2

“Hi. I’m Carolyn Perkins. Is this your first day at Parkwood, as well?”

Marilyn glanced up from the stack of papers she’d been given to fill out. The woman who’d slid into the chair beside her was grinning and Marilyn couldn’t help but smile back. It was nice to see a friendly face. “Hello,” she said, accepting the woman’s hand. “I’m Marilyn Bannister. And yes, today is my first day. I’m somewhat nervous.”

“Why?” the woman asked, looking slightly bemused.

“Because not only is this my first day at this school, it’s also my first day in the classroom. I just graduated last spring. I’m teaching first grade.”

“And you were assigned to Parkwood, right off the bat? That’s interesting. I heard Principal Madaris usually prefers to hire experienced teachers; those with at least two years’ teaching experience. You must have a dynamite resume.”

Marilyn decided not to tell the other woman that what she had was a glowing recommendation from Texas Senator Barbara Jordan. Instead, she asked, “Do you have much classroom experience?” The woman didn’t look any older than she was.

Carolyn’s smile widened. “Yes. I got my degree at twenty from Grambling University. I’m a proud Grambling Tiger,” she said grinning. “My first teaching assignment was at Cullers Elementary. I put in for a transfer after a year, though. It’s a real nice school but I didn’t get along with the principal, Mr. Wells. The man, a military retiree, was a tyrant. He wanted us to treat the kids like little soldiers. His idea of discipline was out of line, in my book.”

“Is he still there?” Marilyn asked. She was glad she hadn’t been assigned to Cullers.

“No. He retired last year. Or should I say, he was forced to resign. That’s when they brought in Helen Chapman. I love her to death and was lucky to work with her for two years. She’s older and had been a high school principal at one point. They needed someone like her at Cullers.”

“Why?”

“Because she was the one who opened Cullers’ doors over thirty years ago.”

“She’s been in the school system that long?”

“I understand, even longer. She is loved by teachers far and wide because some of them used to be her students at one time. Even Mr. Madaris. She was his principal when he graduated from high school. I understand she was his older brothers’ teacher, too, before she became a principal.”

Carolyn paused a minute, then added, “I loved teaching at Cullers and enjoyed working with her.”

“Then why did you leave? Couldn’t you have refused the transfer?”

“Parkwood is the number one elementary school in the county. I want to be a principal one day, and working under Principal Madaris will help me reach that goal quicker. I’ve already made it to the promotability list. And since I’ve learned all I could from Mrs. Chapman, I came here to gain as much knowledge as I can from Mr. Madaris. I was lucky there was an opening. It’s unusual that one of his teachers decided not to return from maternity leave. Besides,” Carolyn said, inching closer, as if she didn’t want her words overheard. “What woman wouldn’t want to work for Principal Madaris? I get chills just knowing there’s a chance I might see him every day.”

Marilyn lifted a brow. “Why?”

Carolyn leaned back and looked at her strangely. “You have met him, right?”

Marilyn shook her head. “No, not yet.”

“You haven’t? Then who interviewed you for the job?”

“A Mr. Sanders. At the time, I was told Mr. Madaris was out of town.”

Carolyn nodded. “Joseph Sanders. He’s the deputy superintendent for at least ten schools, including this one, Cullers and Stonewood--the top three in the county. No wonder you got hired. If Mr. Sanders gave you his stamp of approval, there’s nothing Mr. Madaris can say. Mr. Sanders is his boss.”

Carolyn leaned close again and added, “Rumor has it that Mr. Sanders will be retiring in a couple of years, and that Mr. Madaris is a shoe-in for his job, since Mrs. Chapman has set her sights on retirement.”

The woman glanced around again. “The reason I asked if you’d met Principal Madaris, is because if you had, you would understand why every young female teacher in the state wants to work at this school. The man is drop-dead gorgeous. And he’s young. Only twenty-five.”

Marilyn hadn’t known that. “That is young for an administrator.”

“But he’s smart as a whip. I heard he finished college with a bachelor’s degree and master’s before he hit twenty-one.”

“That’s impressive.”

Before Marilyn could completely get the words out, Carolyn quickly added, “And he’s single.”

When Marilyn didn’t show any sign of being enthused with that news, Carolyn frowned. “Doesn’t that interest you?”

