Submit to His Passion

Chapter 2

Two days later Nick was not thinking of Lindsay Miller while he unloaded his car to his classroom. He wasn't wondering what might have happened if he kissed her. Would she taste of passion and fire?

He pulled a second box from his car and balanced it on the first. He grabbed the two canvas bags from the trunk and hooked them on his wrist. Leaving the trunk open, Nick headed for the door. It was further from his classroom, but he'd avoid the office and the questions of Mrs. Margie Dempsey, the school secretary.

He edged to the side, grasped the handle with his fingers and tugged. Locked. Why didn't he think of that? He looked at the pile in his arms. If he put the box down, he'd drop everything.

Great mess Matthews. Now what?

His gaze traveled up to the cloudless sky of late August, a late heat wave beating down on him. Maybe somebody was inside if he could reach his phone he could call the office. He twisted his head around. Someone would drive by any minute, see his distress and come to his aid. The people of the small town he made home a decade ago were the best. Everyone helped each other and everyone cared about everyone else.

"Do you need help?" a voice called.

"Yes," he said, not daring to twist in case the stacked items fell.

Footsteps approached. A familiar soft voice spoke from behind, "Here, let me take the box. Faith, open the door please, sweetheart." Slender arms came into view, cool fingers brushed against his arm as she lifted his burden.

He wrinkled his nose as he tried to place the voice. "Thank you."

A blond girl he didn't recognize tugged on the door. "It's locked," Nick said. Now free to move he turned to his savior and met familiar brown eyes. Lindsay Miller. The world stopped as he watched the wind blow her glossy brown hair. She shook her head as it brushed over her nose.

"Oh," she breathed, coming to a sudden halt.

Oh indeed. "Hi. I think I can get my keys now." See? He could be around her and not act like his heart might beat out of his chest. She was so fucking beautiful. He knew it was shallow as fuck, but he couldn't help it. And her snit over the past and potential gossip amused him. She clearly hid a surplus of emotions and he guessed her ex-husband told her expressing herself was bad. If he ever met the man...

Nick shook his head. He barely knew this woman, there was no reason to feel so protective of her. Something in her called to him. Maybe that she seemed so damn repressed. People should show emotion. It made them beautiful. Anger and sadness and joy. If only he could tell her his observations.

She shifted the weight of the box to her arms and he wiggled his key into the lock and pulled the door open. "Thank you. Just take it inside and set it down. I'll drop this off at my classroom then return for it."

"We'll help you bring it down," the girl said. "That's the nice thing, right Mommy?"

Lindsay tore her eyes from his. "Uh yeah, helping would be nice." She didn't want to be alone with him again.

He could give her an out but he didn't want to pass the opportunity to spend time with her. Besides, they had a chaperone so he couldn't flirt with her. "So what are you doing here?"

She kept pace with him as he walked to his classroom. "Registering Faith for school."

"Ah, are you going into grade twelve?" he asked.

The girl giggled. "No."

"Ten?"

"Nooo. I'm in first grade." She grabbed her mom's hand.