Page 39 of Falling for the Maverick

“If he was going to be an assistant principal, then he had to be a lot older than you,” Lucas stated.

“I was twenty-five, and he was thirty-five at the time. I was easily influenced and found it hard to believe he would be interested in me, so I hold myself responsible for being so naive. Several teachers saw us having dinner together at a restaurant, and that’s when the news spread like wildfire that we were dating.”

“Did it bother you that your colleagues knew you were seeing him?”

Michelle shook her head. “We were both single consenting adults. And I believed I was in love with him. Until the bubble burst when another teacher came into my classroom Valentine’s Day wearing Keith’s diamond engagement ring. Even before that, there were rumors that she was pregnant.”

Lucas gave her a quick glance. “Are you saying she told you first?”

“Yes. She’d known all along that I was seeing Keith. Once he got engaged, he avoided me like I was carrying a communicable disease. What I couldn’t put up with were the whispers that I’d ignored the rumors and gotten involved with him anyway.”

“How long did you work there before you decided to resign?”

“Four months. My demeanor never changed. I taught my students, had my observations, met with their parents and continued my life as if I’d never known the man. I waited until days before the end of the school year and handed in my resignation. Then I packed up my apartment and came home.”

“What did you tell your parents when you moved back?”

Michelle huffed. “I lied and told them that I missed living on the ranch.”

Lucas looked at her again. “They still don’t know why you came home?”

“No.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell them, Michelle?”

“Because my father would be doing hard time right now if I’d told him.” She glanced out the window between continuing. “After two months at home, everything I’d held inside up to that point came flooding out, and I started crying and couldn’t stop, and that’s when I told Aaron. Then I pleaded with him not to go to Missoula and confront Keith. Only Aaron and my grandmother—and now you—know the real story.”

“I’m with Aaron. I’m certain that guy earned a few punches below the belt.”

Michelle shook her head. “No, Lucas. Violence wouldn’t have solved anything. I don’t blame him as much as I do myself because I’d been warned to stay away from him.” And now history was repeating itself when Aaron warned her to stay away from Lucas.

“But he took advantage of you, Michelle.”

“I went into it well aware of the gossip, but I thought I was enough for him. That he wouldn’t need another woman.”

“You are enough for any man who’s smart enough to see that.”

He looked at her in time to see her soft smile. “You’re truly wonderful for a woman’s ego.”

Lucas focused on the road ahead of him. He wanted to stop and shake some sense into Michelle. She shouldn’t take responsibility for someone who had been unfaithful to her. If she had been his sister, no amount of pleading would have stopped him from confronting the man, and the results would not have been nice.

“I didn’t say it to stroke your ego, Michelle. You must believe you deserve love and loyalty from any man who’s involved with you.”

Michelle placed her hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad we’re friends.”

“So am I.” They were friends, but Lucas was struggling every day to stay in the friend-zone.

He’d made the right decision planning to go out for dinner. Bringing her back to his house would just be courting temptation. Being alone together, one thing would lead to another. And once they crossed that line, there would be no turning back.

Lucas tapped a button on the steering wheel for the satellite radio. “What do you want to listen to?”

“Something soothing,” Michelle said.

“How about smooth jazz?” The melodious sound of Chris Botti’s trumpet filled the interior of the car.

“That’s nice.”

“What type of music do you listen to when you’re home?” he asked her.