Marilyn smiled. “I’ve never even met the man. And really, I have more to do than get worked up over someone who will be my boss, regardless of how gorgeous he is.”

“Wish I could feel that way. But then, it’s not like I can do anything about it, not with the school system’s non-fraternization policy. The principal, as well as any members of his administration, aren’t allowed to date teachers. I guess they figured there’d be less drama that way, especially in the case of Principal Madaris. There are always plenty of women vying for his attention.”

And I have a feeling you’re one of them, Marilyn thought. She found it hard to believe that any man could be that attractive. And even if he was, what was the big deal? She knew how women acted whenever they saw her brothers. She and all her siblings had gray eyes; something they’d inherited from their father. Stuart Jr. had allowed all the attention to go to his head. Roland, who she fondly called Ro, wasn’t as bad as his older brother, but he’d been known to break a few hearts in his day. Right now, though, his main focus was getting through medical school. She was glad he’d settled down and spent most of his time in the library, instead of in women’s beds. At least, for now.

Her brothers were the main reason for her attitude towards men. No matter how good-looking, how charming they were, she could take them or leave them. Usually, she left them. She didn’t have time for the games men played and refused to be one of those women who tolerated it. .

“Ms. Perkins, if you’ve completed all your paperwork, Principal Madaris will see you now,” the school’s secretary said in a no-nonsense tone.

“Yes, I’m finished,” Carolyn quickly said as she stood. She glanced over and smiled at Marilyn. “Let’s get together for lunch in the cafeteria later today.”

Marilyn nodded. “Okay.” She watched as Carolyn was escorted toward the office that bore the name PRINCIPAL JONATHAN MADARIS.

Jonathan. For some reason, she liked the name. Although this would be her first time meeting Mr. Madaris, she’d heard good things about him from Senator Jordan. He was definitely well-liked and respected. He had worked on the senator’s campaign and Marilyn was surprised that their paths had never crossed.

Figuring she might be summoned next, Marilyn returned her attention to her paperwork.

 

* * * *

 

The moment Carolyn Perkins left his office, Jonathan put a red check on her folder. He was pretty confident she would work out fine. She had three years’ experience and had come highly recommended by Helen Chapman, a woman he respected. Not only was she his former high school principal, but she’d become a friend of the Madaris family years ago, at the beginning of her career, starting with when she’d been his oldest brother Milton’s first grade teacher.

He’d heard that Milton had been her worst nightmare. And once he’d moved on, she’d had the next three Madaris brothers--Nolan, Lee and Lucas--to deal with. His mother and Helen Chapman had eventually become very good friends, since his mother had been summoned to the school enough times to help discipline her sons.

After witnessing all the trouble their four older brothers had gotten into with Mrs. Chapman, Jonathan and his older brother Robert had known not to even think of giving Helen Chapman a hard time. Mrs. Chapman credited the Madaris’ boys for toughening her up early in the educational arena. She’d been named Teacher of the Year several times and would be retiring soon, after more than thirty years in the school system.

He didn’t intend to stay that long. At some point, he wanted to return to college and work on his PhD. His ultimate goal was to become a university professor.

But right now, he had teachers to interview. He picked up the next folder labeled with the name, Marilyn Bannister. Her age indicated she was twenty-one and fresh out of college, with an education degree from Texas Southern University, and had graduated at the top of her class. Impressive. She’d also been her graduating class’s valedictorian, and had been a member of the university’s track team.

Miss Bannister was the one person he hadn’t yet interviewed, because he’d had an unexpected trip out of town. However, she’d come highly recommended from Senator Barbara Jordan, and she had passed Deputy Superintendent Sanders’ interview with flying colors. With such glowing endorsements, there was no reason she wouldn’t get his. Since he respected both Jordan’s and Sanders’ opinions, he considered this interview to be just a formality.

He pushed the intercom button on his desk. “Ms. Etheridge, please send Miss Bannister in.”

Jonathan stood to stretch the kinks from his body and turned to glance out the window. It was a beautiful day, the middle of August. He smiled when he thought of yesterday’s cookout at Whispering Pines, his family’s ranch. It had been Milton’s birthday. His four older brothers and their wives, along with his mother, lived on the ranch, as did his younger brother, Jake.

