Shadow of My Heart - By Caryn Moya-Block Page 0,9

He only cares that he looks good.”

“I was just trying to diffuse his anger over your sitting at the head table. I don’t want to cause you trouble, Cara.”

“Somehow, I get the feeling you are trouble, Mr. Darkwood.”

“Raven.”

“Raven, just so you know, you are already providing their limo because they rode in the one you sent for me as part of my prize,” she said.

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. But I will still see you home tonight,” Raven said as he pulled her chair out and helped seat her. He glanced at his friend Joe. Raven knew that when Joe got up and excused himself, he would ask the hotel to order them a limo to escort Cara home.

The ride home was the conclusion of a wonderful evening. Clutching her award in her hand, not only did Cara avoid having to ride home with Principal Davidson, but she was able to spend more time with Raven. He gave her his card with his email and phone numbers, and she promised to get in touch right away.

They held hands and talked as if they’d known each other forever. It felt familiar and comfortable. If the chauffeur and Raven’s security guard Joe had not been there, Raven and Cara might have done more than talk. But she was ever mindful of the eyes that watched them. Raven seemed to be, as well, because he made no attempt to do anything except hold her hand.

The hour-long ride finished too soon, and Raven got out of the car to escort her up the elevator and to her door. She wanted to ask Raven in, but the limo waited for him downstairs.

After they reached her door, she turned and smiled. “I guess this is goodnight.” But oh how she hoped it wasn’t goodbye!

“I’ll be waiting to hear from you,” Raven said, leaning his hand against the wall near her head. “Thank you for such a wonderful evening. I usually hate these kinds of events. But having you at my side made the evening much more palatable. I want to see you again, Cara. Please say you will.”

“I would love to. This evening was a fairytale come true for me,” Cara replied. Would he kiss her? Should she kiss him?

They both seemed to move closer at the same moment. Cara lifted her face to his as he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was slow, sweet, and tender. Cara sighed as Raven’s tongue swept over her bottom lip. He moved his tongue into her mouth, teasing and tantalizing, but only tasting. He didn’t swoop in and overpower her senses. He coaxed and teased at her lips until she trembled with need.

“I’ll be waiting for your call, Cara,” Raven said as he pulled away from her and kissed her temple. Then, taking the keys from her shaking hands, he opened the door and ushered her inside.

“It’s late, sweetheart. Call me tomorrow.”

Cara sighed and nodded her head in acknowledgement. She was afraid to speak, afraid she would beg him to stay. He stepped out the door, a male look of satisfaction on his face. Then, slowly he reached inside and closed the door behind him.

Cara stood frozen to the spot. Only when she heard his footsteps moving down the hallway, was she able to move to the door and lock it. Shaking her head, she headed for her bedroom.

“Boy, do I have it bad.”

Chapter Three

“I didn’t mean to spill the crayons all over the floor, Miss Hamilton.”

“I know you didn’t, Jimmy. But you still have to pick them up before you leave,” Cara said with a smile at one of her more precocious students. Taking pity on the child, she crouched down and helped him. All the colors from the mega box now lay scattered across the floor and under the children’s desks.

When Cara and Jimmy were finished, she looked up to see Principal Davidson standing in the doorway. She had a sneaking suspicion he enjoyed seeing her on her hands and knees. Every time she turned around, he seemed to appear, especially when Raven was due at the school. Today, she and Raven were going out to celebrate their four-month anniversary. It was silly, but every moment with Raven seemed like a celebration.

“Hurry now, Jimmy. You’ll miss the bus,” Cara said, giving the child a warm smile and handing him his backpack.

“Is there something you need, Sir?” she asked Davidson as she moved back to her desk and sat down, putting the desk between them. If