A Very Merry Romance (Madaris Series Book 21) Read online

  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.

  3

  Marilyn knew the moment Jonathan Madaris entered the teachers’ lounge. The scent of the cologne he was wearing was a dead giveaway. She recalled the way his manly fragrance had easily flowed through her nostrils, that first day, when she’d been in his office

  It was just before the start of the school day. There was a pot of coffee brewing and Ms. Etheridge had just dropped off a batch of hot blueberry muffins. This was her second week and she’d already discovered that the lounge was the place most of the teachers gathered before the day started. She’d come here every morning, but this was the first time she’d seen Mr. Madaris drop by. One of the teachers mentioned that he was usually at the school every morning a little before seven, although classes didn’t officially start until nine.

  Marilyn figured the only reason their paths were crossing now was because she’d arrived early to meet with a parent who needed to be to work at seven-thirty.

  He glanced up, as if surprised to find her in the room. She studied his features, wondering if he was disappointed the room hadn’t been empty. Some people preferred solitude while they enjoyed that first cup of coffee in the morning.

  “Good morning, Miss Bannister. You’re here early.”

  “Yes, sir. I had a meeting with one of the parents.”

  He nodded as he poured his coffee. “That’s right. You met with Elijah Clem’s mother.”

  “Yes, sir.” Marilyn wasn’t surprised that he knew about the meeting. He must have looked at her schedule. She was new, after all. There was no doubt in her mind that most everything she did would be reviewed and scrutinized for a while.

  “And you can drop the ‘sir’.”

  She glanced up as he sat down at the table across from her. She tried not to act surprised that he wasn’t taking his coffee and returning to his office. “Excuse me?”

  “I said you can drop the ‘sir’.”

  “Oh. Yes, sir.” Too late, she realized her error. “Sorry, it will take some getting used to.”

  “That’s fine. How have the first two weeks been?”

  “They’ve been great. I’m really enjoying the children.”

  “And your meeting with Ms. Clem? How did that go?”

  In a way she’d hoped he wouldn’t ask, but he had. “Not so great.”

  He chuckled. “Umm, let me guess. First she expressed her displeasure that he was repeating the first grade. Then she tried to tell you how to run your classroom; specifically, any area that pertains to her son. She painted him as an angel and all but told you to never bother her with foolishness about him misbehaving in school because little Elijah is the perfect student.”

  Marilyn fought back a smile. “Sounds like you’ve met with her before.”

  “We all have, trust me--every teacher he’s ever had, most of the clerks, my secretary, and me. So, yes. We all know Nadine Clems, very well. And I know her better than most, since we graduated from high school together. Elijah’s father, Derek, graduated with us as well.”

  Marilyn nodded as she took a sip of her coffee. “I understand he was killed in the war.”

  “Yes, and Nadine was pregnant with Elijah at the time. She took his death hard, which is one of the reasons she spoils Elijah rotten and refuses to discipline him.”

  “He’s really a bright little boy.”

  “I agree. Smart as a whip, just like his dad but unfortunately his disciplinary problems gets in the way of him learning. Derek was our class president and valedictorian. He won a scholarship to attend a college in Louisiana but instead, he volunteered to fight in Vietnam. They married before he left, but he never had a chance to see his son.”

  “How sad.”

  “Yes, it was.” He glanced at her over the rim of his cup. “Do you have anything in mind that might help Elijah?”

  Yes, she’d come up with a plan, but she would have to get his approval to implement it. “I believe his discipline problems stem from boredom with the regular curriculum. He finishes his assignments ahead of the class--that’s when he becomes a handful. However, I’ve noticed that he really likes math, just like I did. In fact, I loved it so much, I wrote a book.”

  He lifted a brow. “A book?”

  “Yes, it’s a math game book that I created while I was in college. It’s not for sale or anything like that, though. I came up with the idea, put everything in place, and then got a friend of my brother’s to do the layout. All I had to do then was go to a printer. I only had a few copies made, but I think it will be an excellent tool for Elijah, something for him to work on when he’s bored. And it would definitely challenge his mind.”

  Mr. Madaris silently drank his coffee. Marilyn wished she could stay focused on their conversation, and not on everything male about him. There was the way his lips would slightly purse before taking a sip. Or the patch of hair that covered the back of his hands, or the length of his fingers or--

  “I would have to see this book before you can use it in the classroom.”

  “Of course.” She absently played with the handle of her mug, trying to avoid looking at him.

  “So tell me, Miss Bannister, what other talents are you hiding?

  * * * *

  Jonathan took another mouthful of coffee. He should have taken his mug and gone back to his office the minute he’d walked into the lounge and discovered she was there. But he hadn’t. Now he was sitting here, having a conversation with her, asking her questions, just to keep her talking.

