Читать книгу Her Kind of Man - Pamela Yaye - Страница 13

For the next two hours, the group meandered around the zoo, snapping pictures, feeding the animals and playing in the sun. The children didn’t want to stop for lunch, but Makayla ushered them into the cafeteria.

“I wish Mr. Blake was my uncle,” she overheard one of the boys from Desiree’s class say.

“Yeah, he’s cool!” another said.

Makayla smiled. The kids were right; Kenyon was cool. Clearly, he had a way with women and children. She was impressed at how quickly he had developed a rapport with the kids. They clung to his every word, fought over who was his favorite and begged to hold his hand. At one point, Makayla saw Kenyon jump up on a bench and impersonate a gorilla. The kids had laughed hysterically. As the day wore on, she found herself looking for Kenyon’s group. She told herself she was just checking in on the kids, ensuring that everything was going smoothly, but deep down she knew her interest in Kenyon was personal.

Makayla was in line, waiting for her order, when she noticed Desiree and Kenyon sitting on the far side of the cafeteria. They were an arresting pair. Both were tall, dark and attractive. A casual observer would have taken them for a couple and as Makayla stood off to the side, watching them, she couldn’t help wondering if Kenyon was interested in her co-worker. It wouldn’t be a shock if he was. Most men were.

“Number ten?”

Makayla stepped forward. She picked up her tray and walked carefully through the cafeteria. Since Terrance and most of her students were outside with the parent chaperones, she started toward the door. Terrance had been a model student all day but she knew how quickly things could change.

“Makayla, over here!”

Pretending she didn’t hear Desiree, Makayla continued toward the doors. Desiree called her again, but this time, her voice was twice as loud. “Over here! By the window!”

“We were just talking about you,” Kenyon confessed when she approached. He stood, took her tray and put it down on the table beside his own. “Here, have a seat.”

“I can’t stay.” Smiling, she motioned toward the doors. “I’m going to eat outside with the kids.”

“They’re fine,” Desiree told her, glancing outside the window. “There are tons of volunteers out there. Relax.”

Careful to leave an adequate amount of space between them, Makayla took a seat on the bench. She directed her question to Desiree. “What were you guys talking about?”

“I didn’t know your full name was Makayla.” Kenyon cocked a brow. “Keeping secrets, are we?” When he grinned, his eyes literally shone.

To keep from saying too much, she focused on her salad. Shoveling lettuce into her mouth, she concentrated on not getting Caesar dressing all over her face.

“Have we met before?”

“No. Why?”

Kenyon frowned. “Makayla Stevens. Hmm. I’m sure I’ve heard that name before. I just can’t remember where.”

She reached for a napkin and inadvertently knocked over her cup. Orange juice spilled onto Kenyon’s tray, dousing his plate of chicken wings. Apologizing profusely, she sprang to her feet and mopped up the mess with a stack of napkins. “I am so sorry,” she said, wiping madly. “Wait here. I’ll go get you some more.”

Kenyon covered her hand. His touch was warm, pleasant, calming. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, the wings weren’t all that.” He rose to his feet. “Be right back.”

Makayla and Desiree watched him leave. When he was a safe distance away, Desiree said, “That man is something else. Fine and smart. Too bad I’m not single!”

“I can’t believe I did that!” Makayla shook her head at her folly. “He probably thinks I’m a klutz!”

“I doubt that. Did you see the way he was checking you out?”

Makayla looked down at the bench to ensure it was dry before retaking her seat. “Kenyon Blake is way out of my league.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m serious.”

“You’d better get that man before some else does. Men like Kenyon are hard to come by. He’s hot, down-to-earth and he has a kick-ass sense of humor.” Desiree grinned. “Did I mention he was fine?”

Makayla laughed. “Okay, so he’s a great guy, but that doesn’t mean I want to date him. I’m in a good place right now and I don’t need a man complicating my life.”

“Go out with him.”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“For starters, I’m his nephew’s teacher. How would that look?”

“Like you were trying to get some!” Laughing, she took a healthy bite of her turkey burger. “Don’t use that as an excuse. There’s nothing in the school conduct manual that prohibits teachers from dating parents or family members.”

Desiree made a valid point but not one that Makayla was willing to consider. “Do I have to remind you what happened with Jared?”

“No, thanks. I’ve heard that pitiful tale too many times to count.”

“Good, so you of all people should understand my reluctance to get involved with another parent.” Makayla picked up her fork and popped a crouton into her mouth. Against her better judgment, she had started dating Jared Lewis, a regular parent volunteer. The divorced father of two had swept her off her feet. Dinner at upscale restaurants, tokens of his affection and elaborate dates had been the norm. Within weeks, they were addicted to jalapeño pizza and talked endlessly about their future.

When one of her co-workers ran into them at a charity baseball game, the truth about their relationship had ripped through the school like a midafternoon snowstorm. Neither of his children were in her class, but when word got out that they were dating, Makayla had been shunned by her colleagues. It was as if she had broken some cardinal rule no one had told her about.