At Home In Corbin's Bend

by Maggie Ryan

  "Who is that?"

  Dina gave Jeffrey a wave before answering, "That is the vital part of my plan. Come, I'll introduce you."

  Venia allowed the younger woman to take her hand and guide her towards the man. She had to admit, he was a presence. He was tall and solid looking. Broad shoulders and a trim waist followed by very long legs had her wishing she had skipped a few trips to Ange's bakery. His black hair was shot through with silver. Her hand went to her own hair and she absentmindedly smoothed it down. Her curls tended to be a bit unruly and though she usually didn't care, for some reason she hoped she didn't look as if she'd not bothered to even brush her hair.

  "Hi, everybody. Dr. Humphries, I'd like you to meet Venia Varner. Venia, this is my boss."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you," Jeffrey said, extending his hand. "Please, call me Jeffrey as I've reminded Dina a million times."

  Dina just shrugged and smiled. "Jeffrey, remember those hypotheticals I told you about? Well, they aren't really mine. I thought it would be great if Venia could pick your brain if you don't mind. I've promised to help Venia and realized that you are in a far better position to do so." She turned to Venia. "You don't mind do you? I assure you that if anyone can help get you on track, Doctor, I mean, Jeffrey, is the perfect man."

  Venia felt her face flush as the man's eyebrow rose and he looked at her with green eyes that had her thinking of things that had nothing to do with books. She saw Violet and Jonathon nodding and was about to agree when the man cut her off.

  "As I recall, Dina, you never did explain what you meant about hypotheticals. Though I am intrigued, at this time I'm afraid I'd rather get this meeting on track if you don't mind. Unless we get started, we'll be here till midnight. Perhaps you'd be good enough to set the example by taking your seats?"

  Venia felt summarily dismissed. "Well, that certainly makes me want to be a good girl," she said with a huff. "Far be it for me to put a kink in your agenda." Ignoring the look Jonathon shot her, she turned to walk away, grabbing Dina's hand. Once they'd taken a few steps, she whispered, "If that's your Plan A, I suggest you think about moving to Plan B." Leaving Dina at the chair she'd chosen, Venia grabbed her purse and moved to a chair as far away from the arrogant Doctor Humphries as possible.

  Not wanting to think about how Jeffrey's dismissal made her feel inadequate, she was unable to stay mad for long. After Charles thanked everyone for volunteering and introduced Dr. Humphries, she listened as others talked about how the fair was to be set up and the plans for how the day would go. When actual experiments began to be discussed, she became far more attentive. This is why she'd agreed to help when Jonathon had called and made the request. Science had never been her strong suit and she decided that research for her book would be given a kick start by immersing herself in ideas. The sad thing was that, so far, she didn't feel as much as a single stirring of creativity. It seemed that unless she were going to write some sci-fi book, she was out of luck. Her notebook was filled with doodles of planets and stars with a few black holes thrown in for good measure. When erupting volcanoes were approved, she sighed heavily.

  "I don't see why the kids can't do something a bit more intriguing. Does anyone really care that baking soda and vinegar fizzles?"

  "Would you like to share what you think our students are capable of, Mrs. Varner?"

  Venia's eyes lifted from her drawing of a volcano. "What?" She saw that Jeffrey was looking down from the head of the table with an expression that made her realize her inner thought had slipped out.

  "Since you don't seem to be in agreement about anything we've discussed so far, I was asking if you'd like to share your opinion."

  Venia was instantly transported back to her school days when she'd been called to task for talking during class. She had to consciously fight back the urge to stand and go out into the hall to think about how it was rude to disrupt a class. Catching Dina's eyes, she saw the woman give her a nod along with an eager, encouraging smile. Straightening her shoulders, she remembered she was a grown woman and not some student about to be sent to the principal's office.

  "I'm just thinking that making a mobile of the planets has been done ad nauseam. Our students are brighter than that. How many exploding volcanoes or potatoes with wires hooked up to a battery do we really need?"

  Zachary chuckled from where he was sitting next to Bethany Angel. "Though I tend to agree, Venia, I'm not sure what else our little ones are capable of. We want them to have fun and ignite that spark of interest, not feel overwhelmed with a lot of research. I'm sure that Bethany's high school students will be required to put a bit more effort into their entries."