  He had hoped things would be different when he saw her again. But they weren’t. In fact, they were worse. His attraction was even stronger than before. And, it wasn’t just her beauty. She also had a wonderful personality--intelligent, confident, yet modest. What she didn’t know was that Nadine Clems had stopped by his office on the way out and had done everything but sing her praises. When he’d asked Marilyn Bannister how their meeting had gone, he’d already known. At least, he’d known Nadine’s version. Now he knew Miss Bannister’s.

  Although he was certain Nadine had done her best to give Miss Bannister a hard time, the way she’d done with Elijah’s former teacher, his new teacher seemed to have earned Nadine’s respect. And he could see how. When talking to anyone, Miss Bannister alw
ays kept her voice level and calm. Nadine had said she hadn’t felt as if she were being talked down to, the way Elijah’s prior teacher had done.

  It was obvious Marilyn Bannister loved kids, probably just as much as he did. And from listening to her, it was also obvious she thought that educating them the right way was important. So did he. But why did knowing they had those things in common kick up his heartbeat a notch? Even just sitting here, sharing a cup of coffee with her, was doing something to him, something he’d never felt before.

  “I saw your resume, Miss Bannister. How on earth did you manage to create a book of math games while in college, and still be active in all the things that you were involved with, including Barbara Jordan’s campaign?

  She shrugged her beautiful shoulders. “Strong time management skills, I guess. Mom says I inherited that from my father. He was always doing something to stay busy, building something or another. He became known as the neighborhood handyman.”

  Jonathan could have sat there and talked to her forever, but realistically, he knew he couldn’t. Others would be arriving soon, and the last thing he wanted was for someone to walk in and see them sitting and chatting amiably. Especially since it wasn’t his habit to converse with any of the other teachers this way.

  He checked his watch and then stood. “How soon can you get that book to me?” He was already contemplating when he would see her again.

  “Is tomorrow soon enough?”

  He nodded. “Yes, and have a good day, Miss Bannister.”

  “You do the same, Mr. Madaris.”

  4

  “Don’t look now, but sexy Mr. Madaris just walked into the cafeteria.”

  Marilyn continued to eat her sandwich, refusing to look. There was no need. Carolyn was staring enough for both of them. Why did the fact that Carolyn had no qualms about checking out the principal make her green with envy? She wouldn’t dare.

  “I can’t believe you aren’t tempted to look.”

  If only you knew just how tempted I am, Marilyn thought, smiling. However, she refused to yield to that temptation. Besides, she’d gotten an eyeful last week, when he’d shared a cup of coffee with her in the lounge, and again when’d she’d dropped off the book to him the next day. Then on Friday, before the end of the school day, he’d entered the library’s media center at the same time she’d been in the office looking through rolls of microfilms.

  His scent had once again preceded him, and she hadn’t needed to look up. But she had. He seemed surprised to see her, then smiled and told her that he’d taken a look at her book. He’d thought it would be an excellent tool to use with Elijah and he asked her to keep him abreast of the progress. Then he turned and left.

  “Why would I break my neck trying to catch a glimpse of the principal instead of finishing my lunch? We only get thirty minutes to eat, and I don’t like to rush my meals.”

  “Go ahead and eat. I’d rather boy-watch.”

  She hated to tell Carolyn that Jonathan Madaris was far from being a boy. All anyone had to see were those rippling muscles under his jacket and the fit of his trousers over his masculine thighs to know that. She’d seen him pass by her classroom a few times, and he always looked suave and sophisticated. Definitely a dresser. Unquestionably, a man.

  And the kids loved him. Chants of Good morning, Mr. Madaris followed him whenever he walked up and down the halls. He would even stop and talk to them, asking how they were doing. She could tell the kids thought he was cool. And it was obvious he thought they were pretty cool, too.

  He seemed to know each child’s name, something that, from the smiles on their faces, the kids appreciated. There was no doubt about it. Jonathan Madaris had an allure that drew everyone--students and staff alike--to him like a magnet. She’d stopped wondering how that was possible. She just had to begin accepting the fact that it was.

  “Trust me, his looks alone would capture me, even without his family’s money.”

  Marilyn glanced over at Carolyn. “His family’s money?”

  Carolyn rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Marilyn. What planet are you from? You’ve never heard of the Whispering Pines ranch?”

  “No.”

  Carolyn scooted closer to talk over the table. “Well, let me educate you. The Whispering Pines is a ranch that has been in the Madaris family for years. It’s huge. I heard it’s over three-hundred thousand acres.”

  Marilyn couldn’t imagine that much land being owned by one family. “Wow.”

