"Why not?"
Without thinking, her gaze shot upward and caught the hint of humor in his eyes. She was trying so hard to keep it together, when having the man so close was like having a buffet of tasty desserts spread out before her and each one was tagged with a "Do Not Touch" label.
"Because it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the class who'd done the assignment properly."
One corner of his sexy mouth tipped upward. "Maybe she didn't understand the assignment."
"She understood it perfectly." Was that a scar just above his right eyebrow? She wondered if he'd received that from a hockey stick, or maybe a lover in the heat of passion had cut it with the ring on her finger. Maybe he was married and his poor wife had caught him with another woman or . . .
"Ms. Diamond?"
"Hmmm?" Her gaze dropped back down to his eyes, and the captivating glint she found there suggested he'd caught her daydreaming.
"I asked if there was any chance Nicole could redo the assignment for a grade."
"Oh." She smoothed her hands over the folder, giving herself a moment to pull herself together. "Of course. And I actually asked her to do just that. But then . . ."
"Our parents were killed."
"Yes." Lucy sucked in a lungful of air. "I feel just horrible about discussing this right now. And I'm willing to let Nicole take as long as she needs to redo the assignments."
"But?"
"But she needs to do them before grading for the quarter ends. And I fear that, because of her situation on top of whatever was undoubtedly already bothering her, she won't."
"Are there any other options?"
"She could repeat the class in summer school. But that would mean she wouldn't receive her diploma with everyone else."
"I'm a little confused." Those huge hands lifted like he was at a complete loss when she thought she was making herself perfectly clear. "This is my first time dealing with someone such as yourself."
Exactly what did he mean by that?
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, you say you care about Nicole. You say you don't want to see her fail yet you also don't seem open to giving her an opportunity not to fail." He flashed a smile meant to disarm her.
How could a man appear so charming while delivering such an outrageous insult?
"Mr. Kincade, I hope you're not insinuating I should falsify Nicole's grades just so she can graduate. My goal is to teach, not to help a student learn to cheat the system. I believe that anyone who is given the opportunity for an education has the responsibility to succeed or fail all on their own. The state requires specific criteria to obtain a high school diploma. I have no control over that. And as much as I want Nicole to succeed, I can't and won't lie for her. However, I can and will do whatever is in my power to help her."
"Are you sure you didn't call this meeting with the hopes of getting my good-­looking, single brother down here with an ulterior motive?" That dark brow lifted again and Lucy had to curl her fingers into her palms to keep from knocking him into tomorrow.
"Why, Mr. Kincade." She flashed him a disingenuous smile. "If you believe that, then you've taken too many hits to the head. And if that's the situation I can recommend a good doctor."
A laugh rumbled deep in his muscular chest. "I like a woman who speaks her mind."
"Yes. I'm sure that's different for you."
Another chuckle rumbled. "Meaning?"
"Meaning, unless someone has been living under a rock, your conquests are no secret to anyone who reads the trash magazines in the checkout line at the grocery store."
"And are you in the percentage of those who judge a book by its cover?"
"Meaning?"
"Meaning you don't believe any of those women have a thought in their pretty heads."
"I'm not a snob, Mr. Kincade. And I believe quite the opposite. Women like that are usually too smart to bite the hand that feeds them. Therefore vocalizing their thoughts can lead to disaster and disappointment."
"Are you flirting with me, Ms. Diamond?"
"Flirting!" And how the heck had he soared to that conclusion?
"Maybe it was your intent all along to lure me here."
She laughed. Snorted actually. The man might be gorgeous, but he bordered on ludicrous and delusional.
"How could I have possibly known you would come to this meeting? For your information, the original consultation was arranged with your mother."
His smile faltered and Lucy was immediately deluged with guilt for mentioning the poor woman.