Chapter 1 #4
“I can see where that would be nice. It’s kind of like me watching my crops grow until harvest time,” he replied.
“You’ve definitely come to the right place for farming.
Millsville is a town full of farmers.” She took another drink of her coffee.
“There’s even a little bar in town called the Farmer’s Club.
It’s a nice place to have a quiet drink, and a lot of farmers go there to talk to each other and share their farming experiences. ”
“Sounds like a place I need to check out,” he replied.
At that moment Sammy flew back into the kitchen. He was clad in his pajamas and smelled of minty soap. “Mrs. Michaels, do you want to come and see my bedroom?”
“Sammy, I would love to see your bedroom,” she replied, then looked quickly at Seth. “That is if it’s okay with your dad.”
“It’s okay with him,” Sammy said. “Right?” He looked at Seth.
Seth released a small laugh. “It’s fine by me.” He was just glad he’d decided to clean the bedrooms that afternoon.
Suzanna rose and Sammy grabbed her hand and then pulled her out of the kitchen, through the living room and down the hallway. Seth followed the two, amused by his son’s eagerness to share his bedroom with his teacher.
They went past the bathroom, by Seth’s room and the spare room and then into Sammy’s bedroom.
“See, I got dog pictures on all the walls. Dad says he’ll let me get a dog when the time is right, and I’m hoping the right time comes really soon.
I really, really want a dog. And over here I have a collection of horse statues.
I like horses, too, but not as much as I like dogs. ”
As Sammy showed her his collection, Seth looked around the room with a discerning eye.
A blue-and-white-striped spread covered the bed, with matching curtains at the single window.
Thankfully, Sammy was a neat little boy, and Seth rarely had to tell him to clean his room.
The room also held a bookcase and a computer desk.
All in all, Seth thought it was a good room for his son.
“This is all really nice, Sammy,” she said when Sammy had shown her just about everything that was out in the room. “You have a great space here, but now it’s time for me to go home.”
“And it’s time for you to get into bed,” Seth added. It was a little early for bedtime, but Seth knew Sammy would get into bed and play on his tablet.
Seth led her back down the hallway to the front door. “I’ll walk you out to your car.”
“Thank you, I would appreciate it,” she replied.
Darkness had fallen outside, and the last thing Seth wanted to do was send a woman out alone who fit the victimology of a serial killer.
Together they left the house and headed toward her car in the driveway. “Thank you again for coming here to help my son,” he said as they reached the driver door.
She smiled up at him, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. For just a brief moment he wanted to draw her into his arms and kiss her lush lips. Damn, what was wrong with him? She was his son’s teacher, for God’s sake.
“So, are we on for Thursday?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he replied and stepped back from her.
“I’ll see you then,” she said, getting into the car. “Good night, Mr. Daniels.”
“Good night, Mrs. Michaels, and please make it Seth,” he added.
“Then Seth it is, and I’m Suzanna,” she replied with another one of her beautiful smiles. Moments later he watched her taillights disappear into the darkness of the night.
He went back into the house and headed to Sammy’s room. Sammy was in bed with his tablet and playing a game. Seth sat on the edge of the bed, and Sammy set the tablet aside. “How did you like having special work time with your teacher tonight?” Seth asked.
“I liked it a lot,” Sammy replied, his eyes shining brightly. “I like her a lot. Don’t you like her, Dad?”
“She seems very nice,” Seth said.
“And pretty. Don’t you think she’s really pretty?” Sammy pressed.
Seth laughed. “I think she’s fine looking. Now you have about a half an hour more to play on your tablet, and then it’s time for you to go to sleep.” He leaned over and kissed Sammy on the cheek. “Good night, buddy. I love you.”
Sammy smiled at him. “’Night and I love you more.”
“That’s absolutely impossible,” Seth replied as he stood. “I’ll holler when it’s time for you to put your tablet away.”
“Okay,” Sammy replied as he picked up his tablet once again.
Seth went back into the kitchen, where he put the two coffee cups into the dishwasher as his head filled with visions of the woman who had just left his house.
Since his ex-wife, Rachel, had walked out on him almost two years ago, no other woman had tempted him. However, there was no question that something about Suzanna Michaels definitely tempted him.
Not that he intended to act on it. Even if she was interested in him, he wouldn’t act on it. She would remain Sammy’s teacher and nothing more, although he had a feeling the tutoring evenings with her were going to be a bit challenging.
Anything for Sammy, he reminded himself as he firmly shoved thoughts of the very attractive Mrs. Michaels out of his mind.