Devon was telling Charlie something that one of the dogs had done the previous night and Charlie was laughing as they entered the classroom which only had a couple dozen students. The stood talking at the side of the room waiting for James to arrive, and Charlie noticed that Devon was getting admiring glances from some of the males in the room. Her thick auburn hair was pulled up on the sides and fell in waves past her shoulders and her tall lithe figure was clad in a pencil skirt and light pink sleeveless blouse. Her heels made her legs look like they went on forever. Charlie looked like her exact opposite, wearing a baby blue sundress with a matching sweater, flat sandals, and her hair tucked behind her ears. Devon shouted high class which was the direct opposite of Charlie's wholesome girl next door look.

After a few moments James walked in with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, we got caught up talking to another professor in the hall." The three of them talked for a moment and Charlie was wondering what the holdup was when the door to the classroom opened.

She immediately saw Devon tense and Charlie looked right over her shoulder into a pair of mossy green eyes. Eyes that did not mask their surprise quick enough.

It was evident that he hadn't planned to see her either. They stared at each other for a moment. Charlie felt her heart rate respond to him. He had shaved again and he must be back to his exercise routine because his t-shirt was just a little too tight.

She wanted to jump into his arms right there.

His eyes shifted to Devon and Charlie followed his gaze.

Devon looked from on to the other, her chin held high.

"Oh, Charlotte I'm sorry, this is Dr. Kellan Hilliard. He is teaching here starting next month and I am showing him the ropes. Kellan this is Charlotte Temple my guest speaker today and I think you know Devon."

"Devon." His voice was deadly calm as he looked back at Charlie. "I know Ms. Temple. She was a student of mine a few years ago."

Charlie could be formal too. "Dr. Hilliard." It had been so long since she had called him that in a classroom setting it jolted her.

"Small world," James said shaking his head.

"Not really, I introduced Devon to Ms. Temple and I take it Devon introduced you to her."

"Dr. Hilliard, I saved you a seat," A pretty blond coed said from behind them.

"Thank you Jessica, but I think I will sit with my friends this afternoon."

Either James was oblivious to the tension or he was pretending to be as he moved to the front of the classroom. Kellan motioned for Devon to proceed him to a seat and he put his hand under Charlie's elbow making sure she followed her. The three of them sat off to one side of the room, Kellan filling the seat on the end with his massive frame. Charlie clenched her jaw. She wanted to climb on top of him, touch him, and kiss him.

His arm brushed hers and she jumped.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, she thought.

She looked up at him and his gaze fell to her lips as if he could hear her silent plea.

"Devon, do you want to explain the situation?"

"No."

"Charlie?"

She remained silent, watching James.

"So how was last night's date?" Devon leaned over and asked Charlie.

Charlie shot her a look that she wished would kill her. "It was fine," she muttered.

"Wasn't this your fifth?"

"It's been a few Devon. What's your point?" she hissed.

"Just making conversation."

Just making trouble Charlie thought, remaining silent.

"...Charlotte Temple." James's voice called her attention back to him and away from Kellan.

Charlie and Kellan both rose. Kellan rose to let her pass him. She faced him as she slid past, her whole body brushing against his as she moved towards the aisle. It was as if that moment stood still for both of them as all of the heat from his body burned hers.

Devon moved over and sat next to Kellan who sat down without looking at Charlie and whispered something in Devon's ear which made her flinch.

Charlie moved to the front of the class and looked over the students. Some of them had confused expressions on their faces. "Some of you thought that Dr. McIntire was the one who would be talking to you today."

She gave a self-effacing grin and looked over at Devon. "She does look more the part of the professional, doesn't she? How many of you thought that she was the one who would be getting up here today? Go ahead raise your hands." More than half of the class raised their hands.

"That's how it is with women. They can present a face that is totally different from reality and most people have no clue they're being conned. It's hard guy's isn't it? You never really know what your getting do you?"

There was a laugh that rippled through the class room. "But it can be the same for women. Many women go out with a guy who appears to be considerate, nice, and polite but that's not what they get. There is an example that I was given once about the difference between the sexes and how they view sex. If a woman, most women, walked into her house and found a naked man in her bed she would most likely run screaming from the room, but if most men walked into their house and found a naked women in his bed he would think he had won the lottery. Now I know that is an over simplification, what if the man is drop dead gorgeous or the woman is less than attractive, but for the most part there is truth in that statement."

Charlie spent the next forty-five minutes discussing the way the sexes viewed sex, rape, causes and repercussions of rape. It was now or never, she was to the part of her talk where she had to make the choice to share or not.

Charlie had done her best to avoid Kellan and Devon's gazes. Kellan's gaze especially. She would not be able to speak so readily on the subject if she had not known him and this was her chance to thank him and let him know that he had helped her to heal.

