Stopping Traffic (A Back to School Romance) (Love at The Crossroads) by Pat Simmons

her classmates. After successfully leading two troops of children across the intersection, the sun seemed to blink and go into hiding. Loud voices preceded another group of children walking in an unhurried pace toward her.
    Candace had just stepped off the curb with her stop sign when she felt a drop. In her mad dash to get to school, she had left her umbrella at home. “Great.”
    Once she was out of the intersection, Candace looked up in the sky as clouds rumbled. Yep, she was definitely going to get drenched. There went the hairstyle makeover Solae had given her the other day with the soft bouncy curls. Her coworkers had raved about her new look.
    As the second and third drops trickled down her face, Candace braced herself for the downpour. By the time she got to the office, Candace would either look a mess or fashionable like Chaka Khan.
    She still had students coming from two directions and she couldn’t abandon her post because of the weather. At least some had umbrellas or were wearing ponchos. Note to self , she thought, when removing the umbrella from the car, remember to return it or buy an extra.
    Glancing over shoulder to make sure there were no stragglers, Candace blinked, then squinted. Royce? He was still wearing his uniform and heading her way. His swagger was even more welcome than the umbrella he was holding, which was big enough to hold a family of four.
    Her heart pounded with excitement. It wasn’t a fire, but it appeared he had come to rescue her. Sucking in her breath, Candace could only watch as he kept walking until he invaded her space, towering over her with the umbrella.
    “Sorry, I’m late,” he said.
    She frowned. “For what?
    “Not getting here before the storm.” It was as if his words cued the windows of heaven to release the downpour, but he protected her.
    Leaning into him, under the guise of staying dry, Candace giggled as he pulled her closer. When the last school bell rang, she did another head check for any little ones. None in sight.
    Escorting her back to the lot where she was parked, Royce practically lifted her off her feet to help her avoid a puddle. She reveled in his strength as she looked into his eyes, but what she saw there gave her pause.
    His handsomeness couldn’t hide his exhaustion. It seemed that instead of going home for what she suspected was much-needed rest, he’d thought about her. It was the second time he had forgone sleep to see her. She felt cherished.
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    His lopsided smile was another one of her rewards. “Sorry I didn’t call.”
    Embarrassed, she looked away when she admitted, “I never gave you my number.”
    He grunted. “Did you think that small technicality would stop me from seeing you again?”
    She bowed her head, so he wouldn’t see her blush. She was glad it didn’t.
    “Candace, don’t make me come here every morning whether in a fire truck or on foot to see you, because I will.”
    The intensity of his stare made a believer out of her. “My days have been shortened. Another parent has been assigned to alternating days with me, so instead of every day, I’ll only have Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
    “Duly noted. Now, back to us…I’d rather take you to someplace nice and dry where I’m holding your hand instead of an umbrella. I’ve already told you I have no problem taking Lindsay along on our dates if that will make you more comfortable.
    She was too embarrassed to admit that it would.
    His nostrils seemed to expand with excitement. “Since silence is golden, I’ll take that as a yes.”
    Closing her eyes, Candace took a deep breath. She was going to go for it.
    “If you keep your eyes closed a second longer, I’m kissing you.”
    Candace’s lids fluttered open. Royce’s smirk clearly read, “Yeah, I said it.”
    “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Suddenly, she realized that she liked being chased. It was empowering.
    “About the dates with Lindsay—yes, about kissing you—most