Impetuous. Lori Foster
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look, as if she didn’t trust the sincerity of his words. He smiled back, and waited.
Finally, she nodded. “No child should ever be afraid. Certainly not of their teacher. I do my best to make sure they’re at ease, to let them know they can talk to me if they need to.”
Tyler turned away. He didn’t want her to see how she affected him. He could still remember being a kid himself, feeling defensive and hurt because his dad wasn’t around, and his mother couldn’t be bothered. His teachers hadn’t cared about a kid with problems. Their idea of understanding was to send him to the office whenever he upset their lessons.
He certainly hadn’t had a teacher like Carlie.
“What is it, Tyler? What’s wrong?”
Her perception was uncanny. He realized he was holding a math paper one student had left on a desk, and he slowly laid it down and turned to her. “I have the greatest respect for teachers. For anyone having a gift with children. There are too many people out there who don’t care about kids, even their own.”
He knew he shouldn’t have said so much the minute the words were out of his mouth. Carlie was scrutinizing him carefully. He shook his head and wandered around the room, surveying all the desks, laughing when he saw one that was overflowing with old papers. He straightened a chair, centered a book, replaced a pencil that had fallen on the floor.
Carlie began helping him tidy up. “The children may like me, but they’re always in a hurry to leave when the bell rings.” She indicated the disheveled desks. “They tend to be a little sloppy at times.”
Tyler refocused on her. “Do you have children of your own?” He discovered he was suddenly very interested in her.
“No.”
Just that one curt word. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re not married?”
“Mr. Ramsey…”
He smiled. “Do you want children of your own someday?”
Lowering her gaze, she ignored his question and pulled her purse from beneath her desk. “We’d better be going. I have tests to grade tonight and lessons to prepare for the morning.”
He accepted her change of subject without comment, and motioned for her to lead the way. They’d be spending a lot of time together, several nights a week. He’d get to know her better, and she would eventually warm up to him.
That thought brought with it images of another woman, a woman who had warmed up to him, only to leave him. He still felt irritated when he thought of how he’d woken up alone, a stupid smile on his face. But even then, he hadn’t considered that was the end of it. He’d assumed he’d find out who she was from Brenda, then have the pleasure of getting to know his harem girl better.
But Brenda said the woman didn’t want to be identified, and short of telling her why he wanted to know, he couldn’t very well demand the mystery woman’s name. But he hated the thought he might never see her again, and he hated even more that the night had evidently meant so little to her. It had been special to him, a night to cherish.
And the woman didn’t want anything to do with him.
Carlie was halfway to the door when Tyler caught up with her, automatically taking her arm. “Let’s take my car, and I’ll bring you back here when we’re finished.”
“I’d prefer to drive.”
Bristly. She was stiff, her arm rigid in his grasp. He had the distinct notion she resented his touch, though he hadn’t a clue why. He was getting a little disgruntled with female rejection, and the question came out a little sharper than he’d intended. “Why?”
She didn’t look at him, but he saw her pull her bottom lip between her teeth. She had a nice profile, he realized, and the lip she was punishing was soft and full. Then she nodded. “Very well. You may drive.”
4
TYLER HAD very large hands.
Carlie stared, without meaning to, as he cut into a piece of peach pie, then put the bite in his mouth and chewed. His jaw was strong, lean and hard, with only a slight shadow of dark beard stubble. His nose, straight and high-bridged, would appear aristocratic but for the lump where he had broken it in a fight when he was younger. Bren had told her the story, about how Jason had joined in and the two brothers had ended up defeating four other kids.
His eyebrows were straight and dark. His lashes thick and long. His cheekbones high and sculpted. There was a healthy color to his skin, not a dark-baked tan, but definitely the added color of outdoor activities.
Carlie sipped her coffee, her gaze going again to his hands. She remembered those hands so well, the way they had touched her, their strength, their gentleness. The memory gave her an odd tingle.
“Aren’t you going to eat your pie?” he asked.
Carlie pulled her eyes away from his hands. She nodded and took a large mouthful to give her something to do, namely chew, while Tyler filled the silence with questions.
“I could come to the school Friday, around four again, if you want me to do some sort of sign-up, or make a roster. What about you? Can you make it, or is that too soon?”
“Friday would be terrific. I’ll put out a few calls tomorrow during lunch to see who can stay over. The ones who can’t make it can have a schedule Monday.”
Tyler pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “These are my best times to get together. I tried to make them as regular as possible, so the kids can know what to expect. You can look that over then let me know if you’ll have a problem with any of those dates.”
She tucked the paper into her purse. “It’ll be fine.”
“You didn’t even look at it. How do you know it won’t interrupt your plans?”
Carlie gave him a quick smile. “We’re glad to have your help. Whatever works for you is fine with me.”
Tyler laid his fork by his plate and shook his head. “You know the saying about all work and no play? You have to take time for a social life, too.”
“Why don’t you let me worry about my social life, all right?” she said, annoyed with his persistence.
“What social life? It doesn’t sound to me as if you have one.”
That was entirely too close to the truth, and rubbed Carlie the wrong way. “Look, Mr. Ramsey. You may be the authority on having a good time, but I take my commitments seriously.”
She watched Tyler’s face go rigid, and then he leaned toward her. “And I don’t?”
“Not from what I hear.”
Leaning back, Tyler observed Carlie thoughtfully. “You know, if we’re going to work together, you’ll have to get over your attitude. I don’t know why you dislike me so much, but it’s not something I’m used to. Nor do I intend to get used to it.” He waited a heartbeat, and Carlie felt his annoyance wash over her before he added, “I’d really like to work with you and the kids. But if you would rather find someone else to help you with your project, I’ll drop out.”
It was plain, by his tone and expression, he didn’t want to do that. He wanted to be involved, for whatever reasons, and Carlie did need him. She hated to admit the truth, but it was her own personal conflict that was causing the problems. What she needed was an emotional compromise.
After adjusting her glasses, she straightened. “I think we can manage to get along if we keep it on a business level.”
Tyler shook his head. “No go. I don’t have a ‘business level.’ You’re going to have to get your little nose out of the air and be friendly.”
Her compromise exploded into oblivion. Did everything have to be his way? “You’re an extremely