The minutes dragged on in silence and when the bell rang, a few students flinched like they'd been caught off guard.
"Please turn in your papers on your way to the door. No sneaking out. If you don't pass by my desk and hand in the assignment you get a big fat zero for the day." She hated threats, which was why she usually saved them for the end of class.
As the class filed out and each student passed her desk and dropped a paper on the surface, Lucy beamed. Some had written only a paragraph, others a full page. When it came Nicole's turn, she dropped a paper that appeared to be full of delicate handwriting on both sides of the pink floral paper with purple pen. A completed assignment. Lucy's heart raced.
"Nicole, could you stay after class for a few minutes?"
From beneath her heavy brown eye shadow, Nicole rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Bad attitude dripping like toxic waste, she went back to her desk, clearly expecting to be reprimanded.
When the classroom emptied out, Lucy motioned Nicole to come forward. With a huff, the teen got up and approached Lucy's desk, accompanied by irritated stomps of her Ugg boots.
"I'm proud of you," Lucy said. The lift of delicately arched brows said she'd obviously shocked the girl.
"Why?"
Lucy lifted the paper. "Not only did you finish an assignment, but you handed it in."
"Whatever." Nicole glanced away as if she was either embarrassed or waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"How about we celebrate?"
Nicole's head snapped around. "What?"
"Come on, Nicole. You know you've got talent. I know you've got talent. You accomplished something today that matters. I say that calls for a couple of warm cookies and a cup of hot tea. You game?"
"I have talent?" She pressed a hand to her chest, and moisture sparkled in her eyes.
"Loads." Lucy stood, fighting the urge to pull this poor-­now parentless girl-­in for a hug. "And aside from being your teacher, I'd love to talk to you about the ways you can use that talent and creativity all the way into your future. So come on, it's the last class of the day, what do you say? I'll even spring for cheesecake."
"I'd . . ." The girl hesitated, then let go of the first genuine smile Lucy had seen all semester. "I think I'd like that."
Sometimes accomplishments came easy. Most times you had to work hard for them. Nicole's smile and willingness had been like a ray of sunshine on this gloomy day. Lucy would not call it a complete success until they had a chance to talk. Maybe she'd gain some insight, or maybe all Nicole really wanted was a sugar rush and a chance to get away from school and home. Whatever the reason, Lucy planned to make the best of it.
Light rain drizzled down from a bank of low, steely gray clouds while Jordan waited in front of Lucy's cottage for her to come home. She'd called him little more than an hour ago and asked him to meet her. He didn't know the reason she wanted to meet. He didn't ask. She'd called, and that's all he cared about.
Last night after he'd left her house, he realized he'd probably drilled her pretty hard about her marriage. Maybe too hard. Her past wasn't any of his business. And yet he wanted-­needed-­to know.
What made Lucy tick?
What did she love? Hate? What was her favorite flavor of ice cream? Did she like her steak rare or well done? Or since-­aside from an obvious passion for cookies-­she seemed so health conscious, was she vegan? Did she like to make slow, sweet love on rainy days? And why had the man she married not seen her value when he had seen it all the way back in their senior year?
Yeah, his plate was already full and he didn't have the time or capacity for this sudden attraction to her. He'd always liked her, but now it was like seeing her in a completely different light.
Lucy had substance.
Digging emotionally deeper with a woman wasn't his usual thing. Yet now with Lucy, it became something he craved.
And she had heart.
Made obvious by her willingness to help his sister.
When he'd figured out she didn't seem to smile as much as she should, he wanted to be the one to put a smile on her face. He wasn't quite sure how to make that happen but he wanted to know. He wanted to spend more time with her. Figure things out. See what Lucy was all about.
The only thing he was damn sure about was that after kissing her he wanted to go back for more.
Moments later when her little white Honda pulled into the driveway, he was out of his SUV and at her car by the time she parked. He helped her from the car, then rolled her bag into the house just as the rain began to fall harder.