9

Marilyn looked aghast. “I beg your pardon.”

Jonathan thought she could beg all she wanted. It wouldn’t change anything. He wasn’t sure why she didn’t have a car yet, but that didn’t matter. No future wife of his would take chances the way she was doing. He’d already figured out that it was probably dark when she caught the bus, and sometimes dark again by the time she got home. “No need to beg my pardon, Marilyn. Now what time do you want me to pick you up? Since tomorrow is Saturday, I’m flexible.”

“Mr. Madaris, I refuse to--”

“It’s Jonathan. But I’ve noticed you fall back on calling me Mr. Madaris whenever we disagree about something.”

“There’s nothing to disagree about, Jonathan,” she said, placing emphasis on his name. “First of all, what you’re suggesting is absurd. Men don’t go around buying women cars. I barely know you and I am not your responsibility. I only worked for you for two months and when I did, I got to work just fine. And I’m still getting to work on time without any problems. How I get there is no concern of yours.”

“Yes, it is.”

She frowned, and he could tell she didn’t like how their conversation was going.

“Let me ask you something. I’m sure there are other female teachers at Parkwood who catch the bus to work. Will you buy them cars, as well?”

“No.”

“Then why are you offering to do it for me? A car, for heaven’s sakes. That’s something a husband might buy for a wife. I can’t even see a guy buying such an expensive gift for his girlfriend. And it’s not like you and I have any type of a relationship.”

“Your case is different. You were living within walking distance of the school, which is why you probably moved to that apartment in the first place, right?”

“Yes.”

“But now, because I transferred you to another school, I’ve created a major inconvenience for you. Maybe even put you in danger.”

“You did not put me in danger. For heaven’s sakes, don’t you think you’re getting a little carried away with this?”

Was he? He honestly didn’t think so. He pulled into her townhouse style apartment complex and brought his car to a stop in front of her unit. “What you’re saying won’t change how I’d feel if something were to happen to you, Marilyn.”

She didn’t respond for a moment, then finally, she shook her head and said, “Look, I’m not your concern, nor am I your responsibility. Although I might be part of a project you initiated, I no longer work directly for you. That’s what makes this entire thing ludicrous. I am careful of my surroundings and, as I told you, there are a lot of other tenants who catch the bus at the same time each morning. I’m seldom alone.”

“Will you at least consider my offer if I were to treat it as a loan?”

“No. But thanks for bringing me home. It was nice seeing you again.” Not waiting for him to come around, she opened the door and got out.

If she wasn’t angry before, she was now, Jonathan thought, as she slammed his car door. He quickly hopped out of the car. “I’ll see you to the door, Marilyn.”

Her glare was clear, thanks to the lanterns surrounding her apartment. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It is for me.”

“Suit yourself.”

Jonathan quietly walked along beside her. This was not how he’d envisioned their night to end. All he’d wanted to do was protect her. Okay, so she was right. Men didn’t go around buying women cars. But he’d explained his concern for her safety. She should understand, shouldn’t she?

“Thank you for walking me to the door, Jonathan. Goodnight.” She was about to open the door and go inside.

“Wait, Marilyn.”

She paused and gave him an annoyed look. “Yes?”

“I’d like to see you again,” he said in a pensive tone.

“Excuse me?” She looked at him as if she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“I said I’d like to see you again. There’s an ice cream parlor a few blocks from here. Could I take you there tomorrow?”

Marilyn studied him, obviously trying to figure out what he was doing. He could see her mind working, likely assuming his reasons were related to the math coach pilot program. If that was what she was thinking, she was totally wrong. It was time she understood that there was going to be more between them than just business.

He reached out and took her hand. “Let’s say around two?”

She pulled her hand from his. “Mr. Madaris,” she said in an agitated tone.

“Jonathan. Why is it so hard for you to call me Jonathan?”

She released a deep breath. “Because you were Mr. Madaris to me first. When I see you, I think of you as either Mr. Madaris or Principal Madaris. I can’t see you as Jonathan.”

