“I think it’s a nice color, especially with the sun on it. I see shades of red—which suits you—but also blond and dark brown. It’s very nice. You should wear it loose.”
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not interested. I’m not a teenager to be flattered by comments on my hair or eyes. I want to do a job here, Tyler. I’m very serious about it, even if you aren’t.”
“You are so damned defensive.”
With reason, she wanted to scream. If he found out.... She sucked in a calming breath and stared at his profile. Her voice was patience personified, and filled with sane reasoning. “I’m not defensive. Just realistic. As you already made clear, there’s very little about me that would ever entice you. I’m not naive. I’m aware of how I look. Why don’t we talk about something important now? Like the students.”
“I was only being honest with you, Carlie.”
She gave him her patented teacher’s look, reserved for students who had pushed her past the line. He shrugged, then returned his attention to the road.
She felt oddly deflated.
As he pulled into the school parking lot a few minutes later, he asked, “Were you at Bren’s Halloween party?”
Coming out of left field like that, the question left her temporarily routed. Then she gathered her wits, opened the door and stepped out. Tyler left the car also, the consummate gentleman, and walked her to her own car, opening her door.
Carlie wasn’t certain if it was just an innocent question, or if he was guessing at the identity of the masked lady again. She hesitated.
“Carlie?”
She saw no way around the lie. “No, I didn’t go. There’s always a lot happening at school this time of year. We had our own class party, you know. For the students, I mean. And we’ve already started practicing for the Thanksgiving play. And then, with the new project I’ve been working on...” Carlie came to a fast stop, appalled at her rambling. She looked into his eyes as she added truthfully, “I don’t go to parties very often.”
“Why not? You don’t have a steady date?”
Carlie rolled her eyes, leaning back on the car. She adjusted her glasses carefully on the bridge of her nose. “I most certainly don’t need a man to take me to a party if I wish to go.”
“Of course not. I was only going to say that I didn’t have a date, either, but I...well, I had a...terrific time. You should have come. I think you would have enjoyed yourself.” He grinned. “I went as a pirate.”
“How appropriate. Did you rape and pillage your way through the party?”
It was a lousy jest, and Tyler made certain she instantly regretted it.
“I wouldn’t do something as reprehensible as rape, Carlie. As for pillaging, I would never steal from my brother. Now, if it was at your house...do you own anything worth stealing?”
She should have known better than to throw that verbal punch, but she hadn’t been able to resist. She didn’t have an answer to his facetious question, so she settled for a look of disdain. Tyler only smiled.
Carlie turned away and climbed into her car. She needed to get away. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so emotionally drained. Or so invigorated.
That personal acknowledgment angered her even more, and she tried to slam her car door. But Tyler got in her way, gripping the window frame and holding the door open.
“You should go out more, Carlie. It might do you some good to socialize, I think.”
“Then you probably shouldn’t think. You might damage something vital, and then what would the female population do?” She smiled with false sweetness, slammed the door and immediately pulled away.
She glanced in her rearview mirror and saw Tyler still standing there, watching after her. Even from a distance, she could see he was smiling. And then Carlie realized she was smiling also. She shook her head, bemused. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d actually had fun with a man. Even arguing with Tyler was somehow fun.
Maybe she had been missing out and didn’t even know it.
* * *
On her drive home, she thought about seeing Tyler again. She was actually anticipating it. He didn’t seem to be at all deterred by the cold shoulder she was giving him. In fact, she believed it amused him. He smiled often enough to give her that impression.
The very last thing she wanted to do was amuse Tyler. She had to maintain an emotional distance; she had to keep herself safe. It certainly wouldn’t be easy, but she’d just have to try harder not to react to his little provocations. The only problem was, Tyler could be very provoking even when he wasn’t trying. All the man had to do was stand there, and women fawned all over him.
But Carlie wouldn’t be like other women. He’d find that out soon enough. She’d see to it.
* * *
Tyler bounced the basketball, feeling impatient. Where was Carlie? He was anxious to see her again, which surprised him to no end. He’d decided he must be a glutton for punishment, because as much as she seemed to look down on him and his life-style, he still enjoyed every minute he spent with her. Even when they were arguing.
The woman had a real flair for putting him in what she considered his place. She was fun.
He heard a sudden squeaking of gym shoes and looked up, a huge grin spreading across his face when he saw her. Carlie was waltzing onto the gym floor, looking as if she wore the comfortable, baggy sweatpants and thigh-length sweatshirt every day. She couldn’t quite stop her nervous hands, however, from tugging on the hem of the shirt, trying to pull it farther over her thighs.
He couldn’t resist teasing her. “Well, Ms. McDaniels! You have very long legs. I hadn’t realized.”
She held his steady gaze and Tyler found himself anticipating what she might say. She never reacted as he expected her to. She never reacted as most other women would.
She was definitely unique.
“There was no need, nor will there ever be a need, for you to notice my legs, Tyler.”
His grin never slipped. He enjoyed baiting her, watching her struggle with her temper. “Is every damned thing you own the same shade of mud? Don’t you have anything blue or yellow?” He smacked his forehead, as if struck by a thought. “Red! You might look...nice, in red.”
Her teeth snapped together in a loud click. “Watch your language. There are children present, and no, I have no desire...”
“None at all?”
“...to wear red! We’re only playing basketball, for goodness’ sake, and I hardly think the occasion warrants dressing up.”
“It doesn’t warrant dressing down, either. Is your body actually in there somewhere?” He leaned back, his gaze ranging slowly over her. “There’s enough extra material there to clothe three women.”
“Not that it’s necessary for me to explain myself to you,” she told him, starting to lose that steady, rock-solid calm, “but I thought I should wear clothes that were loose to allow for freedom of movement. I always wore something similar when I was a child and played basketball. I believe in being comfortable.”
Tyler paused with interest. “You have some experience with the game then?”
“A little.”
He chuckled. Knowing Carlie, and he was getting to know her, despite her efforts to remain aloof, “a little” probably meant she was very proficient at the game. “Excellent. We’ll start by outlining the rules to the children, then we’ll choose sides. I’ll lead one team, you can lead the other.”
Carlie