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eight years later.
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As soon as the bell rang all the children nosily got up and started exiting the classroom. They were loud and boisterous as they each yelled their enthusiastic good byes to their teacher, telling her how they'd see her after summer break. Claire smiled at them and returned their lively fair wells.
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After they had all left she got up from her desk and started tidying the room. Before she'd started teaching at Fairview Elementary School she hadn't had any idea how messy first graders were, it was like a massive whirlwind and blown through the room. She put back toys, books and game boards were they were supposed to be. As she was doing so Lori Brown entered her classroom and Claire smiled in greeting, "Hi Lori." She was a very pretty, plump woman in her early fifties, who always had a happy smile on her face and a kind word for everyone she came across.
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Her classroom was right next to Claire's, she taught second graders. They had gotten along very well ever since Claire had joined the staff some four years ago. Lori had been a teacher before she'd gotten married, to her reticent but amiable husband Walter whom Claire had met a couple of times, but had stopped once she'd had little kids. Preferring to stay at home with them. Now that her children were adults and with her husband constantly away working out of state she'd gone back to teaching. Lori often told her that it kept the loneliness at bay but Claire wasn't so sure about that anymore.
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She absolutely loved children and teaching, that was why she'd gone to the local community college and gotten a B.A in Education. However, as much as Claire loved teaching she had noticed lately that it wasn't giving her the same joy it once had. She found herself increasingly longing for more, for a family and children of her own. But that, unfortunately seemed like a distance far away dream. She'd dated some in the last couple of years but had only once come close to marriage and that also hadn't worked out.
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"Hi dear. There's a man here to see you." Lori said, smiling mischievously.
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Claire frowned in confusion, she wasn't expecting anyone certainly not a any man.
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"Who?" She inquired.
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"He said his name is Levi Pierce. And my ... ain't he gorgeous! Why ... I found myself blushing like a school girl when we spoke."
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Claire felt the bottom drop from her stomach while Lori continued uninterrupted, "If I was still a young woman ..." she sighed dreamily then seemed to catch herself before she laughed, "Oh listened to me. What a silly old woman I am. Walter would have an absolute fit if he heard me. Besides, only a stunning young thing like you could catch that man's eye."
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But Claire was hardly paying Lori any attention. Her mind had gone to complete mush since she'd heard Levi's name. What could he possibly want from her. She hadn't seen him in eight years. The last time she'd heard anything about him was three years ago, when she had overheard some women in the grocery store mentioning how tragic it was that he'd become a widower at such a young age.
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She also remembered how heart broken she had been when she'd first heard that he had married. Her heart had broken all the more when he'd lost his young wife in a horrid car crash, leaving him not only a widower but a single father to their daughter as well.
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"What did he say he wanted?" Claire asked.
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"He didn't say. Should I let him in, he seems the impatient sort."
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She nodded absentmindedly then quickly added, "Yes. Please send him in Lori. Thank you." The older woman smiled and left the room.
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Claire took a few studying breaths to calm herself. Why was he here and what could he possibly be here to see her about? There was a quick, hard knock on the door. She ran her hands on her light blue skirt and told him to enter.
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He came in and Claire held her breath as he slowly walked toward her until he was standing directly in front of her. As her eyes ran over him the only thought that came to her mind was that he was absolutely breathtaking. He was wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt that perfectly outlined his hard muscles and his whip-cord lean body. The hint of boyhood had completely disappeared and in its place was a hard, dark adult maturity that strangely made her glaringly aware of her womanhood. He was powerfully built and incredibly virile. She looked up into his steady eyes and her lips parted in silent wonder. He'd always seemed wild and dangerous but now ...!
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God, now he was infinitely more so. There was a coiled, fierce violence within him that seemed to be simmering just beneath the surface. It frightened and excited her all at the same time. She watched transfixed as his eyes unhurriedly moved over her body, heating up every inch they touched, leaving behind a slow burning fire in their wake. They briefly lingered on her lips like a soft caress then continued up, back to her eyes again.
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She smiled to hide her insane reaction to being near him and said, “Mr Pierce. It's been a long time." while she moved away and put much needed distance between them. She walked to her desk and sat down on the chair. "Please, have a seat." She said when he remained standing, his eyes following her every move. He sat down, more like sprawled on the other chair in front of her wooden desk and propped his elbows on the armrest.
