The Teacher's Billionaire (11 page)

“Don't know for sure,” he replied picking up the salad bowl and offering it to her first. “It'll depend on how things go. Might only be a couple of days.”

Accepting the bowl, Callie was careful not to let her skin come in contact with his again. Her nerve endings just couldn't handle it. Another reaction like the one she just had and she might short out some of the synapses in her brain.

Neither said anything else for several minutes as they focused on their meal.

“Warren mentioned you might visit his ranch this summer,” Dylan said breaking the comfortable silence. “Have you ever been to Texas?”

“No, the only place outside of New England I've been to is Florida.” She hated admitting that to someone like Dylan who'd traveled the world but there was no point in lying.

Dylan helped himself to more salad. “I think you'll like it. Warren is glad you're thinking about visiting.”

Callie shrugged. She didn't have the heart to tell him, she wasn't sure she would ever make the trip.

“I'm glad your visit went well last weekend. What did you end up doing with your dog while you were gone?”

It seemed like an odd question. Why did he care what she'd done with Lucky? Perhaps he was just making conversation. “My friend Lauren came by to feed and walk him.” Without elaborating further she continued eating.

“Did she know why you were going away?” Dylan stopped eating. “Does she know Warren's your father?”

“Yeah. Lauren's like a sister to me. There isn't much we keep from each other.” For the first time Callie noticed that Dylan had stopped eating. “Everything taste okay? You're not eating anymore.”

“Delicious. Just going to get more lemonade. Do you want more?” he replied pushing back his chair. Dylan didn't wait for an answer. Instead he simply refilled her glass. “Have you told anyone else?”

Callie shook her head. “No. Just Lauren. I'm not sure I'm ready for all my friends to know.” For a brief second Callie thought she saw a look of relief pass across Dylan's face.
I'm imaging things again.

Dylan sat back down. “That makes sense. No need to rush things.” With that comment, Dylan changed the subject entirely by asking her about her students and what they were learning.

With the simple switch in topics, she was again able to forget who Dylan actually was. Instead of seeing the rich, powerful CEO on the other side of the table, she saw someone she liked spending time with, and who seemed to like spending time with her. Someone who under normal circumstances she could see herself having a relationship with.

Stop. Right. There. We're from two different worlds. He dates A-listers that dress in Gucci and Armani, not school teachers that shop at JC Penney.

Thanks to her mind's jolt back to the real world, Callie felt the need to put some extra distance between Dylan and herself. So even though she wasn't finished eating Callie stood. “Keep eating. I'm just going to start cleaning up this mess.” Turning to face the counter she busied herself with putting things away and wiping down the all ready clean counter.

“Why don't you let me do that.”

Callie froze in place. She hadn't heard him get up. Yet Dylan now stood directly behind her, close enough that she could feel his breath on the back of her neck. Without waiting for a reply he removed the parsley from her hand and placed it on the self she'd been struggling to reach.

Slowly she dropped her arm back down and turned around expecting Dylan to step back. He didn't move. Rather he reached out to brush a stray piece of hair off her face.

As if on autopilot Callie closed her eyes has his fingers skimmed down her check and neck to her shoulder. With the weight of his hand resting on her shoulder, she waited not sure what to expect. And then she felt just the slightest bit of pressure as his lips settled over hers. Everything seemed to stop. The only thing she was aware of was his callused hand on her shoulder, his lips on hers. The kiss was gentle. Tender.

This shouldn't be happening. Not with this man.

Even as her brain protested, Callie's body responded. She wanted to feel his hard muscled body pressed up against hers. So even though she knew she should break contact, she took a step closer and rested her hands on his wide shoulders.

Kissing hadn't been on his agenda for the evening. Not that he hadn't been thinking about it since he'd walked in, but he kept telling himself to ignore the urge. He'd been doing a damn good job of it to until she turned around. Then, something in him just snapped. He'd felt as if he'd go crazy if he didn't taste her here and now.

Just once
. I'll stop after that he promised himself keeping the kiss light.

His mind told him to pull back. Put some space between them. And he had every intention of doing just that when he felt Callie's hands tentatively settle on his shoulders.

Putting his arms around her waist, Dylan gently tugged her up against his body. Deepening their kiss he teased her lips with his tongue until she opened for him.

For him the outside world seemed to fade away. The only thing he was aware of was the sweet taste of lemonade that lingered on her lips and the feel of her body next to his. Slowly he moved his hand up her slender body and buried his hands in her silky dark hair.

The rumble of thunder and sudden flash of light rudely yanked Dylan back to reality. Pulling back he dropped his hands to her shoulders and tried to get himself back under control. His heart pounded, his breathing was heavy and his body yelled for release.

Jesus what the hell just happened?

He'd kissed plenty of women, desired plenty too. Yet he'd never felt quite like this before, like he'd just run a marathon. And it had only been a kiss.

Say something.

Usually so charming with women, Dylan found himself at a loss for words.

Anything, Talbot. Don't just stand here.

She wasn't looking at him, but rather studying a spot just over his left shoulder. Her lips were red from his kiss, a light pink blush crept all the way down her neck, and her hair was starting to fall free of its customary ponytail. At that moment Dylan thought she was the sexiest woman he'd ever meet.

Outside he heard the rain pelting against the windows and the older glass rattled under the assault. It was the only sound in the too quiet room.