  "I'm positive they will," Bethany said. "In fact, I do have a request from one of our seniors. She'd like permission to include lab mice this year. She has been working with a pair of mice for the past few weeks in preparation for the fair."

  For the first time Venia felt encouraged. "That sounds more like it. Has she fiddled with their genetics? Are we going to see an example of cloning?"

  The teacher laughed and shook her head. "This is still high school, Venia, not college or some secret laboratory. But, the maze she's created is really quite amazing."

  "Let's consider the discussion for the elementary and middle school levels approved," Jeffrey suggested; nods agreeing with his suggestion. "Let's take a short break for coffee and then we'll discuss the high school." Chairs were pushed back as people stood and made their way over to a table where coffee and refreshments had been set up.

  Before Venia could turn her notebook over, she was once more plummeted back to her school days when Jeffrey spoke again. "Mrs. Varner, if I might have a word?"

  Jeffrey watched as the woman's head lifted and her eyes met his. He was a bit taken aback by the look on her face. She looked as if she was struggling to remain seated and not bolt for the nearest exit. Standing, he walked down the length of the tables.

  "If you'd care to join me, we can get a cup of coffee and talk about how I might be able to help you."

  "Oh, whew," Venia said as she looked up at him. "For a moment I thought you were going to inform me that I had to choose between detention or swats."

  Caught off guard, it took him a moment to assimilate the reference but his chuckle had her giving him a quick smile. "No, you just need to choose between cookies." He extended his hand and was delighted when she slipped hers into it as he helped her from her chair. Once she stood, he was reluctant to release her hand. He'd been distracted during the meeting, wondering what the pretty woman was scribbling so furiously at the end of the table. She'd rarely lifted her head but when she did, it was to sigh or shake her head, her shoulders sagging a bit. Flashes of brief memories of times he'd seen her around the community played in his head. Almost every single one had her smiling or laughing. A niggling thought joined the slideshow. Though he hadn't met her before, he could swear someone had told him at least a bit about her. Something about her very good reputation in the Bend as a woman who would give you the shirt off her back. However, tonight it seemed she was more likely to ask for a blanket so she could curl up somewhere and take a nap.

  As they doctored their coffee, he felt a stirring he hadn't in quite some time. Passing her a napkin, he swept his hand over the tray of cookies. "What can I tempt you with? Chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin?"

  "I really shouldn't," Venia said as she took a sip of her coffee. "I've been quite naughty when it comes to sweets lately."

  The word 'naughty' had his eyebrow lifting. "Far be it for me to encourage naughtiness, but I hardly think a cookie or two will constitute that trip to the principal's office."

  Her giggle was delightful and he was momentarily lost in the sound. She was very attractive. Her hair was shoulder length and very curly. It had probably been a rich chocolate brown in her youth but he found it quite pretty with the silver strands running through it. The navy blue of her blouse brought out the blue in her eyes and the way her jeans hugged her rear had his libido stirring
. He placed one of each cookie onto her napkin and added the same to his own.

  "Thank you," she said with another smile. "I suppose I can't get into trouble if the doctor orders me to eat cookies."

  "Though I'm not a medical doctor, I do know that raisins are a fruit if that helps." Jeffrey laughed and led her back to the table. She slid into her seat and he took one next to her. As she took a small bite of her cookie, he leaned forward. "You looked very studious during the meeting. Are you responsible for taking the minutes or do you just like to take notes?"

  Her eyes widened and she swallowed the bite before answering. "Um, no. I mean I do take a lot of notes, but…" She paused, "I confess I've been doodling a bit." Pushing her notebook towards him, Jeffrey saw exploding volcanoes, stars, planets and what appeared to be some type of deformed mice scrawled across the pages.

  "What, no potatoes?" Venia laughed and shook her head. Looking closer at the page, Jeffrey's chuckle belied his next comment. "Care to explain this doodle, young lady?"

  Venia's eyes dropped to the page and he heard her gasp.

