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"Who the hell are you?"

Startled by the voice belohere she stood on a stepladder hanging a colorful border of zoo ani as if it had come from the bowels of the earth - Kelly Andrews lost her balance and fell backward Her fall was halted as she found herself cushioned against the solid chest of the man who had silently entered the schoolhouse

A swooshing rush of breath escaped her parted lips at the sa down at her under lowered lids was the man as her tormentor and rescuer

There was no doubt he was a Blackstone The angular, raw-boned face was the saray, not the silvery sparkling shade of his father's, but a dark gray that reminded Kelly of a wintry sky before a snowstorm

She wondered which Blackstone son he was - Jereent or Ryan the veterinarian Whoever he was, the black stubble on his jaw aze settled on his sensual full lower lip, wondering if it ever softened in a spontaneous smile

Ryan Blackstone's expression mirrored that of the woinia and Blackstone Faree University of Veterinary Medicine where he'd taught several courses as a visiting professor for two semesters

Minutes after he'd parked his car in the garage near the rins and nore them because he had been anxious to reunite with his father His four-year-old son had spent the drive fro to the horse far Grandpa

Sheldon had warrandson home, then told Ryan that he wanted him to meet the teacher for the new child care center, at the sa the woman's credentials and experience This news pleased Ryan because now the young children who lived at Blackstone Farms would have a structured daily environment For years they had become free spirits, wood sprites with the horse farrass, cliround pools and raced in and out of the dining hall several ti the Blackstone Day School was an ideal situation, but only if the woman in his arms wasn't its new teacher

Kelly placed a palainst solid muscle "Please, put me down, Mr Blackstone"

The sound of her husky voice jolted Ryan The soft, perfuainst his was so pleasurable that he'd alood it felt to hold a woman - especially one as certain not to share his bed

Dark gray eyes narrowed slightly under raven eyebrows He held his breath before letting it out slowly "Who's asking?" He had tightened his grip under her knees

"Kelly Andrews, Blackstone Farms Day School's new teacher And I hope you don'tprofanity around children"

Ryan glared at Kelly Who did she think she was? "What did you say?"

"Mr Blackstone, if you're hearing in Language as well as certified to teach nursery through sixth grade Now, I'ain to put me down or I'll be forced to show you what other certifications I have"

Ryan decided he liked holding Kelly He liked the husky timbre of her voice and the way her curvy body melded with his; he also liked the smell of her hair and skin

"Are you warning me that you're trained in martial arts?"

S, Kelly ad cheekbones, a strong nose with slightly flaring nostrils, and a square-cut chin e His eyes were beautiful They were a striking contrast to his brown skin

Slowly, as if in a trance, Ryan lowered Kelly until her sandaled feet touched the newly installed oak flooring

So, he thought, she was the one everyone had been whispering about She was the teacher ould assu children Studying her upturned face, Ryan stared down into eyes the color of newly , thick black lashes, which seemed to enhance their vibrancy Her delicate copper-brown face was exquisite: sculpted cheekbones and a delicate chin with a hint of a died at the corners of his mouth Kelly Andreas lovely; no, he !

When Ryan had walked into the schoolhouse, he'd stood there s under a pair of cutoffs, a narroaist and slim hips The hem of her sleeveless white blouse was tied at her lih for him to span with both hands Her dark che neck, was secured off her face by a wide red headband

"How old are you, Miss Andrews?"

Kelly took a quick breath of utter astonish slowly to herself, she bit down on her lower lip She had to choose her words wisely or she would walk away from this position

Staring up at the tallover her, she forced a smile she did not feel "In case you aren't aware of it, Mr Blackstone, but there are laws against age discrimination in the workplace" A spark of satisfaction lit her eyes when a rush of deep color darkened his tanned gold-brown face

Ryan's right hand tightened at his side "I'm very much aware of the law, Miss Andrews," he said "And you can call me Ryan My father is Mr Blackstone"

Even though Sheldon Blackstone was legally listed as owner of the horse farm, it was Ryan who had eventually assumed responsibility for its day-to-day operation His father had resumed the role this past year only because Ryan had been teaching as a visiting professor at his alma mater In Ryan's absence Sheldon had advertised, interviewed and had hired Kelly to teach the children of Blackstone Farms

And given Sheldon's penchant for beautiful women, it was obvious why he had hired Kelly Andrews

Pulling herself up to her full five-foot-eight-inch height, Kelly flashed a confident grin "If you're that versed in the law, then why did you inquire about e?"

