She stopped in mid-step, causing Keelan to halt as well. She looked up at him trying to keep a grasp on her anger. “Hold on just a minute,” she demanded. “You agree with these kids, don’t you? You’re expressing your own views about me, as well as theirs. Right? Am I correct, Keelan? You are judging me, just like the students are.”
“Yes I am. How can I not? You were in a position to give something back to the world you come from. Instead, you made the choice to help the animals of the wealthy. People who take trips around the world for extended amounts of time and think throwing out a couple thousand dollars for a bird is no big deal. Yes, I agree with my students. You have sold out, Nataleigh Brown.”
“And you are certifiable, Keelan Robinson.” Nataleigh took off at a fast pace.
Keelan followed.
“Completely insane is what you are,” Nataleigh growled. “You are also infuriating. How dare you pass judgment on me? You’ve got a lot of nerve. I mean a lot. I work very hard for my paycheck and—no, forget it. I don’t have to justify myself to you. You don’t know me. Nor do you matter enough for me to make the attempt.”
“I know enough. You provided it in your awful speech.”
“Excuse me? What the hell did you just say? Are you seriously standing here berating me for keeping a roof over my head and putting food on my table?”
He exhaled heavily and shook his head. “Why am I even wasting my time? I can’t get through to you, make you understand.”
“Yes, please save your breath. I’m sure it takes a lot of energy to expel such hot air.” She shook her head and scoffed. “You talk a good talk, Mr. Robinson, but do you walk the walk?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Does the lack of a wedding ring on your finger indicate that you are single?”
“Yes.”
“So, you are a single man, who has probably been teaching for several years, maybe even close to a dozen if I am guessing your age right. I imagine that adds up to what would be considered a sizable amount for this particular neighborhood. Meaning you arrive at Carter High School every morning with your holier-than-thou attitude. But at day’s end? What part of town do you drive home to, Keelan? What cushy, comfortable suburb do you live in?”She stomped toward her van and around to the driver’s side, pulling her keys from her pocket as she went.
“Are you sure you want to know the answer to that question, Ms. Brown?” he asked, coming up behind her.
She unlocked the door with hands a lot more sturdier than she felt. His nearness affected her in a strange way. “Yes, I’m certain I want to know. I’m sure it is going to be good.”
“Are you familiar with this area?”
She whipped her head around to look at him. “Better than you think.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. But this is the cushy part of town I live in. Woodtown to be exact, Ms. Brown. Perhaps you have heard of it? If you have, then you know I walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”
She opened her mouth with every intention of telling Keelan his sense of humor was very warped. She snapped her mouth closed again in the next instant, as the thought struck her that he might be telling her the truth.
One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “I see the doubt in your expression. I would be happy to give you my physical address and you are more than welcome to stop by. It is the beige brick home with the dark brown trim on Goldwood.”
She wanted to tell him exactly where he could go. His smugness irritated her. He also confused the heck out of her. It didn’t make any sense to her. Why would a man with his income live in the area that he did. Woodtown, as it had been nicknamed because all of the street names ended with the word wood, had its fair share of crime.
“Still don’t believe me?” he asked.
“I’m not sure,” she murmured, studying his expression closely. “I just can’t understand why you would choose to live…well in this area if you don’t have to.” She looked at him with every ounce of puzzlement that she felt. “The career day you organized at the school today is proof that you want your students to have hopes and dreams of a better life. You are attempting to show them that there are ways to get out of this environment without doing twenty-five to life. Why, Keelan? Why would you intentionally remain here if you don’t have to?” She shook her head. “No, I’m certain you live in this area. I just don’t understand why. This is just another layer on your proverbial weirdness cake.”
“Cake and ice cream,” Deon interrupted, “and a bottle of wine.”
“That sounds like a horrible combination, Deon,” she responded.
“Call me sometime,” the bird squawked.
“Be quiet,” she said.
“That bird really is a pain to deal with,” Keelan muttered. “How much did you say it’s worth again?”
“Don’t start with me again,” she grumbled, frowning. “I am not the one who determined the monetary worth of Deon.”
“No, you’re just the person who babysits them while the owners trapeze around the world.” Keelan shook his head. “What a wonderful contribution you make to society, Ms. Brown.”
She sighed. This man truly was a piece of work. He just didn’t know how close he was to seeing a very unpleasant side of her. Very.
“Tell you what. I will show you I walk the walk. If you are still in the neighborhood around 5:30 or so, stop by my mansion. I’ll be happy to give you a tour.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not in the habit of entering the homes of strange men and you are very strange.”
He chuckled, causing an unfamiliar shiver to flutter down her spine. She didn’t have much time to enjoy the deep, masculine rumble, for the smile that appeared vanished in the next heartbeat.
“To use your wording, you just said you don’t get it,” he stated. “How else would I really be able to relate to my students, really understand them, if I don’t live in the harsh reality of their world?” His eyes narrowed as he looked directly at her. “You function in an arena of wealth, cater to the rich, who indulge themselves in such non-sense as expensive animals for pets. You rose above what were obviously humble beginnings and then turned your back on your reality instead of giving something back. Am I even coming close to getting you to understand the flaw in your logic, Nataleigh?”
