertain terms to shut up or they’d scare me away. Sam just laughed, making me want to punch him in his handsome face.

So, apart from Jill pulling a runner, things were great in the world of the Watson family. And once Jill found what she was looking for and came home, I was going to set her up with Sam’s brother Mateo. He was in his early thirties and almost as handsome as Sam. But that would have to wait.

When Sam finally had me backed up against my desk, I put a hand to his chest. “Whatever you want to call it, it’s not happening here,” I warned with my best teacher look.

“Relax. I’m just going to kiss you.”

Ha! I knew what kissing led to, but I didn’t protest further. Sam leaned in and I pressed forward to meet him. I’d never get tired of kissing this man. His lips moved expertly over mine, but as promised, the kiss remained chaste. No tongues, no teeth, no wandering hands. Damn.

“Jeez, not again.” The little voice caused us to break apart. Kate and Eileen stood in the doorway. We hadn’t even heard them open the door. Way to maintain that professional image, Jenna.

“I think it’s sweet,” said Kate, flouncing in and dropping her backpack on the nearest desk.

“You would.” Eileen rolled her eyes and then turned to Sam. “What is it with you?”

I stifled a laugh, recalling Riley’s comment, as Sam looked simultaneously confused and guilty.

“What does that mean?” His eyebrows almost met over his nose.

Eileen just shook her head gravely and Kate giggled. I patted Sam reassuringly on the chest “Don’t worry, big guy, it’s a girl thing.”

He gave us all a suspicious look and finally shrugged. “At least the dog is a dude.”

“Can we leave soon? I’m dying to get on the road,” Kate pleaded.

“Sure. Let me grab my bag and we’ll head out.”

Sam herded the girls to the door, putting Eileen in a playful headlock for her previous comment. She laughed and easily twisted out of it. I grabbed my bag and stopped to turn out the classroom lights and lock the door before following them down the long hallway.

I watched them walk in front of me, Sam so broad and tall, Kate and Eileen little balls of energy jumping around on either side of him. All of them laughing. My heart skipped a few beats, and I was hit full force with the certainty that we all had a future—one I’d never let myself envision before Sam.

The life I’d taken for granted had been ripped out from under me, leaving me broken and uncertain if I’d ever regain my footing. Or my happiness. And, while I knew Sam wanted nothing more than to make me happy, I was learning that he didn’t have that power. Not even the girls had that ability. I did. And learning to trust myself again was the biggest step toward my happily ever after.

Trust. Sometimes it’s chance, sometimes it’s faith, sometimes it’s a complete leap off a cliff. Whatever it is, I now had it in both myself and Sam. Our future was laid out before us, and I could see it clear as day. Everything was going to be okay—the girls, Sam, our life. I was going to be okay.

And, although I still loved my romance novels, our story was never going to fit under any title they could offer. I’ll confess, I did briefly consider, Arrested by His Manhood: An Officers of Sunview Novel, but it fell short. As long as we all had each other, there was no need for a fancy title.

I quickened my steps to catch up to my crew. “Who’s ready to swim with some manatees?” I asked, smiling like a loon.

The girls threw their hands up in the air and raced each other to the double doors of the building. Sam put an arm around me and gave me a wink. “I’m ready for anything.” I leaned into his side, and we followed in my daughters’ wake.