Love Lessons by Margaret Daley Read Free Book Online Page A

the porch with Alexa that evening. “That was the best spaghetti I’ve ever had.”
    â€œYour daughter had a hand in making it, too.”
    â€œWhen I came through the kitchen, it seemed like you were doing an awful lot of instructing and demonstrating and my daughter was doing an awful lot of listening.”
    As she walked toward her car in the driveway, she slowedand shifted toward Ian, the glow from the porch light illuminating his face, none of the tension earlier at lunch visible. “And she was learning. She had no problem doubling the recipe for me. We talked about equivalents and measurements. She may be weak in math, but she did great.”
    He started forward. “I sometimes worry she avoids math because that’s my strong subject. She’s bright in so many other things like reading and writing.”
    â€œMath can be so logical and analytical. English appeals to a person’s creativity. Math is full of rules, and yes, there are rules in grammar, but they’re more fluid than when you deal with numbers. Two plus two is always four.”
    At her car he lounged back against it, folding his arms over his chest. “Thanks for staying and cooking dinner. A guy could get used to that. I liked your suggestion of Jana reading White Fang. When she heard it was about a wolf, did you see her eyes light up?”
    â€œI hope she’ll get a dog.”
    â€œAnother thing I owe to you. I haven’t talked to my daughter about getting a pet since before my wife left. But I think it would be good for Jana, especially now she needs something to focus her attention on. I know pets can be good company.” He heaved a deep breath. “Which brings me to one of the reasons I wanted to talk with you in private without a young girl listening in. I’ve decided I’ll let you do things your way, and I’ll see how it works out.”
    Her mouth dropped open, and she sank against the side of her car next to Ian, her arm for just a second brushing against him. She immediately put a few inches between them and tried to dismiss the jolt from the brief contact.
    â€œNo written lesson plans every evening?” She’d never thought it would be that easy to get him to change his mind. Was he more flexible than she’d originally thought?
    â€œNot exactly, but I do want to know what you’re doing. Maybe we can touch base in the morning and then before you leave. And I’ll still be doing the twice-a-week math lesson with the other students. I’m hoping between those lessons you can help Jana get a better handle on what I’ve presented.”
    His musk-scented aftershave lotion teased her senses, causing a parade of images of him throughout the day to flow through her mind. Ian smiling at her from across the table. Ian laughing at one of her stories about working with children at an elementary school. Ian caring about his daughter and not afraid to show her. She needed to stop her train of thought concerning this man who had been wounded by his wife. She would only be here temporarily. They were from two very different worlds, years apart in age. “When do you have the others here for math?” she asked when she realized the silence had lasted over a minute and Ian was staring at her.
    â€œEvery Wednesday and Friday afternoon from three to four.”
    â€œAnd is the other reason you wanted to talk with me about what happened right before lunch?”
    Ian stiffened and pushed off the car, rotating toward her. “Yes. When Jana feels insecure, she freaks out. If she thinks I’m supposed to be someplace and I’m not, she doesn’t handle that very well. She’s much better than she was. Her therapist is doing a great job with her.”
    â€œI know it’s none of my business, but what happened with her mother? Maybe if I understand, I can help in some way.” She wouldn’t be surprised if he told her to butt out, but she