Page 28 of Sol
“Like hell youare!”
I shouldn’t have saidthat.
“Dani,” he said in a seductive voice that made me clench my thighs. I remembered how he felt in the pizza parlor years ago. That wiry body was now big and strong. I could almost feel his breath. In a flash, he turned, went into the kitchen, and poured a drink of water, bringing it over to me. “Drinkthis.”
No. Fuck, no. I wasn’t getting under his spell. I stared at his hand offering the drink, notmoving.
“You need to drink something. You cried out all the water in yourbody.”
I really had. I wasparched.
“Fine,” I huffed, and took a grateful sip. There was the man I knew, always watching me. Always taking care ofothers.
Standing over me, inches from me, so close that I could reach up, grab the back of his neck, and kiss his pouty lips if I wanted, he launched a counter-attack. “I’m allowed to be in your class. I have the freedom to get my education wherever I want. The G.I. Bill pays for international studies. I want to learn anotherlanguage.”
Why had I never noticed how beautiful his mouth was? How his lips were so inviting? How his teeth wereperfect?
With a huff, I got off the bed and grabbed his boots and belt, handing them to him. Damn, fucking hot as hell boots and belt. “Leave.Now.”
Raising his hands in surrender, he said, “I’ll do as you say. For now. But we need to talk thisover.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. The only thing we need to talk about is whether you leave the country, or Ido.”
An involuntary laugh broke out of him, starting from his diaphragm and escaping out as a snort. His T-shirt stuck to the outline of his muscles and the rippling movement made my breath stop, his huge torso utterly mesmerizing. But his red, desperate eyes contradicted his laughter. “The whole fucking country of Spain isn’t big enough for the both ofus?”
My eyes narrowed. “Not when you find your way into my classroom on the first day ofschool.”
“Please. Will you listen?” He tugged at his hair and rubbed the back of hisneck.
“No.”
His brows narrowed, and he stared at the ceiling then returned his eyes to me. “I’m not going anywhere. Deal withit.”
I set down the glass of water—his gift—and threw up my hands, exasperated. “I have absolutely nothing else to say. Maybe I can’t stop you from being in my classroom, but I sure as hell don’t have to talk toyou.”
“Dani—”
“No.”
“Tomorrow?”
“No.”
The muscles corded in his neck. His handsome neck. He let out an annoyed breath. “I’ll take that as ayes.”
“You can take that as a no. Don’t come back to class.” He had to go. I had no use for soldiers who brought nothing but war and destruction, fighting and power plays. I’d started to tremble. I hated conflict like this. Where was my yoga when I needed it? My nonconfrontation? Myacceptance?
Nowhere nearhim.
He took a step toward me. “I’m fairly sure if I get the administration involved, they won’t like it that a teacher is banning a student from class. But what I really want to know, is why you’re banning me from your life when we have so much history together, and I’m the only reminder of home and family you’vegot.”
“I’ll never forgive you. You came back the hero from Afghanistan while my brother didnot.”
He flinched and gave me a slow, disbelieving head shake. “I’m no hero,” he said fiercely. With a finger, he stroked my cheek, which made my throat thicken so I could say no more. Then, taking his belt, boots, wallet, phone, and keys, he closed the door behind him and wasgone.
I’d thought I hadn’t any more tears left, but apparently I was wrong. Oh, sowrong.
Through them, I glanced at the scented candles on the table, batik spread on the couch, and earth mama clothes scattered on the floor.Floorganization. I didn’t own much, but what I did own was meaningful and mostly picked up from my travels—a blanket from Peru, sweater from Ecuador, skirt from Bali, notebooks from Japan. I was especially fond of trying different toothpastes from different countries. My current tube came from Italy.Divine.