“Why not? That’s my name. I don’t have a problem calling you Marilyn. In fact, I like it.”

* * * *

Marilyn could feel a headache coming on. Why was Mr. Madaris…Jonathan…asking her out? She knew the ice cream shop he was talking about. They served her favorite brand of ice cream, so she’d spent a few sunny afternoons there, her latest issue of Essence Magazine in hand. It was one of her favorite local hangouts. It was always packed, sometimes with kids, but usually with couples. You couldn’t miss them. Not that she’d tried.

She would be lying if she didn’t admit that seeing people in love reminded her of what they had...and what she didn’t. But then, it was her own fault. She’d been the one to decide not to date while in school. Back then, guys had never ranked high on her list of requirements. How could they, when she saw how Stuart Jr. and Roland Bannister operated? And finding out how that jerk had treated Traci in college only confirmed her decision.

“Marilyn? Do we have a date?”

His question startled her. She looked up at him, trying to figure out his motives. But why did he have to look so good, standing there outside her apartment, so utterly handsome in his a light gray business suit? “I don’t date.”

He arched a brow. “Since when?”

She shrugged. “Since the early days of high school.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Why would I kid about something like that? You saw my resume. I had more important things to do with my time.”

What she didn’t admit was that she was terrified to give her heart to a man who’d only end up callously breaking it. It wasn’t worth it.

“In that case, I’d be honored to be your first date since high school.”

“Mr. Madaris...Jonathan, I can’t date you.”

He grinned. “And why not?”

A shiver shot up her spine when he smiled. She wished he hadn’t. Because now her focus was on his lips and how beautifully they were shaped. Forcing her gaze from his mouth, she said, “You used to be my boss.”

“But I’m not your boss anymore.”

“True, but it’s hard for me to think of you as anything else.”

He laughed softly. “I’m inviting you out for ice cream, Marilyn, not taking you home to meet my family.”

His statement was blunt. Asking her out for ice cream wasn’t all that serious. He obviously thought she was making a mountain out of a mole hill. Was she? It had been a month since they’d worked together, but still… “Could I meet you there, instead? That way, it’s not an actual date.”

He was watching her kind of shrewdly and she wondered what was going on in his mind. Then he said, “Sure, we can do that.”

She nodded, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “Goodnight Jonathan, I will see you tomorrow.” She offered him her hand.

He glanced down at her hand but didn’t take it. Instead he looked back up at her and said, “I think we can do better than that.” Then he leaned toward her and brushed a kiss across her lips.

Straightening, he said, “Goodnight, Marilyn.”

She stood there for a moment, staring at him, still feeling the heat of his lips on hers. Drawing in a deep breath, she went inside her apartment and quickly closed the door behind her.

Once inside her house she placed her purse on one of the tables before glancing at her watch. She really didn’t care how late it was; she needed to talk to Traci.

* * * *

On his drive home, Jonathan replayed his moments with Marilyn tonight in his mind. Just hearing her finally say his name had done something to him. She didn’t know how long he’d waited to hear it.

She had looked good tonight and her gray eyes seemed to shimmer in the ballroom’s lighting. Tonight hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped, but he would try again tomorrow. Now he knew what the problem was. To her, he was Mr. Madaris, not Jonathan. But he’d change that.

He’d admit to being a little rusty when it came to dealing with a woman like Marilyn. But that only meant he had to step up his game, because he had no intention of backing down. There was too much was at stake. He intended to romance her, using every drop of his Madaris charm.

He figured he’d gone a little too far in offering to buy her a car. She hadn’t liked that. But knowing she was walking to and from the bus stop every day had sent a crazy amount of fear escalating through him. All he could think about was what had happened to his aunt.

Tonight proved that Marilyn was different. There wasn’t a woman in his social circle who would have turned down a new car from him. Most would have seen the gesture as simply the prelude to more.

