Forever With You (Bayou Dreams Book 5) by Farrah Rochon Read Free Book Online

became acutely aware of the quickening of her pulse as his steady gaze found a home on her mouth and remained there. The faint makings of a grin edged up the corner of his lips once again, and Leslie had to glance away to catch her breath.
    Okay.
So this turn of events was a bit unsettling.
    It had been a while since she’d had a safe crush, but she was certain one of the tenets was that the safe crush should not become privy to her feelings. Gabriel Franklin’s knowing smile and penetrating stare indicated that he was all kinds of privy to what she was feeling right now. This could not be good.
    “How about that new microscope?” Leslie pointed over her shoulder toward the back of the classroom.
    “Yes. It’s nice,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets and leaning a hip against the desk.
    “You promised you would show it to me,” she said.
    That didn’t sound nearly as innocent coming out of her mouth as it had when she’d said it in her head.
    And now he was blushing, too.
    Oh, God, could I be more mortified
?
    “The microscope,” Leslie prompted. “You promised you’d show me the new microscope.”
    Several beats pulsed by as he continued to stare at her, his gaze tracing over her face. Finally, he said, “I did, didn’t I?”
    He pushed away from the desk and headed for the rear of the classroom. Leslie sucked in a steadying breath before following him.
    “I really appreciate the cookies you donated for the bake sale,” Mr. Franklin called over his shoulder. “Between the money that raised and the donation from the PTO, I was able to purchase the microscope months earlier than I thought I would be able to. It’s been a great addition to the classroom. The students love it.”
    He’d already fixed a slide in place by the time Leslie arrived at the piece of equipment.
    “This is water that I scooped up from Ponderosa Pond.” He motioned for her to look into the eyepiece, his eyes brightening with the enthusiasm she so often witnessed when she volunteered in his class. He was such a science geek. Lord, help her, but it only enhanced his sexiness.
    “Don’t expect Cassidy to go swimming in it anytime soon,” he added with a chuckle. “All the kids were horrified.”
    Leslie lowered her right eye to the eyepiece and grimaced. “I don’t blame them. I don’t swim, but if I did I wouldn’t swim in there, either.”
    “Why don’t you swim?” he asked.
    She looked up and realized just how close he was standing to her. Only inches separated them.
    Breathe, girl.
    She shook her head. “I just...don’t like it. I grew up in the city. I never learned how to swim.”
    “You should learn.” Had his voice dropped an octave? “You might find that you enjoy it.”
    Yes. Yes, it had.
    Standing this close, her eyes were drawn back to the attractive way his upper lip dipped in the center. Leslie ordered herself to look away, but then his tongue swept out, glided over his lips, and looking away became next to impossible. She was momentarily mesmerized by the smooth, glistening skin. When she finally drew her eyes back to his, they no longer bore the trace of humor they’d held the first time he caught her staring. This time his gaze was measured, potent and concentrated directly on her.
    “You’re standing really close,” Leslie said.
    He nodded. “I realize that.”
    “Mr. Franklin—”
    “You can call me Gabriel, you know,” he said, the pitch of his voice still on the husky side. “We’re at school, but technically it’s after hours.”
    Leslie swallowed. Then she swallowed again.
    “I...I, uh.” She slipped away from the microscope and took several steps back. “I’m not sure that’s appropriate.”
    Appropriate?
What was she? Her mother?
    Taking yet another step back, Leslie asked, “Can we get back to discussing Cassidy?”
    Tilting his head to the side, he rubbed the back of his neck and let out a deep breath. When his gaze returned to her, disappointment was evident in