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me.
    “Excuse me, Miss Hamilton, could I have just one more moment of your time, please?”
    I closed my eyes and breathed in slowly.  I knew who had said it.  I must have been a real bitch in a past life to deserve this.
    I turned and plastered a bright smile on my face and through nearly gritted teeth, replied, “Certainly, Mr. Carter.”
    He stopped in front of me, and as I took in his face, I became acutely aware that he was trying to suppress a smirk.  Whew! Maybe he wasn’t going to hold my comment against me.  Maybe I wasn’t staring the end of my career directly in the face.
    “So, I was just wondering how you like it?”
    “Umm, I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you’re referring to.”
    “Being a zookeeper. How do you like it?”
    Oh, shit .  The only thing left to do was beg for mercy.
    “Mr. Carter, I apologize for the completely inappropriate and distasteful comment I made.  I don’t know what I . . .”
    When I finally got the courage to lift my eyes and look at him, I felt relief mixed with de finite annoyance.  Mr. Carter's head was bowed so that his chin rested on his chest.  I could see the slight shaking of his shoulders. The bastard was laughing at me! Just what I fucking needed. What was it with men?  
    He looked up when I stopped talking, put his hand to his chest and choked out an , “I’m sorry.”
    I stood there, giving him time to regain his composure.
    “I’m sorry,” he started again.  “I couldn’t resist.”
    “Glad I could give you a laugh.  Nice to meet you, Mr. Carter.  Enjoy the rest of your day," I said politely before turning to leave. I had already suffered enough during the meeting; I wasn’t up for any more humiliation.
    As I began to walk away, I felt a strong hand on my arm.  It was not an unkind, rough hand.  Just a sure, confident one.
    “Miss Hamilton,  I really am sorry.  That was wrong of me.  I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable."  
    He looked down at his hand and quickly withdrew it, like he suddenly realized it probably wasn't appropriate to be manhandling his daughter's teacher. Not that I minded. I'd come around to manhandling a few weeks back—literally.
    It was then that I really looked at him. He was incredibly attractive with bright green eyes, dirty blond hair, and a genuine, pearly white smile. And his lips were perfectly pink. My eyes were drawn to them as he bit his lower one, waiting for me to reply.
    But all I could think about was how much I'd like to sit on those gorgeous lips.  I shuddered slightly at the thought, which effectively brought me back into this tortuous moment with Mr. Carter. What was my deal?  A single one-flight stand had morphed me into a complete nymphomaniac. Had he noticed my involuntary shudder?  
    "It's a little cold in here," I stammered as I drew my arms across my chest. Nice save, Lily, you horse's ass .  "How about this: I'll forget about your oh-so-witty practical joke if you please, please, for the love of God, not hold my zoo comment against me. Deal?"
    Mr. Carter smiled broadly , and his eyes crinkled slightly. Sweet Christ, he was hot.
    "Deal," he agreed as he held out his hand. “Under one condition . . .”
    Apprehension rushed through me again.  I’d had enough of these men and their conditions.  I stared expectantly at him.
    “Call me Adam,” he said with a smile.
    Relief flooded through me as I took his hand gratefully and offered my own megawatt smile, compliments of the nightly headgear Dr. Schiffer made me wear.  
    As we shook hands, I noticed that he was holding my hand longer than was typically acceptable. His green eyes were gazing at me. Curiously? Mischievously? I couldn't quite be sure.
    I withdrew my hand as I said, "Good bye, Adam."
    "Miss Hamilton," he replied with a firm nod of his head. He then walked around me and strode out of the school, oozing success and sex-appeal. Just then, the bell rang, preventing me from any more X-rated daydreams.
    Awesome ,