He had enjoyed spending time with his family. Robert was in town on military leave, so of course, his mother had invited Diana. His brother had been smiling all over the place. Everyone was wondering if he would ask for Diana’s hand in marriage before he had to return to Ft. Benning after the holidays. Jonathan knew for a fact that his mother was counting on it.

“Good morning, Principal Madaris.”

He turned toward the voice with the intention of returning the greeting. Whoa! Suddenly, he felt like he’d taken a hard blow to his stomach. Quickly inhaling, he then released a slow breath, certain his heart had missed a beat. Standing on the other side of his desk had to be the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen.

The first thing he noticed was her eyes. They were charcoal gray in color and were simply beautiful against the rich and smooth texture of her creamy brown skin. Her brows were flawlessly arched and her lips were impeccably shaped. She was wearing her hair in a neat afro, the perfect style for her oval face.

Almost too late, Jonathan realized he’d been staring. Too long, with too much intensity. He cleared his throat. “Miss Bannister,” he said, stretching his hand out to her. “Welcome to Parkwood Elementary School.”

The moment their hands touched, something akin to a surge of electricity hit his fingers. He was tempted to jerk his hand back, but that would have been rude. Still, there was no way she couldn’t feel the spark between them. When he dropped her hand, he was tempted to shove his own hand into his pockets. “Please have a seat, Miss Bannister.”

“Thank you.”

 

* * * *

 

Marilyn took the chair, while trying to pretend she hadn’t felt anything when their hands had touched. But she couldn’t dismiss the fact that she had. Had he felt something as well? There was no sign that he had, but she was probably the last person who could read a man.

She’d shaken hands with a lot of men and none had made a tingling sensation spread through her fingers. If they hadn’t been still tingling, she would have assumed she’d imagined the entire thing.

The first thing she noticed when she walked in was how Jonathan Madaris towered over his desk. He was tall, about six-three or four, she figured. And he had a lean muscular physique, as if he lifted weights on a daily basis. No excess fat anywhere. And then there were his clothes...and the way they fit. His white dress shirt stretched across a massive chest and set of shoulders, without leaving a wrinkle anywhere.

Carolyn had been right. Jonathan Madaris was a good looking man. Marilyn would even agree that the man was drop-dead gorgeous. He had sable brown skin, dark brown eyes, a pair of full lips and a nicely trimmed afro. A strong jawline and thick eyebrows added dimension to the total masculine package.

When he sat down and picked up the folder with her name on it, her gaze shifted to his hands. Long fingers. Clean fingernails. Big hands. Nice hands. She frowned, wondering what she was doing. This was a job interview, not a date.

“Is anything wrong, Miss Bannister?”

She snatched her gaze away from his hands and turned to look back to his face. Those dark brown eyes were studying her with a penetrating force, it almost took her breath away. She swallowed before saying, “No, Mr. Madaris, there’s nothing wrong.”

Marilyn drew in a slow breath. According to Senator Jordan, her new boss was the epitome of professionalism at all times. And that was good, because for some reason, she was flustered. She’d never been this attracted to a man before. Or acted this crazy. That thought bothered her. She wasn’t going to be one of those women who lost themselves over a man. She felt strongly about that.

That’s why she’d rarely dated. She just wasn’t into the games. For men, it was all about the chase. Women, in contrast, were looking for love and marriage. Not that she wanted that right now, though. She had goals to achieve before settling down with a husband and children. As far as she was concerned, she had plenty of time for that and wasn’t in any hurry. Right now, she needed to concentrate on her job. Not on the man sitting behind the huge desk.

But why did he have to look so good?

 

* * * *

 

Jonathan was trying to get his brain cells back in check, but found it almost impossible. The intensity of his attraction to Marilyn Bannister didn’t make sense. He was no stranger to being around beautiful women, but there was something intrinsically different about the one sitting across from him. What that difference was, he wasn’t sure.

He hadn’t ever been this taken with a woman. All he wanted to do was sit there and stare at her like a little boy who’d become infatuated with his favorite teacher. He had to get a grip or he would make a fool of himself. No matter what, he had to remain a professional. Still, the thought that he had to remember that fact bothered him. He’d never been confronted with such a dilemma before.

