Journal Of A Timid Temptress by Deirdre O'Dare Page A

days!"
    His eyes, as shiny as jet diamonds, seemed to come alive, all black light. Oh, my! I was transfixed. "Er, no. Not at all. I never had a problem with being female. I mean that's how The Lady saw fit to make me after all."
    "The Lady?"
    "The Goddess, the All-Mother. You know."
    He nodded, "Oh yes, of course. Well, we'd better run along. Class starts in five minutes."
    I scampered at his side, only moving away when we entered the classroom and I had to. Since he didn't assign seats, I slipped into one much closer to the front than I had dared before. I'm sure he glanced my way several times. This is the real start of it all. I have a face and a name--he's aware of me!

    * * * *
    Feb 4
     
    After class today, I made a point of waiting until the mob cleared. Then I followed him downstairs to the office he shared with another faculty member. He didn't realize I was there, standing in the doorway, until he'd tossed his papers onto the one empty corner of his desk and stopped a moment, staring out the window at the leafless trees in the quad beyond the glass.
    I must have made a sound because he whirled to face me, as if startled for an instant.
    "Geri, why didn't you say something? I was a million miles away."
    "I wanted to ask about the book you mentioned, to be sure I had the title and author correct so I can get it at the library, or maybe order a copy through the bookstore."
    He circled the desk, halted to prop a hip against the edge of it, standing hardly a foot from me. "Did you now?" He smiled, a sly, knowing smile.
    "Yes, the one about the various kinds of leaders, their political styles..."
    He reached out with one hand and tweaked the end of my nose. I blinked, startled by the sudden gesture.
    "I'd be willing to bet it's right there in your notes. You take very careful notes. I've watched you."
    He had me there. How would I get out of this? My brain scurried in frantic circles. "I wasn't sure of the author's name, the spelling."
    "S-m-i-t-h. Nothing unusual or difficult there. Dr. Jason Smith." He tipped his head to one side, looking at me like a chicken searching out a choice grain of corn. "How would you like to make some money?"
    I felt the heat in my cheeks and knew I had to be going all sorts of colors. I couldn't help it. Redheads blush easily and I probably turned the exact color of my damned freckles. "I...er...unh."
    "Oh, relax! Nothing like that, hon. An honest bit of work, babysitting my daughter Saturday night. Linds and I are invited to a party, one that's almost obligatory, but I don't think a ten-year-old has any business at one of Guy's parties. They've been known to become rather...uninhibited."
    "Oh." I felt like a total fool and a naïve one at that. What had I thought, that he was going to proposition me right out?
    "Of course if you have a heavy date, I'm sure we could find someone else, but I thought I'd ask."
    "I--I think my calendar is open," I said. "I'll put you down, you and..."
    "Becky--my daughter's name is Becky. She's adopted by the way, and she likes to tell everyone all about it, so don't be shocked. She thinks being illegitimate is a great joke. I'll never forget when she asked what 'bastard' meant. I thought Linds would have apoplexy, but there's no use trying to keep the facts of life from a child. If they're old enough to ask, they deserve to know. I'll pick you up."
    "You know where I live?" That was such a startling bit of news that my voice rose to a squeak.
    "In the Sunnyside Apartments, no? I think half the students who manage to escape from the dorms live there. Out front, at six-thirty. I'll be driving the Triumph."

    * * * *
    Feb 6
     
    It was a jolt to find out he's apparently married and has a daughter, albeit she was adopted. That took me aback, but once I got over the shock, I decided it didn't make a bit of difference. I wasn't looking for a husband after all, just a bit of education.
    The fact he was one of my profs already made the idea of a relationship