Wolfe's Lady Read Online Free

she wanted to go down to the teachers’ room to buy bottle of iced tea just as Darien strolled into the room, as always, confident and lithe.
    “Dear Stella, please put away that plebian food and come with me. No need to hide that concoction that some call tea from me but please leave it here. I have a lovely dinner waiting for us in my classroom.”
    Plebian? She wasn’t sure if she should be insulted; her simple lunch must be beneath his standards. Even so, she was curious enough to follow him into his classroom. Every desk was in linear order and the top of his desk was empty save for two plates and a platter of food. Sliced roast beef, thin shaved turkey breast, pastrami slices, assorted cheeses, black olives, green grapes, and strawberries lay in an artistic, appetizing fashion. Stella gaped at the food, delighted with the array.
    “Darien, it looks delicious! Where is the bread?”
    He laughed and then put a mock frown on his face.
    “Surely you would not pollute such fine meats with bread, Stella. There will be no sandwich making here. I prefer meats and the occasional cheese to grains. I thrive on protein.”
    Maybe he was on the famous no-carb diet, she thought, although she had never seen a man who seemed not to need a diet more than him. Darien was well made, lean and yet muscular.

    “Thank you,” Stella said, as she selected a few slices of meat, some olives, and cheese. The meats were tender, delicious, and just right for the hot, humid day. “It’s a pleasant lunch; all that could make it any better would be champagne.”
    Darien grinned. “And we would have that, my lady, if we could but alas, Mr. Sanderson has a policy against alcoholic beverages on school property. How did your morning go after I settled your first class?
    “It went very well, actually. I think the word spread that I have your protection.”
    His eyes raked over her, with something like hunger as he nodded.
    “You do, my dear Stella, in more ways than you know.”
    She would have asked him what he meant but the bell rang and she had to hurry back to her classroom for three more classes.
    Her planning period was the last hour of the day and she looked forward to it with zeal. Still, she had to face the next class first. With a sigh, she sat down at her desk to find the lesson plan she had prepared. But Stella forgot all about lessons when she saw the gift box on her desk.
    It was small, wrapped in silver paper with a bright red bow.
    Intrigued, Stella picked it up and gave it a slight shake. Hoping that it wasn’t a prank gift with a live frog inside, she opened it with careful fingers and found the beautiful cameo she had admired in the shop window.
    Here in her classroom, the pearls shimmered against the black onyx behind the cameo and she touched it, amazed. No one could have given it to her but Darien but she could not quite figure out how he had placed it on her desk without her notice. With delight, she pinned it onto her blouse and met the next class with a new authority.
    It was as if the pin provided her with courage and confidence, because Darien gave it to her. She felt cherished, something she had never known with a man before.
    When that last period began, she put her classroom to rights, straightening desks and picking up stray papers. She wanted to thank Darien but she could tell he had class—she could hear his splendid voice down the hallway. So she waited and after the mad rush of students out the doors ended, she walked down to his classroom. He sat at his desk, writing, and did not look up until she spoke.

    “Darien, I wanted to thank you for the cameo. It is lovely but you shouldn’t have. I’m sure it cost a great deal.”
    He came to his feet with one swift motion and beamed.
    “No, no, no. You are most welcome, Stella. It is far too beautiful to languish in a shop window. Do you have plans for this evening? No? Then might I invite you over to see my behemoth of a house?”
    Stella could not say no.