Sara wasn’t entirely convinced she could do it, but…she was tempted. If nothing else, it was worth considering.
“You want me to wear this?” Grant held up a yellow cape with a large L on the back. “Seriously?”
Sara smushed her lips together to smother a laugh. The after-school program began in an hour. Grant had come in early to discuss the lesson. They hadn’t seen each other since yesterday, but to her complete relief, everything between them seemed normal.
“Don’t worry,” she assured him. “The cape is only for the first lesson. Engaging the kids right away is essential, and I want to stress how valuable reading is. It’s so important that even superheroes do it. The L on the cape stands for—”
“Library.” His hands clenched the fabric, and he glared at her, but it had no real heat. “I get it. But can’t we let the kids do all the dressing up and leave me out of it?”
“No way.” Jennie shook her head. She’d accompanied them to the children’s section but stood a short distance away to keep an eye on the front counter in case a patron needed assistance. “The kids won’t have nearly as much fun if you don’t join in.”
“Jennie’s right,” Sara said. “Kids can sense when adults are genuinely having a good time and when they’re patronizing them. You won’t have to wear it for long. The lesson is only thirty minutes, and the kids will color in the beginning. Then they become superheroes and go on a book scavenger hunt. It’s wham, bam, done.”
She went over to the box next to his feet and pulled out a second cape. This one was blue. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll wear one too.”
“That does make me feel a bit better.” Grant eyed the cape. “This thing is the size of a napkin. It’ll never fit me.”
“Oh, sure it will.” A smile played on Jennie’s lips. “Try it on, Grant.”
His mouth tightened, and he slipped the fabric over his shoulders. His fingers fumbled with the ties.
Sara stepped forward. “Here, let me.”
She reached up and took the silky ties from him. Their fingers brushed, and butterflies flitted in her stomach. The strings were short, and she had to edge even closer to tie them. The gap between them was miniscule. The heat of Grant’s body seemed to reach out and touch her. Up close to him like this, she felt delicate and feminine.
She took a deep breath to tamp down the silly thoughts, but in doing so she got a deep intake of his warm sandalwood scent. The butterflies in her tummy rioted.
The conversation with Rachel had plagued her all morning and into the afternoon. Sara needed to talk to Grant about it, but she didn’t know how to broach the subject.
Focus.
She managed to tie the strings and stepped back. The cape was small, and Grant’s horrified expression only made the entire thing funnier. Sara bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “You look great. The kids are going to love it. Superheroes are all Ben talks about.”
Jennie tilted her head, her hand absently rubbing her pregnant belly. “Hmm, maybe I should go get the mask and make sure it fits.”
Grant’s gaze shot to Sara, and through gritted teeth, he asked, “There’s a mask?”
“That’s what the kids are coloring.” Jennie smothered a laugh behind her hand.
Sara shot her a warning look but had to press her own lips together to keep from smiling. She focused back on Grant. “If it helps, you get to color it yourself before putting it on.”
He glowered. “That. Does. Not. Help.”
Jennie dissolved into a fit of giggles, and Sara couldn’t contain her own laughter anymore either. The entire thing was hilarious. And Grant was being a great sport. No doubt this was not what he’d envisioned when agreeing to lead the after-school program.
His gaze narrowed, but even his own lips twitched in amusement. “Sure, sure. Have a good laugh. Why don’t you take a picture and post it on the library’s webpage?”
“That’s…” Jennie took breaths, between giggles, and swiped at the tears leaking from her eyes. “…happening…in an hour.”
He covered his face with his hands and groaned. “What was I thinking when I agreed to this?”
“Look on the bright side,” Sara said. “You’re only in town for a couple of weeks. And, this isn’t even the most humiliating thing you’ve ever done. Remember the time you donated during the blood drive and passed out? Twice.”
“Are you serious?” Jennie’s eyes widened.
Sara nodded. “He lied about having breakfast, hopped off the bed before the nurse told him to, and promptly hit the floor. Then, trying to recover, Grant insisted he was fine. Passed out again. On his way down the second time, he knocked his head against a table and had to be rushed to the hospital.” She raised her brows. “Diagnosis was stubborn male disease with a hard dash of macho thrown in.”
He groaned again. “I think I hate you.”
Jennie, still laughing, went back to the front counter. Grant took off the cape and placed it back in the box. “How many kids are signed up for the program?”
“Ten. And many of them you already know from little league practice yesterday.”
A book had been left on one of the tables. Sara picked it up, placing it on a nearby book cart. “I have to set up the conference room with coffee and treats for the adults. Want to help?”
He smiled, and the dimple in his cheek flashed. “Sure.”
Sara led him through a door marked private, into the break room/kitchen. Her heels clicked against the tile, and nerves jittered her stomach. The coffee maker she’d purchased that morning sat on the table. Grant whistled. “Nice machine. New,
