Phyllis Halldorson - A Man Worth Marrying

“A couple in his right leg, yes,” she confirmed. “The doctor assures us they’re healing nicely, but Dad hates not being able to get around without the help of crutches or a walker.”

“I’ll bet he does,” Gray agreed. “He doesn’t like to be slowed down. Be sure and give him my best.”

“I certainly will,” she said. “But now to get back to the subject of your daughter. I’m truly sorry, but I’m overextended as it is—”

“Why don’t you meet her before you make up your mind,” he cut in. “That seems only fair. Then, if you still feel you can’t work her in, I’ll accept it and try to find someone else.”

Eve sighed. “Don’t think for a minute I don’t know what you’re doing, Gray Flint. You’re playing on my weakness for children. You think that if I see what a sweet, intelligent and deserving child she is, I’ll reconsider.”

He looked her straight in the eye. “Damn right. Can you tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing if our positions were reversed?”

She thought for a moment. Gray was a father desperate to find help for his daughter, and she admired him for mat—enough that she wasn’t going to lie to him. “No, I can’t, but our positions aren’t reversed, and if I wear myself out, I’m not going to be good for any of my students.”

“Okay, I can appreciate that,” he admitted. “I sure don’t want you to endanger your health. But there’s only a week of school left. If you could work Tinker into your busy schedule now, I’ll hire you to work for a couple of hours every weekday all summer.”

Gray looked around the room, and Eve was sure he was seeing it for the first time. Until now, his only concern had been to convince her to tutor his daughter.

“This is a pretty depressing place to work, isn’t it,” he observed. “Why don’t you transfer to another school?”

She wondered if he realized how callous that sounded to her, although she was sure he hadn’t meant it that way.

Rising from her chair, she went to stand by him. “And if I did, who would teach the students here?”

He blinked. “Well I—there must be teachers who are looking for jobs.”

“There are, but none of them want to work here. Would you?” She looked at him. “What school does Tinker go to?”

He appeared disconcerted. “She goes to a private school, but—”

“Does her building have a leaky roof?” she interrupted.

“No—”

“Is the paint peeling off its walls, both inside and out?”

“No, but—”

“Is the heating system in constant need of repair?”

His tone rose with frustration. “No. Damn it all, Eve—”

“Of course it doesn’t have those problems,” she pointed out, “because its affluent parents and alumni can afford to keep it in good condition. Also, they can raise the tuition anytime it’s necessary to pay for the best teachers, so they draw from the top applicants.”

Gray finally found an opening into the conversation. “From all I’ve heard, you’re a good teacher. So why aren’t you working at a school like Tinker’s?”

She was ready for him. “You’re right, I am a good teacher. In fact I’m an excellent teacher. I studied hard in college and learned my lessons well, plus I care about my students. I want to see them learn, but I also want the ones who are capable of it to excel. With all they have working against them, that will never happen if they can’t get dedicated instructors to teach them.”

“Now surely you’re not the only ‘dedicated instructor’ in the whole area,” Gray taunted lightly.

“No, I’m not,” she admitted, refusing to acknowledge his teasing. “But it’s easier for me to be noble. I don’t have children of my own to teach and raise, or a husband who needs me to share time with him, too.”

He eyed her left hand. “You’re not married, then?”

She shook her head. “No, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need time off from my work. Some of these children will break your heart if you let them.”

“And you let them,” he said softly as his gentle blue eyes searched hers.

To her dismay, her heart speeded up at his tone, and she felt all fuzzy and warm. She fought the urge to let herself be drawn closer.

Watch it, girl. This guy’s way out of your league. And more important, he’s married!

She stepped back and turned away from him. “I’m sorry but I have to get home. I have papers to grade and a school board meeting to attend tonight, If we can’t get the board to put a new roof on this building this summer, we’re going to be sloshing around in water ankle-deep by next fall. At the rate donations are coming in for the roofing fund, it’s going to be years instead of a month before we collect enough.”

Gray gazed thoughtfully at Eve. “I have an idea. I’ll make a hefty donation to the school’s roofing fund, in addition to paying your salary, if you agree to tutor Tinker.”

Eve gasped, unable to believe what she’d heard. “Are you trying to bribe me?” she asked tentatively.

“That, I am,” he admitted with a twinkle in his eyes.

Eve laughed. She couldn’t resist Gray’s winning ways—or his offer. In addition, it was an honor to be recommended to him as highly as she had been by the district superintendent. “All right,” she reluctantly agreed. “I’ll consider tutoring Tinker. But I think I should meet her first to establish trust before the tutoring begins. When do you want this meeting to take place?”

He glanced at his watch. “How about this time tomorrow? I can bring her here, but I’d really prefer that you come to my house. Since that’s where you would be tutoring her, I’d like you to get acquainted with it, too.”

“Tomorrow at this time and at your house will be fine,” she said, striving for a tone of brisk efficiency, “if you’ll just give me your address and phone number. Oh, and I assume your wife will be there, too?”

He looked momentarily uncomprehending, but recovered quickly. “I don’t have a wife,” he said. “Tinker’s mother and I are divorced.”

Chapter Two

Gray saw the surprise in Eve’s expression, and only then realized that he hadn’t told her he was a single father. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I didn’t intend to mislead you. Tinker’s mother and I have been divorced for three years. We share custody, but she works part-time as hostess at a restaurant, and because of our rather unconventional working hours—I go to work very early in the morning and she works four hours, midafternoon and early evening—I have Tinker from the time she gets home from school until bedtime. Bambi has her throughout the night and until she goes off to school in the morning. We alternate weekends.”

Now Eve looked confused, and he braced himself for further questions. He didn’t like discussing his private business with others, but he would make an exception in her case if she pressed the issue.

She didn’t. “I see,” she said instead. “Then I’ll meet with you and Tinker tomorrow.”

They started walking toward the door, then Eve suddenly stopped and turned to face him. “One more thing,” she said seriously. “Does Tinker know you’re arranging to have her tutored during school vacation?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. She’s not going to be pleased, and I wanted to be sure I could find an available teacher before I told her. I didn’t want to upset her unnecessarily.”

Eve looked perplexed. “But isn’t that what you’ll be doing by introducing her to me? It’s not at all likely that I’ll accept the position—”

He didn’t like the sound of that, but decided to play it lightly. Touching the tip of her slender nose, he smiled. “Ah-ah, there you go again—making up your mind before you’ve explored all the facts.”