  "Is this supposed to be me?" Jeffrey asked, his fingertip tapping against the drawing of what could only be a depiction of a mad scientist. Wild hair stuck out all over the man's head, his eyes were huge behind thick glasses. His head was thrown back, mouth wide open as if laughing manically. In his hands he was holding beakers that had lines streaming from their open tops, bubbles floating out to fill the universe she had drawn.

  "Um, maybe that's how I see the creator of the universe," Venia said with a giggle. Two bright spots of color appeared on her cheeks.

  Jeffrey leaned even closer, reaching out to cover her hand with his own. She met his eyes and for a moment he imagined the electricity the kids would be demonstrating was already present, sparking between them. Forget about going into Denver. If his instincts could be trusted, if his hypothesis was valid, he believed he'd just found a project he was very willing to research.

  "Drawing naughty pictures of a professor isn't only rude, young lady, it is a reason to be sent to the principal's office." He watched as her eyes widened and her throat worked to swallow. When she didn't look away but gave a slight nod of her head, he continued. "I believe our discussion about keeping you on track will take a bit longer than you might have planned. What are you doing after the meeting?"

  "I, um, I guess I'm going to detention," she answered softly.

  "That's a good start," Jeffrey said, giving her hand a squeeze. "Of course, there is no rule that states detention and swats can't be combined is there?"

  He was absolutely thrilled when she shook her head, her eyes sparkling as she batted her long lashes. "No, sir, I guess it all depends upon how severe you believe my naughtiness to be."

  Feeling as if years had slipped from him, tossing him back in time to when play was not only acceptable but expected of the young, he nodded. "Good girl. Please, Miss Varner, stay after class and we'll adjourn to discuss your inattentiveness."

  "Yes, sir. I'll be here."

  He gave her hand a last squeeze before rising to continue the meeting. Catching Charles's eyes, he saw his friend's wide grin before he bent to speak to his wife. When Violet's eyes darted between Venia and him, Jeffrey shrugged and grinned as he walked towards his chair. The others moved towards their places and he saw Dina pause at Venia's chair to bend down and whisper something to her. When Venia shook her head and Dina giggled, turning to shoot him a look, he wondered what exactly had been said between the two. It took effort not to chuckle as he watched Venia turn to a fresh page in her notebook, lift her pencil and look down the length of the table to give him a smile. He felt his lips twitch at her expression—that of a school girl determined to prove she could be attentive. He was far more intrigued to see her wiggle a bit on her chair as if knowing that it was too little too late to save her backside from a few well deserved swats.

  "Anything special I need to know about Mrs. Varner?" Jeffrey asked Jonathon as the meeting broke up.

  "Just that she's a very special woman. She's a sweetheart and has been mentoring several residents since she's been in the Bend."

  "Mentoring? Oh, I thought…"

  "Taken In Hands," Jonathon added with a grin.

  "Ah, good," Jeffrey said, shooting another glance down the table where Venia was talking with several of the committee members.

  Jonathon looked between the two and his grin grew larger. "I probably shouldn't say this and you have to swear not to tell Benjamin, but it is rumored that Venia made use of Vance's services before he and Ettie became an exclusive couple."

  Jeffrey's eyebrow lifted and this time when he looked to the woman, his pulse rate increased. "So, what you are saying is that the lady is not only very sweet and attractive, she recognizes the need to be turned across a knee?"

  "Well, as I said, it is a rumor," Jonathon quipped, "but I can say that she doesn't have anyone to prove that rumor true. She and her husband bought into Corbin's Bend from the onset but, unfortunately, Greg passed away before moving here. Venia chose to make her home amongst others who live the lifestyle so I'd say you might be just the one to have her know her choice was a good one."

  "Thanks, Jonathon, I'll keep that in mind." Jeffrey walked towards Venia as people began to leave. The meeting had gone for another hour but he felt most items had been discussed and that he'd only need to be available for advice on some of the more involved projects. He was looking forward to meeting Miranda, the young woman who was working with the mice. It was obvious that science intrigued her. However, until then, he was more captivated with working with Venia. Charles gave him a thumbs up as he and Violet left, evidently approving the way the meeting had gone. Jeffrey shook Brandon's hand when he entered to pick up Dina.

