I reach for the flask of coffee and top Isabelle’s cup up before refilling my own. She turns, smiles, and mouths ‘thank you’ to me. I’ve missed having someone to do things for. Since the divorce, I hadn’t realised how much I missed these little things, doing acts of service that would please someone. I miss being able to care for someone else.
Yes, Miss
The meeting ends, and we leave for our classes. As we walk across the grounds to our building, I decide to ask more about Isabelle’s weekend.
“So, what club was it you went to? Just so I know to avoid it. No doubt Daniel will make an appearance.” Not that I like clubbing. Maybe when I was Isabelle’s age, but not now.
Isabelle laughs and replies, “Well, it wasn't a nightclub. More of a… hobby club.”
Oh, maybe it was amateur dramatics or a choir. “What kind of hobby?”
Isabelle thinks for a few moments, the delay making it even more intriguing.
How hard is it to just say what hobby it was?
Alexandra Ravensbrook
Chapter 12
Isabelle
Crap.
How does one explain a ‘hobby club’ without flat-out saying, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s a kinky BDSM club for people with all sorts of desires and fantasies,’ to their former music teacher?
My mind scrambles for something to say. There were needles and wax involved…
“It was needlecraft and candles…” I cringe deep down. That sounded so lame, like I’m eighty years old. James is silent for a few moments. “Never pegged you for a sewing and crafts person.”
I sigh inwardly, both hating and loving where my mind goes. It’s been a while since I last pegged someone. But that could change soon, fingers crossed. “Er… Yeah… Just erm…trying it.” I feel my face warming. This is mortifying, like I’m my eighteen-year-old self with the biggest crush
Yes, Miss
on my teacher all over again. Christ, I’m a fucking grown up. Act like it. There’s just something about him that makes me feel so flustered.
We reach our classrooms, students already crowding the hallways as James turns to me, a soft smile on his lips. “We have to make the final arrangements for the student theatre trip to London. I’ll see you at lunch to go through the plan.”
A tingle of anticipation flits in my stomach. A night away with James will be good, albeit surrounded by students. To see him outside of work and get to know him as James rather than Mr. Wentworth. The time I’ve spent with him has left me feeling happy and at peace, like he has a steadying influence. But he always did. He’ll never know what it meant to me to know that I could always go to him if I needed to when I was recovering from my ordeal with Matt. The hollow black feeling that had settled inside me back then brightened after our lessons. The deep numbness that had cloaked me, lightened with the laughter he brought.
To be able to spend this time with him feels like a privilege. To think that his ex-wife may have cheated on him—from what I could piece together from comments made by Daniel—is devastating. How could someone do that to him?
Alexandra Ravensbrook
Excitement fizzes inside as I think of our hotel rooms, so close, both of us alone in our beds. A few drinks after the meal….
For fuck’s sake, Isabelle! Nothing can come of this! I've only just started this job, and I’m getting a crush on him. Again.
Nope, not a crush. Just an…appreciation.
Yeah, okay. Keep telling yourself that!
I push past the throng of students gathered in the hallway and open my classroom door, switching into teacher mode. Finally, my slutty inner voice can shut up for a short spell.
Later, in the staff room, we meet to finalise the trip details. I open the battered staffroom door to the aroma of coffee and see James sitting at the table, his top button undone and sleeves rolled up.
Oh Jeez, he’s pulling out the forearms.
Please give me one moment whilst I swoon.