“
I'm...” Dylan began but stopped. Apologizing didn't seem right. He wasn't sorry he'd kissed her. At least not sorry in the way she might take it. It had been an incredible kiss, but it could also complicate an already complicated situation.

“
Are you okay,” he asked instead.

Chewing on her bottom lip, something he noticed she did when nervous, Callie nodded. “Don't you know I always make out with guys in my kitchen after I feed them.”

While she answered him with a straight face, he knew she was joking to make light of the situation. During their outing in Newport, he'd seen evidence of a very dry and quirky sense of humor.

“
Maybe I should start coming over for dinner more often then.” He meant the response to be more easy going banter to lighten the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it didn't come out that way. Instead of laughing and coming up with a great comeback as he expected, she pulled away from him and resumed cleaning.

Afraid he would make matters worse, Dylan silently helped her finish cleaning off the table and load the dish washer.

Now what?
He couldn't leave after that. Somehow he needed to smooth things over. Make things comfortable between them again if he planned on holding up his end of the bargain with Phillips. How though? He didn't have a clue. Dylan was out of his element where this woman was concerned. She was so different from the women he usually spent time with. Throw in the fact that she was Warren's daughter and hell, he was drowning.

“
Dinner was delicious. Thank you.” His mind worked a mile a minute trying to figure out the right thing to say. “If it's okay I'd like to do it again sometime.” Both the dinner and the kiss he thought. He continued on before she could respond. “Would it be okay if I call you this week?”

Callie didn't answer at first. And Dylan wondered what was going through her mind. He could almost see the wheels turning. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, she gave him a tentative smile. “Umm. Sure. If you want. I'll be around. No place to be except work.”

Her response pleased him. A lot. More than it should have.
Time to make your exit, Talbot
.
Before you do something stupid. Like kiss her again.

“
Good. I'll talk to you soon then.”

Chapter 7

It was just a kiss
. Okay, it had been an incredible kiss, but still it was just a kiss. And not the first kiss she'd ever had.

Who was she trying to kid, Callie thought somewhat disgusted with herself. That kiss with Dylan was the most amazing she'd ever experienced and the only thing she'd thought about since. Even now when she was supposed to be plugging test grades into her computer, the memory of her and Dylan in the kitchen played through her mind like a scene from a movie.

Though she'd been nervous afterward, she'd tried to make a joke of the situation; something she often did when she was uncomfortable. Unfortunately the attempt backfired on her making things worse. In the end Dylan finished helping her clean and then left. Leaving Callie more confused then she'd ever been in her life regarding a guy.

A man like Dylan Talbot could have his choice of women. While she knew she was attractive, she didn't for one minute believe she was the raving beauty that men lust after. That description fit Lauren not her. So that left her wondering exactly what prompted those few delicious moments in her kitchen to occur.

Don't read to much into it. It's done. It was just a fluke. Not something that will happen again.

She'd been repeating the same thing over and over to herself. Maybe if she said it enough her brain and heart would come to a consensus. Right now the two were at odds with each other. Constantly warring with no apparent winner.

Her brain wanted to forget or at least write off the incident. While at the same time her heart wanted to hope there was something more. Exactly what that more was she didn't know, but she was strongly attracted to him. So strongly that if he'd been anyone else she would've considered pursuing him.

But he's not someone else.
He lives and works in an entirely different universe from mine.
A universe that didn't always take kindly to outsiders. A lesson she'd learned as a teenager.

Without intending to, Callie began to think about her high schools days. As a child she'd always been very athletic and did well in all sports. She'd especially excelled at softball. As a result she'd received a scholarship to attend a very ritzy private high school. At the time both her and her mother thought it would be a great opportunity. Quickly, Callie's enthusiasm for the school dwindled. Almost all of the students there came from wealthy families and looked down on those with scholarships. While there were a few exceptions, normally the two groups didn't associate with each other. If it hadn't been for Lauren, who had attended the school because her father taught there, Callie never would have lasted the whole four years. She would've left after freshman year and never looked back.

The chorus of her favorite Bon Jovi song pulled Callie out of her trip into the past. Looking at the caller id on her cell phone, she wondered who was calling. It wasn't a number she was familiar with. She didn't even recognize the area code. For a moment she toyed with the idea of letting it go to her voice mail. If it was important the caller could leave a message, but then, on the fifth ring she answered.

“Hello,” she greeted expecting it to be a wrong number, or worse a telemarketer.

“Callie, am I calling at a bad time?” Dylan's voice came over the phone.

He'd said he would try to call during the week, but she hadn't really thought he would. She'd chalked his comment up to politeness especially considering the kiss they'd shared. Now hearing his voice she could only once again wonder how she should read this man who invaded her dreams every night.

“No, I'm just recording some grades. Actually I just finished.” She closed her grade book and saved the computer file she had open.

“School must be almost done for the summer?”

“Um, yeah. Just a few more weeks.” Callie didn't know in what direction their conversation was going. “Are you still in Boston?”

“No, I flew back to New York this morning.”

“Oh.” She hoped he didn't detect the disappointment in her voice. While it wasn't realistic to think he would stop by again, she had secretly hoped he would. In an attempt to make small talk and keep him on the phone she continued. “How's the weather there?”

Did I really just ask him that? Could I sound any dumber?