The Instructor by Terry Towers Page B

Faith a friendly, easygoing smile as he extended his hand to her.
    Before she had an opportunity to reply the instructors came parading into the classroom. There were four men in all. She later learned that each one was there to help with certain areas of the students' studies. However, all were trained welders and would be helping with the practical part of the course.
    They all took turns taking up center stage, but there was one in particular that she couldn't seem to take her eyes off of. She was too occupied with her inspection of the final instructor to catch the others’ introductions of themselves. If she had been asked after class the names of the other three instructors she would have failed that test horribly.
    She couldn't help but notice that his attention was also being distracted. She caught him glancing over at her a number of times during the introductions. Each time his grey eyes captured hers, she found her face flushing as she quickly looked away. The whole situation reminded her of high school, trying to sneak a peek at the boy you liked without him realizing.
    This is college Veates, not a time for schoolgirl crushes , she coached herself silently.
    Finally, it was his turn to introduce himself. Faith sat up a little straighter in her chair, watching him intently.
    "I'm Tony Moir. I've been a welder for fifteen years now. Took up welding as soon as I graduated from high school..." He spoke with a strong and sure voice, which made her feel confident in him and his abilities.
    The first thing she noticed was he had no wedding ring – she wasn't sure why she was so interested in that, but she was. He was her instructor, so off limits. Period. But still, the idea that he may be single piqued her interest in him all the more.
    He was tall, at least a foot taller than her; of course with her being only 5'2 that wasn't too hard to do. He wore faded blue jeans that were just tight enough that she could admire his thick powerful thighs. Her gaze travelled upward, taking in his broad chest and well defined, muscular arms, which were folded over his chest as he spoke.
    Until that point she had always had a thing for the pretty-boy types. Seeing Tony Moir standing there in front of her, powerful and confident, made her change her mind on the pretty boys. There was something extra about him. Perhaps it was what people referred to as the alpha male attraction. He seemed to have the type of magnetism that made her want to fall into his arms and feel his large, callused hands caressing her. He was the type of man a woman could feel safe and secure with. Protected.
    She wanted him, it was undeniable.
    Faith shifted uneasily in her chair, thankful he couldn't read her thoughts.
    Once he finished his own introduction the other three instructors left the room, but he stayed. Tony sat down at the desk that was at the front of the room, perhaps only four feet from her, if not less.
    He started to check attendance.
    Faith wasn't hearing the names that were being called, she was too busy attempting to distract herself from staring at him.
    He came to her name.
    "Faith Veates." He didn't have to look around the class to know who that was. His stormy grey eyes locked onto her dark brown ones. The look they shared, that moment, was unmistakable. Worse yet, many of the men around them also noticed it. An invisible, yet undeniable electricity seemed to pulsate between them, closing the short distance.
    She smiled and nodded, running a hand through her long chocolate hair as she chewed subconsciously on her lower lip. Her hand shook ever so slightly as she tried to redirect her attention to doodling mindless images on the lined paper sitting on her desk.
    "Welcome to the class Miss Veates."
    She gathered the resolve to look back up and meet his eyes once more. "Thank you," she replied, her voice breaking. She cleared her throat. It seemed to be getting very dry in the room all of a sudden.
    That was the last she saw of Tony for the