  "Your girl is quite the little sneak," he teased as they watched Dina gather her things.

  "What has she done now?" Brandon asked, his eyes fixing on his love as she shoved papers back into her file.

  "I believe she is trying her hand at a bit of match-making."

  Brandon saw Dina giving Venia a hug, the two women laughing as they looked towards the two men. "Ah, I see. Well, you'll have to tell me how it goes. Venia is a great lady but, of course, if you find it necessary that I give Dina a lesson in meddling, just let me know."

  Jeffrey laughed and shook his head as that had not been his intention. "No, I don't think that will be necessary." At Brandon's dejected look, he slapped the younger man on the back. "If it works out like I hope, Dina will deserve a far more pleasant reward."

  "That'll work," Brandon agreed and slipped his arm around Dina's waist when she joined him.

  "What will work?" Dina asked, her gaze flipping between the two. "What have you two been discussing and why is my skin crawling?"

  The men laughed but neither offered an answer. They were men who liked, no—make that loved—to know just a look or a lifted eyebrow could have such an effect on their women. Dina gave a short yelp as Brandon's hand met the seat of her jeans.

  "You probably don't have a thing to worry about, beauty," he said as he buzzed her cheek with a kiss. "Let's just say, the judging hasn't been completed."

  Jeffrey chuckled at the look on her face and shrugged. "Remember, we still need to come up with some demos for the fair, Dina. We can get together and discuss them later. If you'll excuse me, I believe I need to be discussing some mysterious hypotheticals with a certain someone."

  As the couple left, leaving only he and Venia in the room, Jeffrey wasted no time in approaching her. "While it would be great if we could sneak into one of the schools and make use of their offices, I don't suppose it would be appropriate."

  "No, I suppose not though I've always wanted to see what a principal's office looked like."

  "You've never been sent to the office?" he asked, his eyebrow lifting.

  "No, I was far too scared," Venia admitted. "Back in my day, a trip to the office meant anything doled out would be doubled when I got home. Believe me, the m
ost I ever got was standing in the hall for talking, writing sentences on the blackboard before almost choking to death slapping the erasers together, or suffering through writing long essays on the importance of paying attention."

  "Then it's a good thing I've actually been in one," Jeffrey said as he walked with her towards the exit. "Shall I follow you to your house or would you prefer to follow me to my office?"

  His hope that she wasn't going to pull back was answered as she looked up at him with a smile. "I'll leave that up to you. I actually walked over tonight but don't live far. What street do you live on?"

  Jeffrey had never been happier to give his address. "I have a house on the northeast side." He took her hand and bent a little closer. "It's on Paddlebrook Way." The widening of her eyes and her indrawn breath captivated him.

  "Oh, um, I suppose I can find it."

  "No supposition needed, young lady. I'll be more than happy to give you a personal escort. After all, we wouldn't want you to lose your way as this will be your first time, now would we?"

  Her cheeks flushed and she nodded. It was his fervent hope that it would not be her last.

  Chapter 6

  Venia hoped her face wasn't as red as she believed as she climbed into the Tahoe. Though grateful for the running boards, she was more aware of the fact that Jeffrey was getting a view of her large butt since she couldn't sit down gracefully and swing her legs inside. He waited until she settled onto the seat and clicked her seatbelt into place before shutting her door. A quick thought of lowering the visor to check her heated face disappeared as the driver's side opened and his long legs allowed him to easily take his own seat.

  Ever since he'd approached her at the break, she had been struggling not to appear like a tongue-tied teenager. While she was thrilled to discover his earlier curtness had not been the dismissal she'd assumed, she was a bit surprised to find his attention focused on her. Their short conversation had been one filled with a bit of teasing and rather a lot of thinly veiled innuendoes. Catching herself squirming, she froze and felt her face grow even hotter. Get a grip for Pete's sake, he's going to think you want to jump him the moment you get to his house! Shooting him a quick glance, she bit her lip in order not to giggle. Forget that tongue-tied teen, she needed to calm down and become the very mature adult she was.