“Oh, Charlie, that’s wonderful. I’m so proud,” I replied before throwing my arms around his neck.

“It could all get shot to hell before the end of the semester,” he teased.

“Not on your life, mister.” I pulled back to give him the same stern look I gave my students. “Don’t make me come to Athens and follow you around.”

He snorted. “Look, I know you don’t have a life, but even I can’t imagine you doing that.”

“I do have a life,” I countered.

“Your group of girlfriends who does monthly margarita nights counts as a life?”

“We go out more than that,” I lied.

“Right.”

“Besides, I’m very busy right now with teaching. I’m even doing homebound services.”

“Yeah, Uncle Jimmy told me.”

My brows rose up in surprise. “He did?”

Charlie nodded. “Said he was worried about you.”

I swallowed hard. “Why?” I asked, although I already knew the answer.

“’Cause of where you’re teaching.” With a wry smile, Charlie added, “Who would have thought my good-girl big sister would be hanging out with a bunch of dirty and dangerous bikers?”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “They’re not like that.”

“You sure about that? From what Uncle Jimmy said, the Raiders have been known to have their hands in all kinds of dirty dealings, like gambling and gun running.”

I shrugged. “It’s just rumor. None of them has done time for anything.” I knew that was a partial lie, considering Deacon’s father had been in prison before he started the Raiders.

Charlie’s teasing expression turned serious. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Is that actual concern for me, little brother?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, it is.”

Patting his leg, I replied, “You don’t need to worry. I’m fine. I promise.”

Although he nodded his head, I could tell he wasn’t convinced. But before he had the chance to press me for more details about the Raiders, Aunt Joy appeared in the doorway and beckoned us to come and eat.

Thankfully, neither Charlie nor Uncle Jimmy brought up the subject of the Raiders, and I was able to have a fun, carefree lunch with those I loved most in the world.

Two weeks had passed since my drunken confessional with Deacon. I continued coming to the compound every day as though nothing momentous had happened that night. I usually stayed for dinner at least two nights a week. I found myself in a peculiar dance with Rev. He continued not to make a formal move on me, but whenever I was around, he gave me all his undivided attention. Whenever I would find myself talking at length to Rev at the dinner table or around the compound, I would always feel Deacon’s hot gaze on me. His behavior was so confusing. Deacon still seemed to want something romantic to happen between Rev and me, but his pointed looks told a different story. Of course, I knew better than to question him. He was the master of being evasive and turning the tables on me. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could handle a relationship with sweet, respectful Rev, never mind volatile and brooding Deacon.

Today, after Willow and I had finished with our lesson, I was surprised to find Deacon waiting on us outside the door. “You got a minute?”

“Sure.”

“I wanted to show you something.”

Willow stomped her foot beside us. “Deacon, that’s not fair!” Then she flounced past us to go to Archer’s side.

My brows creased in confusion. “What’s she upset about?”

Deacon chuckled. “She’s pissed because she knows I’m going to show you the work I’ve done on the ballet studio.”

“But why would she care about that?”

“Because I’m making her wait to see it until it’s finished. You know, to be a surprise.”

I couldn’t help smiling at him for not only building the studio for Willow, but for wanting the finished product to be a surprise. Our shoes crunched down the gravel path. “Any idea when Willow might be able to return to school?”

Deacon shook his head. When he didn’t say anything else, I sighed. “You want to get rid of this job already?” he asked.

“You know that I love working with Willow. I just worry about her.”

With true concern etched on his face, Deacon questioned, “You think I’m hurting her by keeping her here?”

“No. She’s perfectly safe and happy here. I just hate that she doesn’t have involvement with other children.”

He scratched the stubble on his jaw. “Maybe I can get Kim to bring her kids over more. She and Case have some close to Willow’s age. Mac’s got a granddaughter close to her age, too.”

“I think that would be a great idea.”

Deacon motioned for me to go on ahead of him up the porch steps. When we got inside, Willow sat at the kitchen table with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

“Hey, thundercloud face, you’re going to make it rain in here,” I said with a smile.

“I wanna see the studio.”

“And you will when it’s totally finished,” Deacon replied as he opened the basement door for me.

“I’ll come down with you two and see the progress,” Beth said.

Knowing that now Mama Beth was also getting to see the studio made Willow fume even harder, so I gave her an understanding smile and said we’d be back up soon. I stepped carefully on the worn boards of the stairs. From my vantage point, I could see why Willow had found it frightening. But when I reached the bottom of the staircase, I gasped in surprise.

While the basement was one large room that ran the length of the house, Deacon had worked to clear out the far end. Mirrors ran the length of the far wall, and a new tile floor had been placed down. I don’t know how he had known to get the kind like I’d had at the dance studio. New lights had been put up so that it didn’t appear so dark and foreboding, and the walls closest to the studio space were painted pink. Willow’s wish had been granted with a barre.

“So what do you think?” Deacon asked.

Gazing around the room, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. “This is … amazing. You thought of everything.” Turning to him, I asked, “You really did all this yourself?”

With a wink, he replied, “I’ve told you before I’m a man of many talents.”

Beth chuckled. “What he means to say is that we have a few electricians and contractors in the club who helped him.”