Miracles in Disguise (The Trampled Rose Series) by Michelle Lynn Brown Page B

are you just going to blindly sign away the money you've earned?”
    Bobby didn’t say anything, he just shrugged noncommittally.
    As Kristina closed the class, Nathan turned to Mr. Shirley with raised eyebrows. The principle winked and said, “I believe we have a winner.”
    The students sprang out of their chairs when the bell rang, and Nathan and Mr. Shirley approached Kristina. Kristina again perched on the edge of her desk, smiling confidently at the two as they neared. Nathan was stunned by the change in her.
    Principle Shirley was the first to speak; grabbing both her hands in his, he smiled down at her and said, “Great job, glad to have you on board." With a slap on Nathan’s back he added, “Never doubted it.” With that he smiled and left, calling out to some of the students, "Tasha and Joyce, how are you ladies doing this morning?”
    Nathan held out his hand to her, “That was a phenomenal job. Bobby is one of the class clowns, and thinks he doesn’t have to follow any rules because he is the star quarterback, and his Daddy owns most of the town. I’m impressed with the way you handled him.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You still don’t think you are asking too much of them?”
    “It isn’t so much about whether they truly understand the levels of symbolism, perspective and so forth. I just want them to start thinking about what they are reading, looking at things from different angles.” she said. As two girls passed by her class, waving at Nathan, he realized her hand was still enveloped in his. She withdrew her hand and a blush stained her pretty cheeks, her voice losing that confident edge. “They will be graded on their effort level, more than their correct comprehension.”
    Turning to erase the board, she added, “Besides, I gave many a professor a run for his money in college when I challenged the standard interpretation of a piece of fiction. If they feel strongly enough about it, I’ll let them work it out, provided they can back it up."
    Nathan stared silently at her, as her long hair swayed with each movement of her body. She had really set him back on his heels today. Just when he thought he had her figured out, she shocked him. He just couldn’t get a handle on the true Kristina.
    When she turned toward him, he stared at her for a moment. “Well, Mr. McKinley,” She paused, reached for her book and clasped it to her chest, as if it would shield her heart from his eyes. “My next class is already starting to come in. I better get ready.”
    “Sure,” Nathan said, though he stood rooted to the floor, unable to leave. For a second, he was sure he had been seeing the real Kristina Talbot, but he could see her withdrawing again. She had moments where her elusive spirit danced before him, but just out of his grasp, teasing him. What was it that kept her from relaxing around him? What was it that kept her from smiling and laughing with him as she did with others? Well, he thought to himself, I probably don’t want to know. Still, there was that irritating desire to know her more, itching at the back of his soul. But whenever he tried to reach out and scratch it, she always skittered out of reach.
    “Hey, Mr. M!” Barbara came in, tearing his attention from Kristina.
    “I heard you gave Bobby a mouthful this morning, Ms. Talbot." Barbara smiled and said, “He needs it, he’s too full of himself.”
    Nathan headed for the door, but turned as she said, “Thank you again for the encouragement, Mr. McKinley. I’m glad you enjoyed my class.”
    “Yeah, I’ll see you around.” Nathan said, still a little awestruck from the transformation he kept glimpsing in her. She was trembling before him one moment, and confident the next. He had expected some sort of catastrophe this morning, but she handled the students with authority that gained their attention, and even a little respect. And the biggest question that irked him was, why did it even matter to him? Shaking the woman from his mind