Dad in Training

How is Brent Runyan supposed to reach his troubled nephew? The workaholic businessman knows nothing about providing a real home to the orphaned boy who needs him so much. Special education teacher Molly Manning thinks the answer is threefold: love, time—and a dog. But Brent can barely let his nephew into his heart, let alone a golden retriever. With his tragic past, Brent knows what can happen when you love anything: you can lose it. Until Molly asks this dad-in-training to start with the basics by letting her stay…forever.

First Chapter Excerpt

A long, wet tongue swept across Molly's face. She jerked away and chuckled as she wiped her damp cheek before patting Rowdy's smooth coat. "Is that my goodbye kiss?"

The dog looked at her as if he understood. His eyes reflected love and his mouth formed a Mona Lisa smile.

Molly welcomed the feel of the dog's fur on her palm. In some ways, it reminded her of family—unconditional love, companionship and someone waiting for her when she walked through the door at night. No, it wasn't "Honey, I'm home," but a wagging tail to lift her spirit. That would be much better than the silence that now greeted her.

"He likes you, Miss Manning."

Molly let her hand slip from the dog's fur. "He likes you, too, Adam. He knows how to choose good friends."

Adam nodded, his thick glasses giving him cartoon eyes. "Dogs have a good mind. They're not like people. They're lovable and willing to forgive."

Her student's amazing insight pinged against her heart as she moved back toward the school's entrance. He had wisdom beyond his years. Knowing Adam's troubles, Molly understood the boy's conviction had deeper meaning for her than most people would register. Forgive? She'd never forgiven

herself for what she'd done. She'd ignored her Christian upbringing and morals while in high school, and the shame still crashed down on her and drove her to prove to herself she was worthy of God's blessings.

"Do you have a minute?"

Molly spun around, hearing Rob Dyson's call.

"You want me?" She pointed to herself with her index finger. Her gaze drifted from her principal to the good-looking gentleman beside him.

She held up a finger and turned back to Adam, who'd knelt beside the dog, probably wanting a kiss of his own. "Let's get Rowdy into the van. The bell's going to ring. You don't want to be late for class, do you?" Dumb comment. Adam would love to be late, but she couldn't add that to his other misdemeanors. She glanced over her shoulder at her principal waiting for her in the school entrance foyer.

Adam gave her a teasing smirk. "It's only career day."

She folded her arms across her chest, managing a frown. "But that's important. In a few years, you'll be looking for a job. We all need to know what's possible for us to make our dreams come true." The words smacked her with the truth once again.

The middle-schooler pondered her comment before rising and finally steered Rowdy toward the van that would take him back to the dog shelter. The Labrador retriever climbed into the vehicle, and Adam gave the dog a wave. The boy then ambled back into the school building and down the hallway.

The principal moseyed toward Molly, the handsome stranger following. Before Rob reached her, he eyed his watch. "Is Teacher's Pet done for today?"

She gave him a questioning nod, then lifted her gaze to check on Adam. She wasn't stupid. She needed to make sure the boy turned in the direction of the classrooms and not the cafeteria or a restroom—two of the students' favorite hangouts. When the boy headed in the right direction of his next class, Molly hid a sigh of relief. "Yes. Everyone's accounted for."

"Good." He tilted his head toward the man. "Molly, this is Brent Runyan."

Runyan. The name aroused her interest. So did his amazing eyes. She met his gaze. "Welcome to Montgomery Middle School."

"Thanks," he said, his voice a pleasant rumble. He eyed her a moment before extending his palm.

Molly grasped it, her fingers swallowed in his large hand.

Rob's voice drew her back. "I'm on my way to a meeting, and Brent's doing a career presentation in Joe Edmonds' machine shop. Would you mind showing him the way?"

When she looked into the man's midnight-blue eyes, a warm tingle glided down her arm. She withdrew her hand, trying to control the unfamiliar sensation. Ridiculous. She frowned, managing to get a grip on herself.

Her principal's head drew back. "Look. If you're busy, I'll—"

"No. No. It's fine." She steadied her voice, irritated that the man's presence had thrown her off-kilter. "It's on the way."

"Thanks." Rob grasped Brent's shoulder with a shake. "I'll see you tomorrow at the softball game."

Brent's lips twisted in a crooked smile. "I can't believe you conned me into joining the team."

"We needed a good outfielder," Rob said, shifting his gaze to Molly. "You should see this guy shag a fly ball." He gave Brent's arm another shake. "I hope the class goes well." He took a step backward and glanced at his watch, before lifting his hand in a half-wave.

Molly watched Rob head down the hallway as she mustered the courage to look at Brent again. "The classroom's this way." She beckoned him to follow. "Not far from the teacher's lounge where I'm headed."

A faint grin twitched on his mouth. "You're a teacher."

"Who did you think I was?"

He shrugged. "Teachers don't look the way they did when I was in school."

As heat rose up her neck, Molly diverted the attention from her face to her feet by picking up her pace. "We'd better get you to class. The bell rang a few minutes ago." She paused and waited for him to catch up. "I received a transfer to Montgomery Middle School three years ago. Before that I taught at the elementary school." The reference led her to one of the questions that struck her when she'd heard his last name. "I had a student there with the last name Runyan. Any relationship, by chance?"

Brent gestured ahead of them. "Is that the classroom? I see a man hanging out the door."

"That's Mr. Edmonds."

He tossed her a look. "I'd better hurry."

He charged forward, apologizing to Joe as he drew closer. He reached the door before her shorter legs could get her there. When she caught up, Joe gave her a nod and beckoned Brent inside before she could introduce them.

Molly ambled away from the classroom, disappointed she couldn't ask him her second question, although he'd never answered her first one about her elementary student, Randy Runyan.