"There are signs you can look for in victims of rape but you can never know for sure who is a victim of rape unless they choose to share." Charlie looked right at Kellan. "I, myself am a victim of rape, twice. It was someone in my home. A person I had no choice but to have daily contact with both before and after the rapes." There was silence in the class as she moved her eyes from Kellan to Devon and then to the other students.

"What did you do? Did you report it? How did you get over it?" Other questions were thrown out at her and she raised her hand to stop them.

"First, I didn't get over it. One never does, they learn to live with it. But you do find patient people who are willing to listen without pity or judgment and help you work through it. For me that person was Dr. Hilliard." All eyes in the class turned to Kellan, surprised. "He was able to see through the defenses I had built around myself and he patiently picked away at all of my walls until they fell. There were a few other catalysts, but if he had not been there at the right time I would not have been able to heal. My mother also helped me by admitting that it had happened. When we cried together over it years later, I finally felt that I had been heard and believed. There is nothing worse than being a victim of rape and having no one believe you. I never had to tell Dr. Hilliard I was raped, he knew, and that made it easier to tell my story and every time I share it I heal a little bit more because I am no longer the victim and I have become the victor. I survived rape."

"What happened to the man who raped you?" one girl shouted from the back of the class.

"For a long time nothing. I never reported it. Later I learned that he had been accused of rape by someone else but it hadn't stuck. From what I understand he is now paying for what he has done, not only to me, but to others."

"And I think that is a good place to stop. Charlotte is available if anyone would like to discuss this further. Her business cards are up here on the table." James put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze while the class clapped.

"I didn't know you knew Kellan so well?" He looked down at her.

Charlie could only smile. "I didn't even know you knew him."

James looked down at her his gaze assessing. After a moment he nodded and gave her a squeeze. "You should teach. You would make an excellent teacher," James said as Devon joined them.

"Yes, she would." Devon said, giving her a hug.

Kellan was talking to a student and the two moved out into the hallway, Kellan nodding to her as he passed.

Charlie's first instinct was that he was upset at her drawing attention to him but she didn't think that was it.

"He's pissed," Devon sighed.

"Did you think he wouldn't be?" Charlie shook her head.

"Thanks Charlie." James gave her a quick kiss just as Kellan reentered the room. "But I think I'm well out of this." He gathered his things and giving Kellan a mock salute, left the room.

"Whatever you do don't tell him you work with me. I'm already on thin ice."

"What are we, thirteen years old?" Charlie asked angry all of the sudden. Why, what was the purpose of hiding anything.

Her eyes meet Kellan's and she realized that she was as much to blame as Devon. Devon had wanted to tell everyone weeks ago but Charlie had begged her not to.

"I'm sorry Devon. I'm just as much to blame as you are that was uncalled for."

Devon sighed wearily. "I'll wait outside for you."

After she had left Charlie stood still, looking at Kellan across the room.

"How are the dogs?" she asked, trying to break the silence.

"Fat and lazy."

Charlie couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips at the thought of them.

"How long have you been in San Diego?" he asked.

"About eighteen months."

"That long?" he sounded surprised.

Charlie nodded as he moved closer. "You're not angry about what I said here today?"

"No, not about that." He crossed his arms, his muscles flexing.

She suddenly had an image of him with Kayla and she felt sick. She closed her eyes and cleared her throat. When she opened them he was almost touching her he was so close and she jumped not expecting it.

"How are you doing?" she asked stepping back.

"Better. Are you dating Maxwell?"

"Yes." She said automatically. Just like you're dating Kayla she wanted to add but bit her lip to keep from saying it.

"I've warned you about biting that lip Charlie."

"I have to go." She turned to leave but before she could get three steps he caught her arm stopping her.

"I never said thank you."

"Neither did I, so were even." She held as still as possible.

"You talked to your mother, worked things out?" his thumb was rubbing her wrist. He had to be able to feel the racing of her heart.

"Yes, she and I are good now. You know she really loved my father I was shocked at that. She called him the love of her life."

Kellan was silent not saying anything while Charlie tried to figure out why she had said it.

"I get it Kellan, I really do. When I moved here I had no idea that you would be stationed here." She burst out no longer able to take his silence or his touch. "You made it clear on two occasions that you wanted nothing permanent so don't worry I'll stay clear of your life."

"You'll probably get a few interested phone calls. I was watching some of the students and a few showed signs of needing to talk." He completely changed the subject.

"I wish to God I could read people like you can." Then she might be able to read him

He released her arm nodding.

Please don't say goodbye, she thought, just don't say those words. They would be so final.

"Tell Devon I'll see her later." It sounded like a threat more than a promise.

Charlie nodded as she made for the exit.

Devon didn't ask any questions but there was a tense silence all the way back to the office.