windows. He was impressed with the efforts made to enhance the community.
He walked up the few steps leading to the massive entrance door. The door was locked, and not until he announced his name through the intercom was he allowed entry. Stepping into the lobby, he could see the signs of a small community of children. He stepped beyond another door and a glass wall and noticed that the classrooms were occupied. One class of young children was singing, another one was writing and another was listening to the instructor read from an oversized picture book.
Nowhere did he see any older teens. Considering it was only two o’clock, they may still be in school. He looked forward to learning more about them and their time at the academy. He wanted to do his own research so that he could make an independent decision. But his first impression was crucial. He walked back to the lobby and was greeted by the receptionist.
“May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Tamara Wendell.”
“Grant, good to see you.”
That familiar husky voice greeted him from behind with a crisp, businesslike tone. His shoulders instantly tensed...waiting. He turned to face her. She had approached from the hallway and was now stopped with arms crossed and a hip cocked to the side. He was ready for her signature brashness and cocky smile.
Instead, she pinned him with a cool look. Yes, she smiled. Yes, she welcomed him. Those eyes, however, fastened on him and cast a cool, disdainful inspection over him. What had he done?
“Come this way.” She led the way to the first room and stepped aside in the doorway to her office. More than a little curious, Grant approached her, almost ready to tiptoe across the room if that would relax the tension. He imagined how any misbehaving student must feel to be summoned by her. Yet, she appeared more irritated than angry about his presence. He followed her invitation.
As Grant walked into her office, he readied himself for her attack. Surely, there had to be a reason for the icy reception. One thing for sure, he had no intention of leaving until he found out why she seemed prickly. He paused, wanting to confront her for an explanation. Her perfumed scent tantalized his senses, causing wild thoughts to form. What if he reached out to lift her small chin? What if he smoothed back the wayward strands of her hair? What if he kissed her mouth and tasted those full lips that toyed with his imagination? He struggled to get his breathing under control.
Mere feet away from her now, he noted all the small details of where her moles dotted her skin, the various shades of auburn that streaked throughout her hair and the natural lift of her round eyes, which added to their unique beauty. Under different circumstances, he would be tempted to touch her silky hair and let his fingers gently comb it into submission.
However, he risked his fingers being broken and handed back to him if he tried that move now. Taking the safer route, he muted his explosive, internal reactions and looked around at her office.
“Wow!” Grant exclaimed. “This is an awesome setup you have.” He spun around in a circle to admire the room.
The decor was neither haphazard nor average as many offices were. Instead, the room infused him with a sense of calm, mixed with easy comfort. She had created an inviting place away from the hectic world beyond her office walls. He didn’t know the specifics of the color spectrum, but he knew what he liked. And the various shades of soft browns mixed with the bolder richness of gold hues created a soothing mood in the room.
She didn’t use the average, heavy office furniture. Clean and efficient could describe the modern flair of the desk, bookcases and chairs. The bookcases were filled with a variety of books and magazines geared toward younger readers.
“I have an open-door policy with my students and staff. They can come in and read or talk or take a calming time-out.”
“And you work in
He walked up the few steps leading to the massive entrance door. The door was locked, and not until he announced his name through the intercom was he allowed entry. Stepping into the lobby, he could see the signs of a small community of children. He stepped beyond another door and a glass wall and noticed that the classrooms were occupied. One class of young children was singing, another one was writing and another was listening to the instructor read from an oversized picture book.
Nowhere did he see any older teens. Considering it was only two o’clock, they may still be in school. He looked forward to learning more about them and their time at the academy. He wanted to do his own research so that he could make an independent decision. But his first impression was crucial. He walked back to the lobby and was greeted by the receptionist.
“May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Tamara Wendell.”
“Grant, good to see you.”
That familiar husky voice greeted him from behind with a crisp, businesslike tone. His shoulders instantly tensed...waiting. He turned to face her. She had approached from the hallway and was now stopped with arms crossed and a hip cocked to the side. He was ready for her signature brashness and cocky smile.
Instead, she pinned him with a cool look. Yes, she smiled. Yes, she welcomed him. Those eyes, however, fastened on him and cast a cool, disdainful inspection over him. What had he done?
“Come this way.” She led the way to the first room and stepped aside in the doorway to her office. More than a little curious, Grant approached her, almost ready to tiptoe across the room if that would relax the tension. He imagined how any misbehaving student must feel to be summoned by her. Yet, she appeared more irritated than angry about his presence. He followed her invitation.
As Grant walked into her office, he readied himself for her attack. Surely, there had to be a reason for the icy reception. One thing for sure, he had no intention of leaving until he found out why she seemed prickly. He paused, wanting to confront her for an explanation. Her perfumed scent tantalized his senses, causing wild thoughts to form. What if he reached out to lift her small chin? What if he smoothed back the wayward strands of her hair? What if he kissed her mouth and tasted those full lips that toyed with his imagination? He struggled to get his breathing under control.
Mere feet away from her now, he noted all the small details of where her moles dotted her skin, the various shades of auburn that streaked throughout her hair and the natural lift of her round eyes, which added to their unique beauty. Under different circumstances, he would be tempted to touch her silky hair and let his fingers gently comb it into submission.
However, he risked his fingers being broken and handed back to him if he tried that move now. Taking the safer route, he muted his explosive, internal reactions and looked around at her office.
“Wow!” Grant exclaimed. “This is an awesome setup you have.” He spun around in a circle to admire the room.
The decor was neither haphazard nor average as many offices were. Instead, the room infused him with a sense of calm, mixed with easy comfort. She had created an inviting place away from the hectic world beyond her office walls. He didn’t know the specifics of the color spectrum, but he knew what he liked. And the various shades of soft browns mixed with the bolder richness of gold hues created a soothing mood in the room.
She didn’t use the average, heavy office furniture. Clean and efficient could describe the modern flair of the desk, bookcases and chairs. The bookcases were filled with a variety of books and magazines geared toward younger readers.
“I have an open-door policy with my students and staff. They can come in and read or talk or take a calming time-out.”
“And you work in
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