  Carolyn smiled, as if she was glad she’d finally succeeded in getting Marilyn’s interest. “So think about it. Any woman who wins Mr. Madaris not only gets a good-looking man, but a pretty wealthy one, too.”

  “Wealthy?” Just because his family owned all that land, that didn’t necessarily mean he or his family had money to burn. One of her college friend’s family owned a huge spread in Dallas, and she’d confided in Marilyn that they barely made ends meet every month. Operating a working ranch was expensive.

  “Yes. I heard he has five older brothers. All are college educated, yet they still work on the ranch. Mr. Madaris and his brother, Robert, are the only ones who chose a different career. However, I understand he drives to the ranch most weekends to help out and do his share of family chores.”

  She looked at Carolyn, curiously. “How do you know so much about the Madaris family?”

  “I heard it from various people who know them. It’s common knowledge that his parents didn’t have a problem with him going into education. I guess everyone can’t be a rancher.” She stopped talking and waved a napkin in front of her face like a fan to cool her off. “Still, I like everything I’ve heard about Mr. Madaris and I sure wouldn’t mind going after him.”

  Marilyn lifted a brow. “Going after him? What about the school’s policy? He can’t date his teachers.”

  “One thing about rules, Marilyn? They can be broken. And to catch Mr. Madaris’ eye, I wouldn’t think twice about throwing a few right out the window.”

  Carolyn was grinning and Marilyn wondered if she was serious or just teasing. Not that it was any of her business, either way. Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she said, “Well, good luck.”

  Carolyn lifted a brow. “On what?”

  “On snagging Mr. Madaris.”

  Carolyn let out a laugh. “I was just trying to get you going. I talk a lot of crap but I’m not stupid. Besides, I’m probably not his type.”

  For a quick second, Marilyn wondered what Mr. Madaris’ type would be. She couldn’t imagine him any place other than this school, walking the halls in a nice two-piece suit, looking finer than any man had a right to look. For some reason, she’d thought he’d go for a debutante, or one of those sophisticated types. Someone whose family had just as much money as his did.

  She glanced at her watch. “I need to go and get ready for when the kids return from recess.”

  “So, how are things going for you here so far?” Carolyn asked.

  “So far, so good.” But as Marilyn headed back to her classroom moments later, she thought about Carolyn’s question. So far, everything was going good. The only challenge she saw coming up this year would be when the students started learning to add and subtract double digits. The concept of carrying or borrowing could boggle their young minds, but she’d deal with that when she had to. In the meantime, Marilyn had decorated her classroom this week, letting her students help. She could tell by the smiles on their faces that they’d had fun.

  Although she enjoyed her walks to school in the mornings and evenings, she took advantage of Carolyn’s offer to swing by and pick her up. Carolyn hadn’t realized Marilyn had been walking to school. At first, Marilyn had declined the offer but Carolyn had insisted, swearing it wasn’t out of her way. Marilyn didn’t want to become dependent on anyone, but she couldn’t resist Carolyn for long. So, for the past two days, she’d ridden to work with Carolyn and had gone home the same way.

  But she wanted to walk home today. When she got off work, she wanted to
stop at the school supply store to see if they had any more of the flash cards she’d purchased the week before school started.

  She rounded the corner to head back to her class when suddenly, she collided with what felt like a solid wall. It was only when she regained her senses that she realized she’d walked into a person. And when a hand went out to keep her from falling, she knew exactly who that person was. The moment he touched her, a rush of sensations raced through her.

  “Miss Bannister? Are you alright?”

  Other than being embarrassed, she was fine. “Yes, sir. Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going. You had the right of way.”

  He chuckled and the sound did something to her heartbeat. “I had the right of way?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Actually, I’m equally at fault for not looking where I was going. And as far as anyone having the right of way, these are hallways, not roadways.”

  “Yes, sir,” she responded, tilting her head back to look up at him.

  “And I thought we agreed you would drop the ‘sir’.”

  “Sorry, I forgot.”

  “No harm done. How are things going with Elijah? Have you started him on those math games yet?”

  “Yes and he really likes them. He’s been so busy doing them, I almost forget he’s in the class. He’s so quiet.” She smiled. “The other students think it’s strange.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He checked his watch. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to make it to a meeting.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold you up.”

  “You didn’t.” He threw the words over his shoulders as he quickly walked off without looking back.

  Marilyn was glad he hadn’t. Otherwise, he would have seen her still standing there, watching him. He looked good and his suit fit him so well, as if tailor made. He was even taller than she’d originally thought. Her brothers were tall and enjoyed playing basketball. She wondered if he did. Then she shook her head. What was she thinking? Why would she care if he did or not?