“Your resume is impressive, Miss Bannister,” he said, breaking eye contact with her to glance down at her folder.

“Thank you, Mr. Madaris.”

He liked the sound of her voice and wished he could tell her to call him Jonathan. But there was no way he could do that. “I regret that I wasn’t available to interview you myself, but I heard it went well. Deputy Superintendent Sanders was very impressed with you.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“I like to get to know my teachers, Miss Bannister, so please tell me about yourself.”

He was stalling and he knew it. Jonathan already knew everything he needed to know about her. It was all in the file he’d reviewed earlier. She’d been born in San Antonio, and was a recent graduate of Texas Southern University, with a double major, one in Education and the other in Mathematics.

He also knew she was single, but wondered if she had a steady guy. Of course, that information hadn’t been in her file. Nor was it any of his business. Regardless, he was curious. There was no way a woman who looked the way she did could be unattached.

“What would you like to know?”

He held her gaze. “For starters, why do you believe that you would be an asset to this school?” He figured that was a safe topic, as he tried not to dwell on how she’d rattled him.

“I believe the elementary years are the most important years in a child’s life. That’s when they get their basic foundation that will carry them to the twelfth grade. And…”

Jonathan listened, noting how well she spoke. Articulate and coherent. She was a great communicator. He’d also seen, in her resume, that she was fluent in Spanish. So was he. Like a number of people living in Texas, his father’s ancestors were of Mexican decent. As a result, all of the Madarises were able to easily converse in both English and Spanish.

As she continued to answer his questions, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Marilyn Bannister was definitely a remarkable woman.

 

* * * *

 

Marilyn hoped she wasn’t talking his ear off. She couldn’t tell, since Jonathan Madaris’ expression was unreadable. He glanced down at her file and then moments later, he looked back up at her. Why did she feel a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach every time he looked into her eyes?

“I see that you’ve listed a preference to teach first grade, Miss Bannister. Why?”

That was an easy one, she thought. Not that his last question had been difficult. All she’d had to do was focus on her abilities and what she could bring to the table. For this question, she had state statistics, which she could back up from her experience, although limited. She explained how during her internship at a school in Dallas, she had assisted first graders and she’d felt that some of them could have benefited from subjects that would help in their educational development before they reached second grade. “I believe math, reading and writing are very important during this time. Especially math.”

He nodded. “I see you’re a math whiz.”

“I don’t consider myself a whiz, exactly. I’m just someone who loves working with numbers,” she said.

“I understand NASA wanted to hire you as one of their computers.”

She wondered where he’d found that information. It certainly hadn’t come up in her interview with Superintendent Sanders. That meant he’d had a conversation with Senator Jordan. Barbara was one of the few people outside of her family who knew about the NASA offer. “Yes, that’s true.”

“Why did you turn it down? You probably could be making more money.”

There was no point in telling him that, at the time the offer for employment had been made, money hadn’t been a factor. However, that had been before her father had been hurt on the job, and before she’d realized a part of her salary would be needed to keep the family afloat.

“It isn’t about the money. I love teaching. The thought that I might be able to pass my love of numbers on to kids at an early age was a key factor in my decision.”

One of her teachers had done that for her, Marilyn remembered. Mrs. Carmella Tucker had been one of Marilyn’s favorite teachers, and she’d challenged her students to use their minds. Now many teachers were encouraging the use of calculators. Marilyn wouldn’t be one of them.

She continued talking and appreciated that Mr. Madaris was listening. He had leaned back in his chair and nodded periodically whenever she provided important facts. She was glad he seemed interested. She hadn’t wanted to bore him with minor details, but for her, it was vital that he believed she was a good fit for his school and that she would do her best. More importantly, she wanted to leave him with the impression that she wasn’t there just for a paycheck, but to make a difference. She wanted to be a positive influence on the children she would be teaching.

She prided herself on always being able to look a person directly in the eyes while talking, but she found such a thing difficult to do with Jonathan Madaris. More than once, she had to tear her gaze away from his and look elsewhere. She’d become fixated on the shape of his mouth. Why? What was there about him that made her want to fan herself? Cross and uncross her legs? Shift in her chair?

