LITMIR.BIZ

      For Carly Silver,

       editor extraordinaire, who believes in my writing and helped make a lifelong dream come true.

       For J.R.—

       the crazy guy who married me and taught me to believe that true love exists, and that finding happiness is worth taking risks.

       For Mom,

       whose unwavering love and support allow me to fly and offer a soft place to land when I fall.

       For Maggie—

       the rescue dog who stole my heart and has me wrapped around her little dewclaw.

      Contents

       Cover

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Epilogue

       Extract

       Copyright

Chapter One

      “Assistant Principal Graham,” the intercom spat, “please report to Art Room One. Your assistance is needed immediately.”

      Paige Graham looked up from the two ten-year-olds she’d just separated from a scuffle and listened as the receptionist called her a second time over the school’s outside intercom.

      What now?

      “This time it’s just a warning, but if you two keep this up, we’re going to have a talk with your parents,” she told the boys.

      “Yes, Ms. Graham,” the boys said obligingly in unison, though they glared at each other from where they stood on either side of her.

      Paige ran a hand through the wind-twisted tangles of her hair and checked her watch. Only 9:00 a.m. and the day was shaping up to be an uphill battle. The first day of school was always hectic, which was to be expected with the kids still sun-gilded, full of summer energy and longing to catch up with their friends. Throughout her career as a school administrator, she’d had many chaotic first days, but this one took the cake so far—and the blissful sound of the last bell was still hours away.

      Paige stepped out from between the boys and made her way from her post near the bus drop to the front of Peach Leaf Elementary School. Glancing back over her shoulder to make sure the boys’ brawl didn’t rekindle in her absence, she stepped inside the glass double doors.

      She tossed hellos and welcome-backs to her colleagues as she passed familiar students on her way down the first-floor hallway to the art classroom.

      Why couldn’t a teacher with a planning period look in on the class? Or heaven forbid, a prearranged substitute teacher?

      Then again, it was the first day of school, so it was entirely possible that all the teachers’ aides were occupied helping out with their new classes and didn’t have a spare moment to assist with another. She could definitely relate.

      It was only morning, but Paige already had a packed schedule—a meeting with her boss, Principal Matthews, in less than an hour, a few special-education plans to look over and sign before then...not to mention the new-teacher luncheon and two afternoon Individual Education Plan conferences. The nature of her job meant a steady stream of unpredictable adjustments and rearranged schedules, but the crammed day ahead left little room for taking over a class at the last minute

      Paige cursed herself for wearing her new shoes on the first day of school. She should have worn her trusty low-heeled black pumps with the sensible insoles and not these cute but torturous, toe-pinching, three-inch-high sling-backs before having had a chance to break them in. Why was she trying to follow trends?

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