Come Monday Read Online Free PDF Page B

longer her teacher and they were on more even ground, it would be next to impossible to hide her undeniable attraction.
    Placing the drinks on the table, he gestured for her to sit first. It was a circular booth and she’d expected him to sit down from the opposite side. When he followed her into the booth, she tried to ignore the fact that he’d planted himself right next to her, sitting far too close for her tenuous willpower. His thigh brushed against hers as he reached for the beers, handing her one of the glasses.
    “To the end of another successful school year,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.
    She smiled and took a sip. “Do you have any big plans for the summer?” she asked.
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    Mari Carr
    “Actually, I’m going to have a little bit longer than the summer off,” he replied.
    “I’ve requested and been approved to take a sabbatical next year. I’ve been approached about writing a textbook on creative writing.”
    “That’s wonderful,” she said. “God knows you certainly have a talent for teaching the subject. Look at how much you helped me improve.” He took another sip of beer before setting the glass down in front of him. “Yes, but I’m afraid in many ways, you are the exception rather than the rule.”
    “How so?”
    “You, my lovely woman, have a desire to learn, to improve. English isn’t even your major and yet you attended every class determined to glean every bit of knowledge and skill I could offer. My success with other students, not unlike your Roy Decker, was considerably less.”
    “God, please don’t ever mention that name to me again. Don’t get me wrong. He was a likeable guy, but if I had to read one more paper about him getting wasted or laid, I think I would have thrown myself off a bridge.” Will laughed and she soaked in the sound, aware that she hadn’t heard it before.
    Though he was very free with his smiles, she’d never seen him in the midst of a full-blown laugh. Her heart melted a bit at the sight. He was simply breathtaking.
    “I decided several years ago that it’s nearly impossible to teach students who don’t want to learn. That doesn’t mean I don’t try, but it’s hard for me to stress the importance of writing to nineteen-year-old boys just getting their first taste of true freedom. Sadly, alcohol and girls win nearly every time.”
    “Nearly every time?” she asked with a grin.
    “Okay, you got me. Alcohol and sex win every time. It’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed our morning sessions together. You genuinely wanted to learn and I found your enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile quite intoxicating.” 32
    Come Monday
    She acknowledged his compliment with a shy nod, picking up her beer, thinking perhaps a bit of intoxication would make it easier to sit beside him without thinking very naughty thoughts. His gaze sharpened on her face and she wondered again if he could read her mind.
    “So,” she started, desperately trying to find some way to draw the conversation away from her, “will you go away somewhere to write or stay here in Baltimore?”
    “I’ll stay here. I’m afraid extensive travel isn’t necessary to write this particular textbook, so that wasn’t budgeted in. Not that I didn’t suggest it,” he joked.
    “I can’t imagine being holed up in an apartment for an entire year just writing.” She forced a false shudder, pretending to be horrified.
    He shook his head. “I don’t intend to drop off the face of the earth. Actually,” he looked around the pub, “I like to do my writing around people, in public settings.” Her mind whirled over the idea of Will sitting in this booth, day after day, ordering meals and drinks from her while he wrote. She’d never break free of her obsession at this rate. “You do? I wouldn’t be able to concentrate,” she said.
    “One of the reasons why I dropped by tonight was to check out this special place of yours. Pat’s Irish Pub seems like the perfect place