sorry to interrupt, but Mr. O’Shea is anxious to continue the meeting. Will you need just a few more minutes, or should we reconvene after lunch?”
He was in no hurry to return to the meeting until he had a chance to think about the contents of the folder, but he knew the situation with the school needed to be resolved. Adam followed Grace back down the hall, trying not to dwell on what he’d read. He still saw the professional front she presented to him and the board, but his image of her was shifting. He saw more.
There was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes as she stood at the front of the room, knotting her fingers together as she waited for everyone’s attention to return to her. When she spoke her voice was soft but firm. Not loud, not booming. There were layers to this woman he’d never realized were there.
She glanced at the student-council president and her entire demeanor changed. A fire lit in her eyes.
“We’re not willing to let one mistake close our school. I’ve spent the entire weekend meeting with our teachers and staff and then with the student council, and we are all committed to keeping Tremmel-Bowen open. The plan that we’ve devised is multipronged.”
“That’s admirable, Ms. Stephens, but—”
“Let her finish, Malcolm,” Adam said. “Then we can analyze her plan.”
“It’s not really my plan, we’ve all had a say in it.”
“Even the PTA?” Malcolm asked.
“We’ve negotiated a few things with the PTA to get them to buy into this plan, Malcolm.”
“Let Sue-Ellen answer for the PTA.”
“Yes, we are willing to work with the teachers on this new plan,” Sue-Ellen said a bit reluctantly.
Adam leaned back in his chair, listening as Grace talked about fiscal responsibility, community service and new teacher standards and guidelines. She sparkled when she talked about the school, her passion coming to the fore.
“Thank you, Grace,” Adam said as she finished her presentation.
“Yes, thank you. I do feel, though, that this is too little too late,” Malcolm said.
“Malcolm, why don’t we table this discussion until the next meeting?” Adam suggested.
“Sounds like a great idea,” Grace said.
Adam called for a vote and Malcolm was the only one to vote against taking a break. Slowly the conference room emptied. Adam held back, waiting until only he and Grace were left in the room.
“I’ll see you later,” she said, brushing past him and heading back to her office.
Adam knew he should just let her go. That reading the rest of the story he’d found in her office was a bad idea. Pursuing her was an even worse one, but she’d caught his attention. And not just with her passion for getting the school back on track.
She turned to walk out of the room, and for the first time he really watched her. Saw the feminine body beneath the dull clothes that were really too big for her body. Observed the curve of her calf and the sway of her hips. It was pure temptation. Her stride was slow and measured; she moved teasingly with each step she took. She favored skirts that ended at her knee and two-inch heels.
He followed her into her office and found her chatting with her assistant, Bruce.
“Grace, can I have a minute?”
She bit her lower lip and then nodded, closing the door as her assistant left.
“What’s the matter?”
She took a seat in one of the guest chairs. As she crossed her legs, the hem of her skirt rose over her knee. He realized for the first time that her legs were bare. Her skin looked satiny smooth.
Adam wasn’t sure how to bring up the sexy story he’d read earlier. The fantasy revealed a vulnerability in the woman sitting across from him. One he didn’t want anyone else to see.
Her fantasy story was racy, but also very sweet, revealing more of the woman than he’d bet she’d be comfortable knowing she exposed in her writing.
He realized he couldn’t confront her with the story he’d slipped into his briefcase. He leaned back in the other guest chair, just watching her. She fidgeted and then a blush stole over her face as she twisted her fingers together. She took a deep breath and glanced away from him.
He’d wanted the meeting to finish so they could officially close the school. His last tie to the lie that was his legacy. But now … now he wanted to linger in town and in her office. Find out how deep those still waters ran in Ms. Grace Stephens.
“I think if we work together we might be able to convince Malcolm and the rest of the board of regents to give you and the school a second chance.”
Her eyes widened. “What? I thought you were …”
He smiled at her. “Some new information has come to light and I think that with a little attention both you and the school will benefit.”
“It’s not like you to be so mysterious, Mr. Bowen.”
“No, it’s not. We can discuss it over lunch, Grace.”
She bit her lower lip, tipping her head to one side to study him. “Let’s be honest here. Why are you really interested in helping me out?”
Her cheeks were flushed and a tendril of hair that had escaped the clip at the back of her neck curled temptingly against her cheek.
Damned if he wasn’t interested in getting to know this woman better. Now that he’d seen those tantalizing glimpses of the woman beneath the very prim headmistress persona.
“Adam? Are you paying attention to anything I’ve said?”
“Of course,” he said. “We can discuss everything over lunch.” He repeated the invitation, knowing it sounded more like an order.
He knew there were risks involved—Malcolm was hot on keeping everyone in their very proper place—but Adam wasn’t an employee of the school. Just on the advisory board.
He wanted to know more about Grace. And he’d always gotten what he wanted. Sometimes he’d paid a high price for achieving it, but in the end that price had always been worth it. This time, he could oversee getting the school back on track financially—making money was something he was good at. And he could get to know the real Grace Stephens. The one she hid from the world.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asked, crossing her arms under her breasts.
He was momentarily distracted by the view. “I just realized how pretty you are.”
She tucked the strand of hair back behind her ear, tilting her head to the side to study him. He wanted her to find whatever it was she was looking for in his face. Some kind of realness or sincerity. The kind of thing that he was never sure that he had.
“Mr. Bowen, are you feeling okay?”
“More
