LITMIR.BIZ

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have to lead those. I don’t know any, other than sit-ups and such, and I’m not certain what kids this age are used to.”

      Tyler watched Carlie as she rounded up the kids and introduced them to him. As he spoke with each child, taking the time to joke and put them at ease, he caught Carlie staring. He winked at her, and she favored him with a genuine smile.

      He wasn’t used to her doing that, and for a second there, it threw him. Then he realized she was merely pleased that he was taking the time to really talk with the children. What had she thought he’d do? Bark at them?

      The exercises she’d chosen were simple, but she challenged the children to keep up, to do each individual stretch properly. Throughout it all, Tyler watched her, and he grew increasingly curious.

      Her breasts bounced. He’d never really noticed how amply endowed she was until now, but Mother Nature had treated her generously. And from what he could tell, she was totally unaware of it.

      Unfortunately, he wasn’t.

      After helping a little girl catch the rhythm of the exercise, he wandered between all the children, checking to see if anyone else needed help. But even as he did that, he kept his gaze on Carlie, watching her every move.

      When they finally broke up into teams, Carlie taking four girls and the biggest boy, Tyler with four boys, he announced they would play “shirts and skins.” He led the boys in stripping off their shirts, then noticed Carlie staring. She tightened her mouth and blushed bright red when he caught her eye. He was amused, but he also liked the idea of her liking his body. Walking toward her, seeing her back up a step before she could stop herself, Tyler grinned. When he reached her, he slipped a fingertip over her lips, then chucked her chin, all without a single word. She closed her mouth with a snap, stomping to the other side of the hoop. But still, she looked her fill.

      Later, after each of the children had taken a few practice shots, Tyler pulled Carlie aside. “They’re well-behaved. Only a few of them are a little rambunctious.” He laughed. “I heard one of the boys daring another to do a few...indiscreet things. They saw me looking and changed their minds.”

      “Just remember that when the novelty wears off and they get used to you. They can become a little more than rambunctious.”

      There were several occasions to point out misconduct, ranging from offensive language to shoving. Once, Tyler had to break up a skirmish between two of the boys. By the time six o’clock rolled around, Tyler was beat and Carlie looked exhausted.

      But still, she took the time to make certain each child was bundled up properly. She helped with tying shoes, answered numerous questions and convinced one little boy that he didn’t really want to hit another, just because the child had sneezed on him.

      Then she gave the sneezer a tissue.

      “I’m impressed,” Tyler told her, his eyes on her flushed face. “You’re really good with kids. You never once lost your temper.”

      She shrugged off his compliment. “I enjoy them. They’re fun, and honest to a fault.”

      Tyler felt a tug on his hand, and looked down at a little girl named Lucy. She was smiling at him, showing him the stuck zipper on her coat. He helped her get her coat closed, then tweaked her nose. As he started to stand, she threw her skinny arms around his neck and squeezed him tight. “Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. I had fun.”

      Surprised, he looked toward Carlie, then ruffled the girl’s tangled hair. “I did too, Lucy.” She giggled, and Tyler grinned at her. “You’ll be here Monday?”

      “Yes, sir.” She skipped away, leaving Tyler to stare after her.

      “Whatever could that little girl have done to deserve detention? She’s a doll.”

      Carlie waved goodbye to the last little boy, watching as he climbed into his parent’s car, before allowing the heavy gym door to close. She turned to Tyler, chuckling softly. “Lucy has a problem with her language. She could make a sailor blush when she puts her mind to it. Personally, I think she just wants attention. Her father took off about a year ago, and her mother has her hands full trying to take care of five kids, all under the age of fifteen. Lucy sort of falls into the middle of the group.”

      Tyler turned away, his left hand rubbing the muscles of his neck. “I hate hearing stories like that. They make me want to strangle somebody.” He began idly bouncing the ball, just to give his hands something to do and his mind something to focus on other than the problems of innocent children. But it didn’t work. The issue was a sensitive one with him. “Why is it the kids who have to get hurt?”

      “It’s always the ones who are most vulnerable. That’s simply human nature.” She shrugged philosophically, then took him by surprise, snatching the basketball out of his hands and dribbling it across the court.

      Tyler watched her antics, knowing she was trying to distract him, and appreciating her efforts. Being with the children today reminded him of his own childhood. It had been rough for him and Jason, and when they’d become teenagers it had only gotten worse. Tyler had always pretended with his friends, bragging about the freedom he and Jason had, making it sound as if raising themselves had been a lark. And he had refused to admit to the embarrassment of having a mother who was the town “lightskirt.”

      God, it had been hard. Luckily, he’d had Jason. But it wasn’t the same. Children needed an adult to look up to, someone they respected and who cared about them.

      These kids had Carlie, but he wanted to help, too, wanted to make a difference.

      “All right, Tyler,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “Enough moping over things you can’t change. I hereby challenge you to a little one-on-one. The first to make ten baskets wins.”

      His grin was slow and filled with wicked delight. He put his hands on his hips, watching Carlie as she continued to expertly dribble the ball. “What are we betting?”

      “That I can beat the pants off you.” Her tone was smug and taunting. And then she understood exactly what she’d said. She flushed scarlet.

      “My pants? Well, Ms. McDaniels! It wasn’t enough to ogle me without my shirt? You want to strip me of all modesty?”

      “That would be impossible.” Her face was still hot, but she began dribbling the ball again. “You don’t possess any modesty and probably never have.”

      His grin widened. He approached her slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. “I’m ready when you are, sweetheart. But the stakes have to be worthwhile. Say...dinner? At the winner’s choice of place?”

      Carlie gave him a confident smile. She did a fancy little feat of bouncing the ball behind her back, then between her knees, before shouting suddenly, “You’re on.” She raced down the court, scoring the first basket before he realized the game had started.

      “Oh, ho! Getting tricky on me, huh? I like a woman who can take me by surprise.” Carlie faltered at his words, nearly losing the ball. Tyler lunged, staying right on her, his body looming over hers, his arms outreaching her, his legs able to cover the same amount of ground more quickly. Carlie claimed it was an even match.

      She was good, real good. She dunked the ball three times before he had a chance to score. Then he got serious. But all the while, he grinned. He felt better than he had in a very long time.

      They were both sweaty by the time the score was evened up, eight all. Tendrils of hair had come loose around Carlie’s face, sticking to her forehead and flushed cheeks. She looked done in, but still very determined to win. And she was laughing, obviously enjoying herself.

      Then Tyler accidentally hit her. He made to jump for the ball, and his elbow smacked against her temple. Stumbling backward, she landed on her butt, her glasses slipping off her nose and dropping into her lap.

      Tyler was horrified. “Oh, God, Carlie. I’m sorry!” He knelt beside her, taking her face in his hands, staring into her dazed eyes. Wide, hazel eyes. “Are you all right?”

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