Aware that he'd been caught in a trap of his own led to extricate himself from a terminal case of foot-in-mouth

"You look so young that II," he sta in her gaze that tightened thetilance Not since the first tiaze met the woman's who had eventually become his wife and the mother of his son

Kelly lifted an eyebrow and decided to let Ryan squirht if she turned her back on hi her classroom She had wanted to finish by the end of what had beco day

But there was so ames, art supplies and videos before she'd be ready She had hoped to open the school on Monday - exactly one month since her arrival at Blackstone Farms

"I can assure you, Ryan," she said, stressing his nah and qualified to teach"

"That may be so, Miss Andrews, but I intend toyour probationary period"

Gazing up at hi of silver in the thick, close-cropped wavy black hair There was so rakish and sophisticated in Ryan His dark skin and light colored eyes re in a bottle

"Ryan?" Her voice was soft and layered with a sensuality that jerked his head up like a marionette manipulated by a puppeteer

"Who the hell are you?"

Startled by the voice belohere she stood on a stepladder hanging a colorful border of zoo ani as if it had come from the bowels of the earth - Kelly Andrews lost her balance and fell backward Her fall was halted as she found herself cushioned against the solid chest of the man who had silently entered the schoolhouse

A swooshing rush of breath escaped her parted lips at the sa down at her under lowered lids was the man as her tormentor and rescuer

There was no doubt he was a Blackstone The angular, raw-boned face was the saray, not the silvery sparkling shade of his father's, but a dark gray that reminded Kelly of a wintry sky before a snowstorm

She wondered which Blackstone son he was - Jereent or Ryan the veterinarian Whoever he was, the black stubble on his jaw aze settled on his sensual full lower lip, wondering if it ever softened in a spontaneous smile

Ryan Blackstone's expression mirrored that of the woinia and Blackstone Faree University of Veterinary Medicine where he'd taught several courses as a visiting professor for two semesters

Minutes after he'd parked his car in the garage near the rins and nore them because he had been anxious to reunite with his father His four-year-old son had spent the drive fro to the horse far Grandpa

Sheldon had warrandson home, then told Ryan that he wanted him to meet the teacher for the new child care center, at the sa the woman's credentials and experience This news pleased Ryan because now the young children who lived at Blackstone Farms would have a structured daily environment For years they had become free spirits, wood sprites with the horse farrass, cliround pools and raced in and out of the dining hall several ti the Blackstone Day School was an ideal situation, but only if the woman in his arms wasn't its new teacher

Kelly placed a palainst solid muscle "Please, put me down, Mr Blackstone"

The sound of her husky voice jolted Ryan The soft, perfuainst his was so pleasurable that he'd alood it felt to hold a woman - especially one as certain not to share his bed

Dark gray eyes narrowed slightly under raven eyebrows He held his breath before letting it out slowly "Who's asking?" He had tightened his grip under her knees

"Kelly Andrews, Blackstone Farms Day School's new teacher And I hope you don'tprofanity around children"

Ryan glared at Kelly Who did she think she was? "What did you say?"

"Mr Blackstone, if you're hearing in Language as well as certified to teach nursery through sixth grade Now, I'ain to put me down or I'll be forced to show you what other certifications I have"

Ryan decided he liked holding Kelly He liked the husky timbre of her voice and the way her curvy body melded with his; he also liked the smell of her hair and skin

"Are you warning me that you're trained in martial arts?"

S, Kelly ad cheekbones, a strong nose with slightly flaring nostrils, and a square-cut chin e His eyes were beautiful They were a striking contrast to his brown skin

Slowly, as if in a trance, Ryan lowered Kelly until her sandaled feet touched the newly installed oak flooring

So, he thought, she was the one everyone had been whispering about She was the teacher ould assu children Studying her upturned face, Ryan stared down into eyes the color of newly , thick black lashes, which seemed to enhance their vibrancy Her delicate copper-brown face was exquisite: sculpted cheekbones and a delicate chin with a hint of a died at the corners of his mouth Kelly Andreas lovely; no, he !