The three boys looked up at her, not saying a word, but she could tell straight away from their cheeky expressions that they were going to be a handful.
“Hi.”
Poppy held out her hand. “You must be pleased school’s starting,” she said, touching the mother’s shoulder before stepping back. “I know how exhausting three boys can be.”
“I just hope they don’t send you running for the hills. Twenty kids each day would drive me crazy.”
Poppy shook her head. “I do this because I love it, so don’t worry about a few rowdy children scaring me away.” She looked across the yard and saw a familiar truck pulling in close to the curb. “Besides, I’m told the lovely Mrs. Leigh volunteers one day a week as teacher aide.” Poppy waved a hand. “Here are the Black children, nice and early.”
The other woman followed her gaze. “You’ve met the Black family already?”
Poppy couldn’t look away if she tried. She could see Harrison turn in the driver’s seat, talking to his children, before he pushed open his door and went around to help them out.
“I haven’t met Mrs. Black yet, but the children seem lovely.” She couldn’t drag her gaze from Harrison as he strode toward them, schoolbags slung over his shoulder, eyes locked on hers. Katie skipped along ahead of him, little Alex at his side.
“Honey, there is no Mrs. Black,” the other woman teased. “Harrison is dad of the year in Bellaroo. His wife left him with the kids when Alex was a baby, so he’s kind of a legend around here. We call him Mr. Sexy and Single.”
Poppy gulped. He was single?
She looked away and concentrated her energies on the mom she was talking to. “I never caught your name?”
“Pat. And my boys are Scott, John and Sam.” She smiled and took a few steps backward. “It was great meeting you. I’ll see you this afternoon at pickup.”
Poppy waved goodbye and turned to face the next parent...who just happened to be Harrison. Katie gave her a wave and ran straight through the door, but Alex stayed close to his dad.
“Morning,” Poppy said brightly. “How are you, Alex?”
He looked a little shy, but managed a smile.
“He had only one term in school last year, so it’s all a bit daunting.”
Poppy knelt down, pleased to be closer to his son than the man towering over them. “Sweetheart,” she said, tucking her fingers gently under his chin to tilt it up. “I’ll look after you all day, so you don’t need to worry. You can even come and sit with me if you’re scared, okay?”
He nodded.
“Why don’t you run in and play with the other kids?” Poppy asked him.
Alex threw his arms around his dad’s leg before doing as she’d suggested.
“Thanks,” Harrison said, his voice gruff.
“No problem. It’s what I do.”
They stood awkwardly, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he’d raised both his children on his own. It wasn’t often she heard of a dad being in that position. No wonder he’d been in no rush to get home last night—it wasn’t as if he’d had a wife waiting for him.
Another vehicle pulled up and a few kids climbed out.
“I’d better get in there,” Poppy said, nodding toward the classroom.
Harrison touched a few fingers to the rim of his hat.
“And thanks again for last night. I really appreciated your help,” she added.
He walked a couple of steps away before turning around and looking straight into her eyes. “I’ll fix up that plumbing for you after school when I come to collect the kids.”
Poppy swallowed. Hard. Maybe it was because she knew he was available, that he wasn’t some other woman’s husband.
Because if he were, she’d never let herself think about him the way she was right now...not ever. She knew how it felt to be the other woman, so even thinking about married men inappropriately was forbidden as far as she was concerned.
But now... Harrison was as handsome as any man she’d ever laid eyes upon, and the way his jeans clung to his butt when he walked away, the cowboy hat on his head, his checked shirtsleeves rolled up to show off tanned arms...it was making her think all kinds of sin.
“You must be Ms. Carter!”
Poppy blinked and tried to forget all about the man walking toward his truck. She was a teacher, and she had more parents to meet.
She’d be seeing Harrison again after school, and he’d be in her home. In her bathroom.
So no more thinking about him until then.
CHAPTER FOUR
POPPY SAT WITH Katie and Alex, watching out for their dad to arrive. He was only a few minutes late. The other children had all gone right on time, and now she was enjoying the sun and the company.
“Here he comes!” Alex called out, and ran to the edge of the pavement, waving to his dad.
Harrison jumped out and scooped his son straight up and into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Poppy,” he said, running a hand through his hair as if he’d just realized he didn’t have his hat on. “I had a run-in with a pretty pissed-off bull, and—”
“Daddy!” Katie had her hands on her hips. “You said a bad word,” she hissed, “and she’s our teacher, so you need to call her Ms. Carter.”
He nodded as if she was absolutely right, but when his eyes met Poppy’s they were filled with laughter. She had to bite down on her lip to stop from laughing herself.
“Anyway, long story short, he was determined to make his way to the ladies, which wasn’t going to happen,” Harrison told her.
Poppy did burst out laughing then—she couldn’t help it. She was talking to a real-life cowboy when she’d never even been close to a real ranch before. “Do you have any idea how hilarious that sounds?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “Funny now, but not so amusing when you’re staring a three-thousand-pound, adrenaline-filled beast in the eye.”
She started to walk alongside Katie as they all headed for the truck. “Harrison, the closest I’ve come to dealing with wildlife is an ant infestation in my old classroom,” she told him. “So believe me when I tell you how hilarious you sound to my sheltered city ways. Hilarious, but exciting, for a change.”
She could have sworn a dark look passed across his face, but it was gone so quickly she couldn’t be certain. Had she said something wrong?
“Although in saying that, I did kind of adopt a cat last night, so maybe I’m getting used to the whole country way of life already.”
Harrison opened the front passenger door to his truck, but pointed for Katie to get in the back. “What do you mean, you adopted a cat? It’s not like we have shelters for unwanted pets around here.”
Poppy rolled her eyes, wishing she wasn’t standing quite so close to him. He was at least a head taller than her, and she couldn’t stop staring back into his dark brown eyes. They were dark but soft, like melted chocolate.
She snapped herself out of her daydream. Could she really forgive the entire male population so soon after declaring them all to be worthless idiots to whom she’d never again give the time of day? The answer to that question was no.
“I heard a noise last night and a black cat was just sitting there, like it was his house and he wanted to come in.”
“But not