Private Lessons

Private Lessons
Donna Hill

Under the tropical Antigua sun, Naomi Clarke flings caution to the wind!She's caught up in a sizzling romance with Brice Lawrence, a sensual stranger she's just met. For two blissful weeks they're inseparable, even though they know their affair was never meant to last. Until the passion-sated Georgia professor returns home. . . and her hot summer lover is in her classroom!Brice is determined not to be tossed aside and forgotten. He wants Naomi and he'll do whatever it takes to persuade his seductive teacher that they belong together. He knows he's playing a dangerous game. . . especially with a potential scandal brewing that could sabotage Naomi's academic future.But Brice is determined to make the grade. Because this time the stakes are nothing less than both their hearts. . . .

DONNA HILL

began writing novels in 1990. Since that time she has had more than forty titles published, including full-length novels and novellas. Two of her novels and one novella were adapted for television. She has won numerous awards for her body of work. She is also the editor of five novels, two of which were nominated for awards. She easily moves from romance to erotica, horror, comedy and women’s fiction. She was the first recipient of the Trailblazer Award and currently teaches writing at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center.

Donna lives in Brooklyn with her family. Visit her Web site at www.donnahill.com.

Private Lessons

Donna Hill

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/)

Books by Donna Hill

Kimani Romance

Love Becomes HerIf I Were Your WomanAfter DarkSex and LiesSeduction and LiesTemptation and LiesLonging and LiesPrivate Lessons

This book is dedicated to the countless men and women who have devoted their lives to education.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for once again entrusting me to take you on a romantic journey. I do hope you will be intrigued by my brainy, beautiful heroine, Naomi Clarke, a tenured professor, and Brice Lawrence, the man who makes her forget her lesson plans!

When these two meet for the first time on the balmy beaches of the Bahamas, neither suspects that their little vacation fling will not only put them together in bed, but…well, you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Do let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line at dhassistant@gmail.com.

Until next time,

Donna

Chapter One

“Come on, Naomi, live a little,” Alexis said as they browsed the swimsuit selections in the Neiman Marcus department store. “Go for a bikini.” She held up a fire-engine-red two-piece that was really no more than a few strings knotted together.

“You have got to be kidding!” Naomi sputtered, shoving the strings back at Alexis.

Alexis couldn’t contain her laughter. “Girl, relax. I know that’s not your style, but we’re going on vacation. We won’t know a soul. It wouldn’t hurt for you to let that bun down and flaunt yourself a little bit. Maybe catch the eye of some fine island man.” She winked. “‘Cause that’s what I plan to do.” She rifled through the swimsuit rack.

“So I guess it’s over between you and Gary.”

Alexis waved her hand in dismissal. “Gary was much too boring. All he ever wanted to do was watch CNN. Can you imagine?”

“What’s wrong with that? At least you know where he is and what he’s doing,” she said, her tone dipping down to that place she didn’t want to go.

Alexis sighed and turned to her friend. She knew all too well where the bitterness stemmed from. “Nay, what Trevor did to you was despicable. And I hope he rots in hell for hurting you the way what he did. But it’s been two years.” She paused and took Naomi by the shoulders. “You need to let it go so that you can be okay, sweetie. All you do is work and you need more than that. Your life can be more than your students and grading papers and going to meetings.”

Naomi pressed her lips together and looked at her friend. Alexis’s soft features and inviting brown eyes were the pictures of concern. She knew Alexis was right. But she wasn’t like Alexis. She couldn’t bounce from one man to the next. She’d always been reserved and shy when it came to relationships. Sure, she’d enjoyed the attention of men just like any other heterosexual woman, but her conservative nature never really allowed her to “let go.” Although she’d always been a workaholic and driven, and not the party type, when she’d met Trevor, a professor at Morehouse University during an educator’s conference in D.C., a lot of that changed. He wooed her into opening that door that she’d always kept shut. She’d stepped out from behind her books and research papers to become a partner in a relationship. What a mistake. So when it was over she did what was familiar and comfortable: she buried herself in her work, only deeper this time.

Naomi’s expression eased. She shook off the images of the past with a toss of her head. “I let you talk me into this trip, didn’t I?” she teased, moving out of Alexis’s hold as she reached for a swimsuit. She held up a one-piece lemon yellow suit with cutouts on the sides. She smiled triumphantly.

Alexis angled her head left then right. “Hmm. Okay. Not bad. Kinda cute.”