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He smiled sardonically, "Damn. You look even better than the last time I saw you.” and the look in his eyes was as enticing as a dark forbidden temptation as it washed over her. "But then again you were always quite a looker."
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She swallowed and looked away, she certainly did not want to be reminded of the last time they'd seen each other, it was surely better left in the past. However, at his compliment, her treacherous heart blossomed like a desert flower in spring. It was almost ridiculous how pleased she was that he thought she was attractive.
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"Thank you." She responded calmly, her voice not giving away any of her inner turmoil. "How may I help you? I'll admit I was very surprised when I heard you were here to see me."
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The amusement in his eyes instantly died and he became serious, "I need you to tutor my daughter over the summer."
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To say she was shocked to hear that was an understatement. Of all the things, this hadn't crossed her mind. "Tutor your daughter?" She asked, her voice rife with confusion.
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"Yes. I've been having a damned difficult time getting her to go to school. I even hired a bunch of tutors but she screams and causes a scene every time they come over." He explained, his frustration evident in the furrow of his brow.
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"If that's the case what makes you think she'll respond to me?"
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"I don't know if she will but I'm willing to try anything at this point." He said and added sarcastically, "I heard you're some kind of child whisperer."
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She was slightly offended by the way he said it, like the thought was laughable. Over the years since she'd began teaching she had become well known for being very good with children which in turn had had her labelled as the 'child whisperer'. She hated the phrase but unfortunately like all horrid nicknames it had stuck. Her colleagues and other staff members at the school often used it, even some of the locals. She had a knack for dealing with extremely difficult children. For some unknown reason there was something about her that made them gravitate toward her.
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Claire was so good that schools from other states had even started sending very difficult children to her and she'd had success every single time. Some people even said she had some sort of bewitching power. But she obviously didn't believe that, she simply understood children and knew how to communicate with them, they felt comfortable around her. And if truth be told she herself felt more comfortable around children than she did adults. They weren't nearly as judgmental and their love was genuine and honest. Claire was sure a psychologist would probably say there was something definitely wrong with her.
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"I'm sorry. I already have plans this summer. I don't have the time as I'll be quiet busy." She said.
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His eyebrows rose in silent inquiry, "Busy with what?"
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She didn't really have any plans at all except to relax and enjoy her summer break by doing absolutely nothing. "If you must know I'll be busy relaxing. It's quite tiring teaching first graders you know." She said seriously.
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His lips twitched slightly, "You'll have plenty of time to relax. I just need you to see her three times a week and for only a few hours. I want her to catch up and join the others when school open."
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She opened her mouth to refuse him again. The main reason she was resisting was because she really dreaded the idea of spending so much time in his presence. It just wouldn't do for her peace of mind. It simply wouldn't do at all.
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He must have anticipated her response because he leaned closer and said, "Please Claire. I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't desperate. I'll double whatever they are paying you here."
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She was nearly distracted by the way he said her name in that deep husky voice that made coherent thinking virtually impossible. Claire realised it was the first time he'd ever said her name.
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She bit her lower lip, as she thought about his proposal. Well, double her salary. That money would certainly come in handy and besides she adored kids and had made an oath to avail herself to help children as much as she could. What the heck, he probably wouldn't be around much anyway. He had to work right! And she did love a challenge.
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She smiled lightly, "Alright, I'll do it. Just give me a week then we'll start."
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"Thanks." He said and stood up. Following his lead she did the same. He held out a hand, "I've got to run, I'm late for meeting." She stared at his hand for a moment, unwilling to have any physical contact with him. Already anticipating the fiery feeling his touch, even one so fleeting would cause her.
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She looked into his eyes and saw the challenge in them as if he was daring her to do it. She put her hand in his and immediately regretted it when tiny, electrical sparks danced off his skin to hers. With his eyes still locked on hers he lightly stroked the outside of her hand with his thumb as if savouring the texture of her skin and her heart rate rapidly increased.
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Claire quickly snatched her hand away from his and he smirked at her reaction, "See you next week." He said and walked out. She sank weakly into her chair and cursed whatever devil had possessed her to agree.
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