“Oh believe me, you’re coming across loud and clear,” she replied. “You are a narrow-minded, judgmental man, with a mind-set that isn’t open for any sort of discussion. You pass severe condemnation on people you don’t even know, having no clue as to their personal circumstances.”
“I—”
“Guess what, Mr. Robinson? I know very well what these students are going through for I am a graduate of David W. Carter High School. My parents still live in this area as a matter of fact. The only reason I even aspired to get out and do better was because I had a teacher like yourself telling me I should. Now that I have, you stand before me like a hypocrite, calling me a sell-out. What you are, Mr. Robinson, is delusional. You know what? I don’t like you. You might be the most attractive man I’ve ever met, but your personality takes away from it. Give me the bird, Keelan.”
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead and he laughed. “What?”
She immediately caught the error in her word choice. “If only you had a sense of humor when it counted,” she retorted, snatching the heavy cage from his hand. “You have wasted enough my time. I’m leaving. Now I suppose I should be polite and say it was a pleasure to meet you, but it hasn’t been. This entire experience was a nightmare. Goodbye, Mr. Robinson.”
* * * *
Keelan scowled as Nataleigh loaded the bird into the van quickly before walking around to get into the vehicle herself. “Hold on a minute, Nataleigh.”
“No thanks. I have heard enough of what you have to say to last me a lifetime.”
He watched as she backed out of the parking spot. He stood there, waiting to wave and smile, in case she looked in his direction. But she didn’t.
And within minutes, she had disappeared out of his view in a van that should be in much better shape considering the job she had.
With a shake of his head, he turned and dragged both hands down his face. Damn, he was a jerk, he thought in self-disgust. Yes, he believed in what he was doing by living in a low-income neighborhood so as to better understand the students he taught who existed in this environment. He’s called his area his home for nearly twelve years.
But he’d thrown his convictions at Nataleigh, had jumped all over her like a fanatic who gave no consideration to anyone’s opinion that didn’t coincide with his. He’d been a complete overbearing, narrow-minded, obnoxious jerk.
He rubbed the back of his neck and stared off into the distance. He knew why he’d behaved the way he had toward Nataleigh. She’d been the recipient of the disgruntlement he felt from the previous evening spent at his parent’s home. The short time he spent with his parents had been worse than usual, and he’d arrived home agitated, wired and unable to sleep for more than snatches at a time during the long night.
So what did he do? He took it out on the first person who crossed his path that even hinted at the idea of embracing the world of money.
Damn.
Nataleigh hadn’t deserved the way he treated her. Yes he believed she had sold out, was catering to the idle rich when she was in a position to give something back to the world she had come from.
But Nataleigh had been right when she accused him of passing judgment on her without knowing her personal circumstances. He’d never done that to anyone before and he definitely felt like the scum of the earth for doing it to Nataleigh.
With a muttered expletive, Keelan exhaled heavily. The day was off to an extremely bad start. He had to apologize to her. He still believed in what he said, but that didn’t excuse the way he said it. Sure it was a conditional apology, but one that definitely needed to be given nonetheless.
“What a terrible day,” he mumbled, as he began to walk back toward the school. “I wouldn’t blame Nataleigh if she slapped me in the face. More importantly I deserve it.”
* * * *
Nataleigh was so angry that she was almost back to the office before she realized it. She blinked, telling herself to pay attention to the traffic, then exhaled softly as a surge of fatigue swept over her.
She wasn’t used to experiencing confrontations like the one she’d had with Keelan Robinson. It left her emotionally drained, so exhausted she could cry. She had to forget it, push the upsetting memories from her mind, along with the remaining images of Keelan. As a matter of fact, the entire morning and the people involved in it were going to be erased from her brain. Or so she hoped.
“You’re gorgeous,” Deon squawked. “Call me sometime.”
“Oh for the love of—be quiet, Deon,” Nataleigh muttered, glaring at the parrot. “I don’t want to hear anything else from you the rest of the day.”
“Be quiet,” Deon retorted. “Wanna kiss?”
Nataleigh uttered a very unladylike word and forced herself to focus on driving the rest of the way to the clinic. Fortunately, it didn’t take her long. She was the closest she had ever been to losing it.
Pulling into the parking spot reserved for the van, she quickly unloaded Deon and headed inside of the Veterinary Clinic. Doctors Emmitt and Janice Sanders were a friendly, attractive couple in their mid-forties. They’d chosen not to have children after a few failed pregnancies, stating that their maternal and paternal instincts could be given to the animals they cared for. They were both standing at the receptionist desk when Nataleigh entered the office.
“There the two of you are,” Emmitt said, smiling. “Our career day representation to David W. Carter High School. How did it go, Nataleigh?”
Nataleigh lifted the heavy cage onto the counter.
“Call the cops,” Deon screeched. “He’s got a gun.”
“Behave yourself, Deon,” Janice responded around a laugh. “I don’t know why someone would teach a bird such a horrible phrase.”
“Give me the bird, Keelan,” Deon squawked.
Nataleigh wanted to crawl under the counter when Janice’s eyes widened.
