"This is lovely," Ashley exclaimed when they moved out onto the wide deck overlooking the georgeous montians/ With delight evident on her delicate features, she took in the twinkling lights in the trees shading the deck, the swimming pool with its waterfalls and spa and the outdoor fireplace where a merry blaze took out the slight chill of the September air.
Beyond the backyard, horses grazed near the whitewashed barn, and in the evening everything looked peaceful and still.
"We live out here when the weather is nice," he admitted. "And even sometimes when it’s not. With the fireplace, we can enjoy it from March to early December sometimes, until the snow gets too deep on the deck."
"She must adore it out here! My word, look at that play set. I think it’s more elaborate than the playground equipment we have at school."
He smiled at her enthusiasm. "We’ll have to have your class out for a party in the springtime when it’s warm enough to swim again. Kendyl would love it."
Her eyes glowed at the idea and she smiled, the first genuine, heartfelt smile she had ever given him.
He couldn’t seem to look away from it, at the curve of her lips, at the way the left side lifted just a little higher than the right, at the dimples he suddenly hungered to taste.
The heated dreams of the night before suddenly rocketed through his brain and in his mind he was once more tangled in all that softness, touching his mouth to hers, tasting that sweetly curved mouth.
He heard a ragged–sounding breath and managed to drag his attention from her mouth — and from his own feverish imagination — to meet her gaze. Her pupils were wide, her color high, and thick, heady awareness suddenly bloomed between them.
He needed to kiss her. He didn’t want to, he knew he shouldn’t, but he had to know if she tasted as delicious as he had imagined. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from leaning forward.
An instant before he reached her, he heard the bang of the screen door and jerked back just as Kendyl raced out of the house.
"Here I am! I changed and everything. Hi, Miss Barnes!" She hugged her teacher’s legs and Ashley looked dazed — whether from Kendyl’s affection or their almost–kiss, he couldn’t guess.
"Do you want to come see my bedroom? It’s pink and green and my bed is in a real playhouse!"
She cast a furtive look at him, her color high. "I…of course," she murmured, looking relieved at any excuse to escape.
"The steaks won’t take long," he said, calling on all his long–neglected acting skills to keep any trace of embarrassment from his voice.
She nodded and walked out with Kendyl’s hand tucked in hers, leaving him alone in the starlight to wonder what the hell had just happened.
YOU ARE READING
Starstruck
RomanceJason Willimas is a jerk! Sure, Ashley Barnes may have had his picture in her locker back when he was a Hollywood heartthrob. But now that the former idol’s daughter is causing trouble in the classroom — and Jason doesn’t seem to care one bit — kind...
