Private Lessons by Donna Hill Page B

woman who could make passages sing, and who could breathe new life into arcane text, who captured and held nearly seventy-five bright minds in her hand couldn’t be Naomi. Not the Naomi that he did things to that were just short of illegal. But of course it was her. This was the Naomi that he’d noticed the night she arrived at the hotel, with her corporate suit and librarian hairdo. Uptight Naomi.
    Why did she lie to him? Why did she think it was so important not to tell him who she was? He was damn sure going to find out.
    â€œI should have brought a tape recorder,” the pretty young woman next to him whispered.
    Brice turned slightly in his seat. “Hmm. Next time.”
    â€œI’m Pamela Phillips.” She stretched her hand over her desk toward him.
    â€œBrice Lawrence.” He shook her hand, and when he returned his attention to the lecture, Naomi was staring right at him.
    â€œUh-oh,” Pamela whispered under her breath. “Looks like we might have ticked off Professor Doctor Clarke. ”
    Brice zeroed in on Naomi and rocked his jaw back and forth until Naomi turned her attention elsewhere.
    â€œWell, that’s it for today. Please review your notes and be ready to discuss author Chris Abani at our next session.” She began gathering her papers, her gaze glued to her desk. She listened to the rise and fall of voices as they filed out and the door opened and closed. If she waited long enough, they would all be gone. She didn’t have another class until late afternoon. That would give her some time to think. This couldn’t be…
    â€œNaomi.”
    She drew in a sharp breath and looked right into Alexis’s eyes. She couldn’t have been more happy to see anyone in her life. She nearly wept.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? You’re sweating, and it’s like an icebox in here.”
    She grabbed Alexis’s arm. “He’s here, Lexi.”
    Alexis looked around the empty hall. “Who?”
    â€œBrice. Brice Lawrence. He’s a student in my class.”
    Alexis chuckled. “Stop playing.”
    â€œDo you think I would kid you about something like that?” she hissed, her voice rising in hysteria.
    â€œI don’t know. You might. What the hell is he doing in your class? Didn’t you say he lived in New York?”
    â€œYes.” She bobbed her head up and down to reconvince herself.
    â€œWell, damn, girl, if you were lying to him, maybe he was doing the same thing to you.”
    â€œBut why?”
    â€œHow should I know? For the same crazy reason you did.”
    â€œOh, God. This is awful. I can’t have him in my class,” she sputtered, jamming the last of her papers in her briefcase.
    They started for the stairs leading to the exit.
    Naomi stopped and grabbed Alexis’s arm. “What if he’s in the hallway waiting for me?”
    â€œWhat if he is? You can’t stay in here forever. Act like he must be mistaken if he says anything.”
    â€œOh, God,” she groaned again, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. “I need some air.”
    â€œCome on.” Alexis pushed open the doors and they stepped out into the rush of students and teachersdarting to classes. “Do you see him?” Alexis asked softly as they walked toward the building’s exit.
    â€œNo.” Naomi’s eyes darted up and down the hall, and she felt like a hunted rabbit. “I don’t see him.”
    â€œGirl, are you sure it was him? Maybe your imagination is on overdrive.”
    She shook her head. “I…I’d swear it was him.” Her voice faltered. “But…maybe I was wrong.”
    â€œIs his name on the grid?”
    â€œThat’s just it. When I went to pick mine up this morning it wasn’t ready. Computer issues.”
    â€œLet’s settle this once and for all.” Alexis took Naomi’s arm and steered her back the other way, toward the administrative