“Where in the world did he learn that? I really hope he forgets it before his owners return.” Janice frowned. “And who is Keelan?”
“It has to be Keelan Robinson,” Emmitt responded, “the teacher who called to ask if I’d speak at the career day assembly. You don’t look too happy, Nataleigh. Did everything go okay?”
“No, everything when wrong,” she responded miserably. She dropped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands. “Students at my former high school seem to get a tad bit irate when you tell them that a bird cost a couple thousand dollars and its owners are enjoying different sites around the world.”
“Really?” Emmitt asked in clear surprise. “I never thought of that. I definitely would have provided them the same information if I had given the speech.”
“Yes, well, Keelan Robinson seemed to think that I should have known better than to reveal such information. To say he was displeased is putting it lightly. To top it all off, Deon bit Keelan on the backside in front of all the students.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Janice said, laughing. “Bless your heart. You have had an awful morning, haven’t you?”
Nataleigh nodded, mentally cataloging the things she couldn’t, wouldn’t and shouldn’t share with her employers, who were also her friends. To tell how Keelan Robinson had accused her of selling out by working for the Sanders was a direct negative reflection on the doctors themselves. That they definitely didn’t need to hear. And she certainly wasn’t confessing to the strange physical reaction she’d had Keelan Robinson. Nor the fact that there was still a residual heat simmering within her that had started the instant Keelan touched her.
“Go have lunch, Nataleigh,” Emmitt said. “You look like you are hanging on by a thin thread. You have my sincerest apology for sending you to school at the last minute in my place.”
“It isn’t your fault that it was a disaster.” Nataleigh looked at the empty chair where the receptionist sat. “Do you not need me to cover the phones like I usually do when Sylvia is at lunch?”
“I will do it today,” Janice offered. “We’ve worked out a good schedule. The next appointment isn’t for another hour. We’re waiting for the delivery of Precious’ food.”
“Precious, the Yorkie, is having her meal delivered while she is boarding here?” Nataleigh questioned with clear disbelief.
Emmitt chuckled. “Exactly what I thought when I heard it. No ordinary dog food for Precious. Today’s delivery will consist of custom-made dog food and a few slices of organic chicken and turkey breast. Do you think she would notice if I ate the turkey?”
“Yes, she’d notice,” Janice replied. “Don’t you take anything out of that order when it arrives. If you don’t, I’ll treat you to a steak.”
Nataleigh tuned out Emmitt’s response. She was too distracted by what she just heard. Delivery meals for a dog? If the student’s at David W. Carter High School knew about Precious’s catered culinary meals, Keelan would more than likely have a riot on his hands. She looked over at Janice. “Don’t you think this nonsense about Precious’s food is a bit much?” she questioned.
Emmitt nodded. “Yes, however, the Parsons can afford it. Precious is like a child to them. They never would have boarded her if it wasn’t for a family emergency back in California. They have already called three times to check on their little darling. Once from the airport and then from the plane, several thousand feet up in the air, and again when they landed. I expect several more calls from them before it is all said and done.”
“Oh, come on now,” Nataleigh responded.
“I think it’s sweet,” Janice replied. “You know we see our share of abused and abandoned animals. The Parsons really love Precious and have no shyness about letting it be known how they feel about her. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
>
“But…” Nataleigh began, then stopped speaking and pressed her fingertips to her throbbing temples. “Forget about it. I feel the beginnings of a killer headache coming on, my mind is scrambled and the events of this morning are a nightmare I want to do everything in my power to forget.”
“Sounds like you had a really rough day. Go ahead and go to lunch and take and extra thirty minutes,” Janice suggested.
“Thank you for the offer,” Nataleigh mumbled. “I will definitely take you up on it. I just need to go get my lunch bag out of the refrigerator. It is nice outside so I think I will go to the park. A little fresh air should help get rid of my headache.”
“You’re gorgeous,” Deon screeched. “Wanna snuggle?”
“Deon,” Emmitt stated in a warning tone, hoisting the cage off the counter. “We are going to put you out of sight. You keep it up and Nataleigh is going to find a recipe and serve you up. Come on, I’ll give you some fruit.” Emmitt left the reception area with the chattering bird.
“Nataleigh, are you really all right?” Janice asked, a true expression of concern etched into her features. “Your face is awfully drawn.”
“I’ll be okay,” she replied, forcing a small smile. “This morning’s outing was much more than I expected is all. After I get a little food in me along with some fresh air, not to mention some peace and quiet in the park, then I’ll be as good as new.”
The bell over the door chimed as someone entered the office.
“That must be Precious’s lunch,” Janice murmured.
“Which is my cue to leave.” Nataleigh rushed off in the direction of the back room where her packed lunch was waiting in the refrigerator. “Thinly sliced organic chicken and turkey breast? For goodness sake I’m having ham and cheese.”
Chapter Three
The next morning, Nataleigh sat at the round wooden table she’d placed in front of the window in one section of the living room. It was her attempt to turn it into a small dining room. Sipping from a mug of hot coffee, she willed the strong brew to infuse her with energy, render her wide-awake and ready to face this new day with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Hard to Resist Page 3