knew he was going out on a limb here, but he might as well find out now whether or not Liesel gave as good as she got. She’d been great in participating in his game and seemed to know how to play along with him to maximize the learning potential for the children.
The whoops and hollers of the kids were all the confirmation Jack needed to usher a blushing Liesel to the center of the gym floor. He had to remind himself the blushing wasn’t for him—it was for the children. Right? Either way, the flush on her cheeks was having a nice effect on his ego.
“Who’d like to see what it looks like when someone faints or passes out?”
Another cheer filled the gym and Liesel gave Jack a sidelong thanks a lot, pal look before performing one of the most melodramatic faints he had ever seen.
Score one to Liesel.
Oh-h-h-h, he’s close. Really, really close. Not safe territory!
Jack was right in the middle of explaining the need to check for breathing when Liesel became a little too aware of him kneeling next to her. Then leaning over her. Then whispering in her ear, his soft breath an indicator as to just how close his lips were. His very, very kissable lips. Had her lips just quivered? Please, say that didn’t just happen.
“I’m going to touch you, touch your head, is that all right?” She tried her best to nod slowly, maintaining the illusion of being unconscious. It was just as well she was lying on the floor. With her eyes closed. The effect of that low voice on her central nervous system seemed to get more results on her than a defibrillator. She felt one of those big capable hands of his gently touch her forehead. It was strange to her that she didn’t feel vulnerable. Everything about this man seemed capable, safe. But he was close. Too close. She had to lift her head. Now.
“So, to check for breath you just want to lean over and—”
“Oh!”
Jack’s mouth swept across hers as if by design. She found her lips breezing across his and meeting his stubbled cheek in virtually the same movement. It was softer than she had thought it would be. Not that she’d thought about it. Much.
His warm scent, a delicious sunbaked salty-sweet combo, filled her nostrils, her body’s responsiveness quickly shooting to code red. Cheers and squeals of laughter pealed from the children. Liesel instinctively began to pull back as if she’d been set alight. In a lightning-fast move, she pushed herself away from Jack and up into a seating position. A thousand thoughts clamored for attention as she tried to put together what had just happened.
“That’s one way to give the kiss of life, children. Not necessarily approved by the Red Cross, but nevertheless …” She could see him smiling at the children but was more aware of the questions flying through his blue eyes as he locked onto her own.
It’s such a good thing I’m sitting down already.
I want to kiss him. For real.
No, you don’t!
Yes. Yes, I do.
In front of half the school? And forget about Eric?
Eric.
Liesel was sure you could see her heart beating through her light summer top. Jack extended a hand to help her up. She didn’t dare accept it.
“I think we should wait until Captain Keller comes back fully prepared to explore this lifesaving method.” She pushed herself up and looked at her watch-free wrist as if willing a timepiece to appear. The not-so-artful dodge. First-class confirmation that I am not ready for this. It seems my body is—but not the rest of me.
“Looks like I’ve got to get going.” She glanced in Jack’s direction but didn’t dare meet his eyes. It would’ve been too easy to call her bluff. “I’m afraid I’ve got to run. Thanks for the presentation.”
She must have looked like a terrified rabbit the way she was hot-footing it out of the gym, but she needed to get out of there. Away from Jack Keller.
Those milliseconds of intimate contact had wiped away the rest of the world for a moment and that wasn’t how things needed to be right now. She was a single mum. She had responsibilities. Responsibilities that included putting forward a positive example for the children here at the Murray Valley School.
Heart thumping, she closed the door to her office. It was the perfect sanctuary. A quiet place to process what had just happened. If anything had happened at all.
Her mouth went dry as she realized the whole incident was down to her lifting up her head when she hadn’t been meant to. It had all been a mistake and from Jack’s perspective she’d just behaved like a first-class lunatic. In the blur of the moment she had just assumed he’d felt the same charge of emotion that had flooded through her as their lips had brushed together. Liesel scrubbed her fingers through her hair. Terrific! Now he knew without a shadow of a doubt the impact his touch had on her.
Oh, this was not good. She collapsed her head onto her crossed arms, fervently wishing her desk could absorb her into the woodwork. This was Class A Embarrassment Central.
“Am I going to have to check for breath again?”
Liesel bolted upright, curls flying everywhere and hands unsure where to come to rest at the sound of the voice that had awakened her senses as if she’d been Sleeping Beauty. Disheveled Sleeping Nutcase was more like it. Could this day get any worse?
Hands firmly planted on her hips, Liesel tried to adopt a casual air, as if she was always almost kissing someone during first-aid demonstrations. “I’m good. Very good. Everything’s good here.”
If erratic heart rate and jangling nerves were a picture of perfection.
She forced herself to make eye contact with Jack, prepared for the derision he no doubt would have for her ridiculous behavior. What she saw instead was an oasis of calm. A gentle smile played on his lips, little crinkles appearing at the edges of those blue-as-the-sky eyes of his. He leaned casually against the door frame of her office as if he’d been born to fill it, and everything about him said, Relax. You’re safe with me.
“Glad to hear it. Sorry it was all a bit of a mess today. Organization is generally a bit more of a strong point. I’d like to make it up you—to the school, I mean.” He shifted his feet slightly, his smile still as warm as the spring sunshine.
“Sure, that’d be great.” Liesel winced. Had she sounded too eager? This wasn’t really playing it cool. Or safe. “I mean … I’m sure the children would absolutely love it.”
“You know,” he continued, seemingly unaware of her internal battle for a bit more personal strength, “it would really be great if you could come down to the station sometime and throw some ideas around. Now that I know you’re not—”
He stopped abruptly, almost looking bashful. It was cute. Supercute.
“Not what?”
“The fellas told me you were a granny on the verge of retirement.”
“That would’ve been my predecessor, Mrs. Heissen.” She could feel
