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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

His eyes darkened until they were nearly black with an indefinable emotion "Yes, Kelly" It was the first tiiven name

Tilting her chin, she gave hi smile "I don't have a probationary clause in my contract"

Ryan closed his eyes, silently cursing his father for being taken in by her pretty face It was Sheldon who had vehen a contract - one that always included a clause detailing a probationary period

He opened his eyes to find Kelly staring at him, while at the saed him "What did you promise my father?"

Her smooth forehead furrowed "Excuse me?"

Ryan leaned closer "You heard n for you" His gaze roa you'll be wearing more clothes"

Without giving her an opportunity to come back at him, he turned on his heels, walked out of the schoolhouse, and closed the door softly, leaving her to stare at a pair of broad shoulders that seemed almost too wide for the doorway

She sat on the stepladder, her shoulders slunation as the enthusias dissipated It did not take the intelligence of a rocket scientist to know that Ryan Blackstone did not like woer ones

At thirty, she had experienced what e hadn't: hood Several hth birthday Simeon Randall had been killed by a hit-and-run driver when he'd pulled off the parkway to fix a flat tire Simeon, mercifully, had died instantly from massive head trauma

The appearance of two police officers at her door, asking that she come to a local hospital because her husband had been killed in a traffic accident had changed her and her life forever She'd lost her first love, soul mate and life partner Even after she had buried her husband she refused to accept that he would not walk through the door each night to share dinner with her She'd continued to set the table for two When herfirst, asked about the extra place setting, Kelly broke down and sobbed in her arms the way she'd done as a child Cahter in her arms while they slept in the bed Kelly had shared with her son-in-law

The following day Kelly walked into the principal's office at the school where she'd taught third grade, and resigned her position Two days later she got into her car and headed for Washington, DC to spend time with her sister and brother-in-law A month's stay became two, and eventually twenty-three

She had returned to New York City to clean out her co-op apartment, sell itee and list the property with a real estate agent The apartment was sold six ton, DC, bank account She continued to pay to store her furniture until she received official documentation of her hire as a teacher for Blackstone Farh bed, arht-iron table and chairs that had once sat on her grandalow she would call home for the next year

She sat on the stool until the door opened again, and this time it was Sheldon Blackstone who had coet up," he said, as he cas at the ankles "It looks nice, Miss Kelly"

She nodded "I should finish decorating tonight"

A slight frown marred Sheldon's lined forehead "Why don't you put that off until tomorrow?"

Kelly studied the olderhiray eyes in a face the color of toasted pecans, she knew the ed horse breeder could easily attract a wohty

"Why?"

"Everyone's gathering in the dining hall tonight at six to welco to Blackstone Farms Sheldon noticed that Kelly rarely took herhall with the other employees

She nodded "I'll be there, Mr Blackstone"

Straightening, he wagged a finger at her "I told you before that we're pretty informal here Please call me Sheldon"

"If that's the case, please call me Kelly"

"No," he said, shaking his head "I'll call you Miss Kelly in front of the children There's an unwritten rule here The children aren't allowed to address adults by their given name, especially women I know it may sound outdated and quite Southern to a Northerner, but it is a Blackstone tradition"

Kelly smiled "I may be from New York, but I do claiinia blood on my daddy's side and South Carolina on my mama's"

Sheldon flashed a rare sinia?"

"Newport News"

"The best seafood I've ever eaten was in Newport News"

"I have relatives there who are fishermen"

Sheldon took a quick glance at his watch "I expect to see you later"

"You will"

Kelly had to smile I expect to see you later It was Sheldon's way of ordering her to eat with the other employees Since she had co hall twice, both times for breakfast Sheldon had informed her that breakfast and lunch were served buffet-style, while dinner was a sit-down affair where everyone who lived or worked on the property shared in this meal - all except for her

She usually prepared a light dinner, cleaned up the kitchen in the bungalow before throwing all of her energies into her craft projects She'd worked practically nonstop to ready her classroom for the projected first day of school, which was now only three days away

Curbing the urge to salute her boss, she watched as he walked across the floor of the spacious outbuilding that had been converted into a schoolhouse She wanted to say like father, like son, but decided to reserve judgment on the Blackstones After all, they were responsible for an enterprise that included thousands of acres of land, millions of dollars in horseflesh and a payroll for more than thirty employees

After seeing an ad in The Washington Post for an experienced teacher certified in early childhood education to teach on a horse farinia, Kelly had searched the Internet for information on Blackstone Farms She had learned that Blackstone Farms was one of a fened and operated African American horse farms in the state

She liked this part of Virginia It was so different froh it was early summer, the heat and humidity were noticeably lower The property, west of the Blue Ridge and east of the Shenandoah Mountain ranges, lay in a valley like a shi emerald on blue-black velvet, was to become her home for the next year

She glanced at her watch It was al up the banner, then go home to prepare for dinner

Twenty minutes later, the border in place, Kelly walked out of the schoolhouse, closing the door behind her Sheldon had introduced her to soht would be the first time she would interact with all of them socially It would also be the first time she would meet the parents of the children ould become her responsibility

Attending the dinner would also bring her face-to-face with Ryan Blackstone again He'd caught her off guard when he'd entered the schoolhouse undetected, but she made a soleuard