Although his manner was strictly professional, there was something about the way he was looking at her, the way his penetrating gaze held hers, that continued to stir something to life inside of her. She recognized it for what it was and found it annoying that she was attracted to the man who was her boss. That wasn’t good. She needed a reality check and fast.

“Is anything wrong, Miss. Bannister?”

Her gaze flew from her close scrutiny of his lips to his eyes. Oh, no. He probably thought she was a nitwit. Or worse, he might detect her fascination with him, since this was the second time he’d asked her that question. Hadn’t her brothers always claimed that a man knew when a woman was attracted to them? There was no doubt in her mind that Jonathan Madaris was probably used to getting this kind of reaction from women. But heaven forbid she be one of them.

She needed this job, now more than ever, and the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was more of a liability than an asset. “No, Mr. Madaris, there isn’t anything wrong.”

A smile touched his lips. “Good. Welcome to Parkwood. I can see you doing great things here.”

 

* * * *

 

The moment Marilyn Bannister left his office, Jonathan released a deep breath. She’d been in his space for less than an hour, forty minutes at the most. But for him, they had been the most tortuous forty minutes he’d ever endured, mainly because he’d been obsessively attracted to her.

A tightness filled his chest and he inhaled deeply, immediately regretting the action when her scent filled his nostrils. It was a lush fragrance that tantalized his mind. But it wasn’t just her scent that had done him in. It had been the entire feminine package.

Especially those gray eyes.

He had wanted to ask her about them. Was it a family trait? Something passed on to one or two people every generation? His great-grandmother, Christina Marie Madaris, had had reddish brown hair. His father’s deceased sister, Aunt Victoria, had inherited her grandmother’s hair coloring, but so far she’d been the only one in the Madaris family to get it. When he was younger, his Aunt Victoria’s hair had always seemed to appear more red than brown to him. Sort of like a fiery flame. She had been his mother’s best childhood friend, and the one responsible for getting Milton Sr. and Felicia Laverne together. According to the stories Jonathan had heard, the color of Victoria’s hair had matched her personality.

He went back to his desk and sat down. Today was the first day of the new school year. An assembly program, which would start in less than an hour, was planned to welcome everyone back. However, right now, all he wanted to do was remain in his office and savor the time he’d spent in the presence of Marilyn Bannister. How bizarre was that?

It might be crazy, but it was also real. He was blessed with the ability to multi-task, so while he’d been sitting there, listening to her talk and getting lost in those gray eyes, he’d been imagining all sorts of things. He’d wondered if her eyes changed to a darker shade of gray in the heat of passion; if her skin felt as soft as it looked; or if that tongue she used so eloquently when she spoke was as talented in other ways.

He rubbed his hand down his face. Why was he so taken with Marilyn Bannister? Whatever the reason, this attraction wasn’t good. She was one of his teachers, and thanks to the school’s non-fraternization policy, beyond his reach.

Jonathan leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling frustrated. Why did he resent that policy now, when he never had before? The answer came easily. Something about Miss Bannister had captured his attention and grabbed his interest the moment he’d looked up and connected with those eyes.

He’d been spellbound. Riveted beyond measure. Totally and completely charmed. When he’d asked her to tell him why she thought she would be an asset to his school, she had laid out her credentials and how they’d be useful, not in a boastful way, but in a way that he’d found insightful. She had made some points that he hadn’t thought of. But she had thought of them, and had presented them in an intelligent way.

And all the while, other thoughts had floated through his mind, thoughts that he had no business having. Like...what did she look like, naked, beneath that printed dress with the brown jacket?

When he’d walked her to the door, he had inconspicuously checked out her legs. They were just as mouthwatering as he’d thought. Long and gorgeous in a pair of high heels. The dress had been a decent length, and that glimpse of her legs had only added to his fascination.

He got up from the desk to pace around his office a few times, certain that doing so would help him screw his head back on right. It seemed to have been knocked off center for a brief moment. Bottom line--he had to get a grip. He was Jonathan Madaris. He had plans, professional goals he intended to achieve. And none of them included having a woman in his life; especially one who’d made him wonder if he was coming or going.

He glanced at his watch, then grabbed his jacket and slid it on. What had happened in his office earlier had been a fluke. He was certain of it. His reaction to her would be totally different the next time he saw her.

At least, he definitely hoped it would.