Her Mysterious Houseguest. Jane Toombs

that he wasn’t involved in some way.” Having poured coffee into the two mugs he’d bought, he carried one to her, saying, “As I recall, you drink yours black.”

      She nodded, not really wanting to talk about Leo, but at the same time certain he’d wonder why, if she didn’t. Trying to find a place to begin, she started with “Leo was a good teacher. He inspired both Eva and me to become teachers, too.”

      “Why was he good?”

      “He was a quiet man who cared about children. He really listened to what they said to him and never turned a child away without the best answer he could find.”

      “You were fond of him.”

      It wasn’t a question, but she responded, anyway. “He was like a father to me—the right kind of father.” After a moment she added, “Being an orphan, that meant a lot.” She sipped the hot coffee and essayed a smile. “I thought maybe I was being invited into the wolf’s den for an attempted seduction tonight, but I see I was wrong.”

      Mikel grinned at her. “Do you prefer being seduced? I always aim to please.”

      She wished he wouldn’t look at her like that, his green eyes glowing as he let his gaze drift over her. She also wished it made her angry rather than making her wonder what it would be like if he kissed her. He had the most beautiful mouth, well-shaped and enticing.

      “To be truthful, something like seduction did lurk in the back of my mind,” he admitted.

      “Well, at least you haven’t lit any candles yet.”

      “So you prefer a romantic seduction? I’ll keep it in mind.”

      “Actually, no. I happen to think candles and soft music is overkill.”

      “Then we’re okay here?” He gestured toward the fireplace. “We at least have the warm fire, the eager male and the ambivalent female.”