Anything but Love by Beth Ciotta

Author:Beth Ciotta
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781472209467
Publisher: St. Martin's
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

“In addition to toddler and preschool programs, I’m toying with the idea of enrichment programs for ages five through ten,” Rae said. “Supplemental educational opportunities that complement the elementary school’s core curriculum. Most classrooms are overcrowded these days and some children need extra help. I could—”

“You could what?”

Rae looked away from the locked doors of Sugar Tots to the man sitting next to her. On their way to J. T. Monroe’s Department Store, Luke had pulled into the small parking lot of Sugar Tots. He’d invited her to share her plans for reopening the day care center. He’d been the first to ask and apparently she was dying to voice her aspirations because, she realized now, she’d been rambling nonstop for several minutes. “I could help.” A flush crept up her neck to her cheeks. “I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but I have a gift with children and head for education. Special techniques to make learning fun. I have all these ideas—”

“What kind of ideas?”

Rae fussed with her seat belt, angled away the heating vent, and checked her watch. They’d been idling in Luke’s car, in front of Sugar Tots for twenty minutes. It felt like a blip and a lifetime rolled into one.

“Why are you so shy about sharing your vision?” Luke asked.

“I’m not shy. I could talk about my vision for Sugar Tots for hours.”

“So?”

“I’ve been rambling. You’re probably bored to tears and too polite to say.”

“If I was bored I wouldn’t prod you to share more.” He cocked his head. “How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Bottle up all that passion and knowledge when you were working here under Gretchen?”

Rae shrugged. “It leaked out sometimes, but she didn’t want to hear it. She was set in her ways.”

“And not half as committed to the children of this town as you are. She threw in the towel and you’re not only picking up the pieces, but raising the bar.” He narrowed his eyes. “How is it you’re not already established as a teacher somewhere else?”

“Jobs are hard to come by.”

“Surely not for someone as smart and influential—”

“You mean rich. I wasn’t rich before. Not personally.”

“But now you are.”

“The thing about being smart and influential is that there’s always someone smarter and more influential than you. And if that person wants to derail your life well then you’re sort of screwed.” Rae cursed the words as soon as they left her mouth. What was wrong with her? She’d never been so forthright. When she was younger, yes, but not for a long time. Not after learning how people twisted her words. Not after enduring disappointment, humiliation, and betrayal on multiple counts.

“Who wants to derail your life, Rae?”

“No one. Forget I said anything.”

“Your mom? Geoffrey?”

Rae blinked.

“I’d have to be an idiot not to notice the tension between you and those two when I was at your house—”

“Their house.”

“Factor in your unwillingness to raise your child anywhere near them? I’m sensing bad blood.”

“We don’t get along, that’s for sure. Can we go now?” She wasn’t ready for this conversation.

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