Lone Star Cinderella by Debra Clopton Page A

more at the question. “I love the kids.”
    â€œWhy?”
    That threw her a little. “Why not? They’re great.”
    He shook his head. “Too easy. I’m digging for info here, and you’re hording it. Why do you love to teach?”
    A small laugh escaped her. He really wanted to know her better. It was a breathtaking thought. “Fourth graders are my favorite age. Because, see, they’re really settling into their personalities. They’re finding out who they are and exploring that. While at the same time, they are very open to influence. And they are just so funny, so full of life.” In the background, someone had put a quarter in the jukebox and Vince Gill’s beautiful voice gently filled the room.
    â€œAnd you, the quiet teacher, likes them to be full of life?”
    â€œI love it! I encourage it.”
    He was taking a drink of his tea and choked at her answer. “Like how?” he coughed, his eyes dancing over the top of the fist he’d lifted to his lips.
    â€œWell, like this one little girl who was so shy at the beginning of the year that she wouldn’t ask questions. She sat beside the cutest little blond. He had a rep from the year before as being the class clown. And it was so true. This boy just couldn’t stop himself from entertaining once he realized he had an audience. The kid would just get louder and louder, and I’d have to ask him to quiet down. It was very disruptive so I had to start giving him assignments to help me do things. By the end of the year he’d become a leader in the best sense of the word.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œWell, no,” she confessed. “But, he had moments when he shined and he took his tasks seriously. And he did them with a smile. He will be a leader, it’s obvious.But the best part was he actually countered the girl’s quieter side.”
    â€œYours, too.”
    She gave him a teasing smile. “Yes, but don’t tell anyone.”
    â€œI wouldn’t think of it.”
    â€œGood.” She propped her elbow on the table and cupped her chin as she looked at him. “I absolutely loved that kid for bringing the little girl out of her shell—which he worked at.”
    He really liked her. “I can see why you would.”
    â€œYes, but I love the teaching, too. I mean, you know me, how I get when I’m talking about history.”
    â€œI like it when you talk about history.”
    â€œYou do?”
    â€œI can’t imagine anyone not enjoying you talking about anything.”
    Melody’s heart started drumming. She could talk to him without feeling self-conscious. She wondered if he even knew that he made her feel pretty with the intense way he held her gaze with his. Or with the flirting—or teasing that he was doing.
    She wondered if he had any idea how alive she felt sitting across from him.
    When Sam finally brought out their food, it was a given that Melody had never had a better burger and fries in all of her life. Their meal had taken a rather long time to get to them—not that she minded. She enjoyed talking to Seth, and it was nice to think that Seth had enjoyed talking to her.
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    â€œI had a good time today,” she said as they drove up in front of her house. The night was bright. Moonlightbathed everything in a silver shadow, and Melody felt breathless with the romance of it all. Not that this was really romance. But a girl could dream.
    â€œI did, too,” he said, softly turning to look at her, resting his right arm across the back of the seat.
    Melody was so aware of how close his fingertips were to her shoulder. It was silly, but she yearned with every fiber of her being that he would touch her. And yet she knew wishing such a thing was dangerous. The baggage she carried into a relationship…it was too much. What man would want a woman who had the troubles that clung to her because of Ty? “I have to