He rolled his window down, needing the cool breeze to flow through the car that was still filled with her scent. At least she had agreed to meet him tomorrow. She might not think of it as a date, but it was. And if he had anything to say about it, it would be the first of many.

* * * *

Marilyn was sitting on the floor in her apartment, talking to Traci. “Girl, get out of here,” Traci was saying. “You mean to tell me your ex-boss offered to buy you a car? A real car?”

Marilyn shook her head. She’d known this would be the reaction she’d get from her friend. “Yes. Can you believe it? He said it as if the cost of a car was no more than the cost of a can of tuna.”

“What did you tell him?”

Marilyn rolled her eyes. “You know what I told him. Men don’t just buy women cars, not without wanting something in return.”

“But from what you’d told me, he comes from a wealthy family. And he feels guilty about transferring you to another school. You can’t blame him for wanting to fix the situation.”

“He shouldn’t feel guilty. My lack of transportation isn’t his problem. If I hadn’t had to help the folks, I would have a car. Life happens. But I feel bad about what happened to his aunt, though. That seems to have left a lasting impression on him. Otherwise, why would the fact that I take the bus be any sort of issue? Thousands of people take the bus every day in this city.”

“You’re probably right. But a car? The man wanted to buy you a car.”

“Calm down, Traci. I’m sure it would have been a used one, with barely any life in it. Something just good enough to get me back and forth.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s the thought that counts. Are you sure he doesn’t have ulterior motives for being so nice. You said he asked you out on a date.”

“Yes, but I don’t think one thing has anything to do with the other. Besides, I turned him down.”

“Not really. You just wouldn’t let him pick you up. Technically, the two of you are still going out on a date. You’re just meeting him there.”

Marilyn didn’t want to think about that. “I refuse to think of it as a date.”

“Why are you against dating him when he’s no longer your boss?”

“I told you why. Because I still see him as an authoritarian figure.”

“Well, I think you’re making a mistake,” Traci said. “Being a principal is his job. After hours, men like him have lives, too. And since he’s no longer your boss, there is no valid reason for the two of you not to see each other, if that’s what you want to do.”

Traci paused a moment and then added, “And I hope you’re not letting how your brothers treat women and what happened to me influence your opinion of Jonathan Madaris. If that’s what you’re doing, it’s not fair.”

Marilyn nibbled on her bottom lip. Deep down, she knew that was exactly what she was doing, but she couldn’t do much about it. She’d been the one Arlene had called, crying about Stuart Jr. And it had been her that Ro’s numerous girlfriends would badger, hoping she’d help them make up with her brother when he’d moved on. But more than anything, she knew the pain Traci had suffered when she’d found out just what a lowlife Kenneth George was.

“I’m just not ready to date,” she finally said, refusing to admit to the reasons why.

“If I remember correctly, a month or so ago, you said you were excited about the possibility of finding someone. I recall you were even considering joining that singles group at your church.”

“I know, but I can’t seem to think of him as anything but my boss.”

“For all of two months. Big deal. So, tell me...did he kiss you good night?”

Marilyn didn’t say anything for a minute. Although it had been brief, she could still feel a tingling sensation on her lips. For that short moment, he had gone from being Jonathan Madaris, the principal, to Jonathan Madaris, the man. But now that she was home, he was back to being the principal again. “Yes, but he kept it decent. It was just a peck.”

“Umm, do me a favor.”

“What?”

“When you meet Jonathan Madaris tomorrow at the ice cream shop, why don’t you try having a good time? Enjoy his company and loosen up a bit. If anyone deserves to have some fun, it’s you.”

“Okay, okay. I will try to enjoy his company,” Marilyn said, not sure that she could. The man’s masculinity could be overpowering.

“What did he say when you told him you hadn’t dated since high school?”

“He was surprised.”

“Do you think he believed you?”

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t. He’s seen my resume and everything I was involved in at college.”

“Okay. So he knows you’re green. Did you want me to give you a few tips, now that you’re entering the world of dating?”

“This isn’t a date.”

Traci laughed. “If you say so.”