“Gee thanks.” She laughed lightly. Two years is a long time to be alone, she silently admitted as they continued shopping. But she’d rather be alone than to be hurt like that again. She was going on this trip because Alexis had all but twisted her arm and her relentless badgering finally broke her down. Hmm, two weeks on a sunny island was probably what she needed.

By the time Naomi returned home from their all-out shopping spree, her feet were on fire. She kicked off her shoes and her feet sighed in contentment. She flexed her toes. Alexis must have dragged her to every outlet in the mall—twice. She laughed lightly thinking about her friend. Alexis Montgomery was a piece of work, but she wouldn’t trade her in for anything.

Naomi went upstairs to her bedroom. She loved her bedroom. It was her haven and she’d taken special care in decorating it. When she walked into her bedroom all the rest of the world disappeared.

The walls were a soft cream color and in opposite corners were floor to ceiling curios lined with first edition books. The bay window opened onto her backyard below and the garden that she tended with care. The cool walls held several pieces of African art that she’d purchased from a small gallery in Sag Harbor. The inlaid wood floors were only partially covered by an antique rug in cream and bronze.

But her bed was her centerpiece. Queen-size, four-poster with sheer draping that hung dramatically from the tops of the posts. She’d spent a fortune on her mattress that was like lying down in heaven. A matching six-dresser drawer, a double door armoire and a cozy club chair rounded out the furnishings. Small speakers were tucked into strategic spots to pipe in her music when the mood hit her. Recessed lighting offered the perfect ambiance for any time of the day or night. Plants, rather than drapes, hung in abundance in her windows, giving the room a sometimes tropical, but calming feel.

Naomi drew in a long breath of satisfaction and began to feel the aura of her room begin to work its magic. She dumped the bags on the bed and started unpacking them. As she viewed the brightly colored outfits, the strappy sandals and glittery jewelry and even a few purchases from Victoria’s Secret, she grew more and more pleased and excited. A bubble of anticipation fluttered in her stomach, and she knew that with Alexis she was going to have a great time, like it or not!

She began taking tags off and sorting through the clothing when she noticed the flashing light on her phone. She walked around the queen-size bed to the end table and pressed the flashing message light.

The first call was obviously a wrong number as the caller was talking in a completely different language. The next was from her mortgage company reminding her that she was eligible for refinancing. The next call stopped her cold.

“Naomi. It’s Trevor. I—”

She pressed Erase before she could hear another word. This was the third call from him in the past month and she’d erased all the other calls as well. How dare he, she fumed. She should have changed her number when they broke up but she never expected to hear from him again. She hadn’t said anything to Alexis about the calls. But she definitely planned to talk with her about it while they were away—get her perspective.

She pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead and turned in a slow circle of frustration. She felt violated in a way, as crazy as that might sound. But his call invaded her one sanctuary.

“Aggggh!” She stomped over to her walk-in closet, pulled out her suitcase and began packing her clothes. At that moment she wished she was on her way to the airport, instead of the coming weekend. She shoved the clothes in the bag.

Yes, a trip with her best friend for two carefree weeks in Antigua was exactly what she needed.

Trevor Lloyd was more than a little disappointed that he’d been, once again, unable to reach Naomi. He’d tried several times by phone, left messages and she hadn’t returned any of his calls.

He got up from the brown second-hand couch and walked to the window. The sun was beginning to set and in this muted light the blight on this urban neighbourhood was dulled. A far cry from the five bedroom, two-story Tudor he once owned.

Trevor shoved his hands into the pockets of his hand-tailored slacks—one of the few things he hadn’t given up from his old life. He drew in a long breath.

How had he gotten here—two steps above bottom? He’d been a respected professor, an upstanding member of his community, a sought-out lecturer, financially secure and he’d had someone who’d loved him.

He turned away from the telltale reflection in the window. It was all gone now and he had no one to blame but himself. But he was back and determined to reclaim his place on all fronts and in Naomi Clarke’s heart.

“Can I refill your drink, ma’am?”

Naomi peered above her dark sunglasses. A waiter stood above her balancing a silver-toned tray on his palm, his dark, shiny face in sharp contrast to his brilliant white jacket. She glanced to her right side. Her daiquiri glass was empty. She lifted it and pushed it toward the waiter. “Thank you, yes.”

“Virgin again, ma’am?” he asked with a smile that Naomi translated as condescending.