The next day in Hilliard's class they had a lively discussion between the military brats and the nonmilitary brats. The topic was about exclusion and how most military brats, had at one time or another, felt total exclusion.

"Charlie, what's your take on this?" Hilliard singled her out from the rest.

"Every situation is different, just as every personality is different. I have met kids who dreaded a new move and then I've met those who loved it because it was a chance for them to reinvent themselves. From a non-military perspective, a new kid to school is exciting, and I personally always enjoyed meeting them." Her comment started off stories that began with, well my first time at a new school....

The conversation eventually moved to kids who had moved to new schools who were not in the military and those differences when Hilliard pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at it.

"O.K. class that's all for today. I know the syllabus said that we would have class Thursday but we will move that date to the following Thursday. I expect you all to work on your research and papers and I want an update email by Tuesday of next week." The class started emptying as he packed up his stuff. He turned to Charlie and motioned for her to wait.

Having little choice she did as he wanted, and followed him out the door and up the stairs to his office. Once there he opened up his computer and began writing what she guessed was an email.

"You still have the key to my house?"

Charlie blinked in surprise. She did, she had completely forgotten about it. She reached into the front pocket of her bag and pulled it out holding it towards him.

"Can you watch the dogs? I had it arranged for next week but that won't work."

Charlie closed her hand over the key and nodded. She was actually glad he had asked. Maybe that was why she had subconsciously hung on to the key.

"Thanks," he said distracted. He picked up his phone and looked at the screen frowning, and Charlie left without a word as she wondered what part of the globe he was off to.

*******

That evening as she entered the backdoor of his house she felt as if she was home again. It was a wonderful feeling to be greeted by the dogs who kissed her and followed her as she put her stuff in the bedroom.

She noticed that the bed was unmade so she stripped it and put the sheets in the laundry before she went through the fridge for dinner. There was not a lot there and she would have to do some shopping for the week.

She turned on the T.V. and started to cook dinner; the dogs sticking close to her side the entire night. Feeling happy and relaxed she got to work on her class projects.

*******

Wednesday night or Thursday morning of the following week, depending on how you looked at it, Kellan entered the house and found a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the counter. He could really get used to the treat thing. He opened the fridge and poured himself a glass of milk and ate half a dozen cookies. When he finished he moved down the hall and into his bedroom to find Charlie asleep. The evening was warm and she had thrown the covers off revealing her long legs. She was curled on her side and her lips were partly opened.

Not for the first time he wondered what had happened to her to make her hide her beauty and to fear attraction. He thought he had found the answer first with her stepfather and then when she said that she had lived in student housing since the age of fifteen. But he wasn't so sure.

He hated to wake her but he was not about to sleep on couch after the week he had. He opened his dresser drawer and pulled out some pajama bottoms closing it as loudly as he could. Nothing, if anything she gave a little snore and cuddled more deeply into his bed.

Sighing, he moved down the hall and into the bathroom. Not bothering to turn on the light he bathed brushed his teeth then returned to the bedroom. She had rolled onto her back but was still out cold. He looked at the clock and it read 3 am. He couldn't, in good conscience, wake her up and send her on her way.

He moved to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers back. Nothing. He got into bed and gave a couple of bounces, still nothing. Shrugging he laid down and pulled the covers over himself. He was getting old. In another time and place he would have awakened her with a kiss.

At the thought of kissing Charlie his heart jumped. Maybe he should try that sometime. When she's not your student a little voice warned.

He remembered how she had felt when he had held her against him. It was the last thought he had as sleep claimed him.

When Charlie woke the first thing she felt was a warm body pressed against her. Her first thought was that it was one of the dogs but as she rose and looked over her shoulder she saw Hilliard. His face was so close she could see his thick eyelashes as they rested against his tan cheeks.

She quickly jumped out of bed and sprang across the room.

Hilliard woke up, instantly alert, looking for the cause of alarm.

When he saw her on the other side of the room he blinked then looked over at the clock groaning when he saw that it was only six am. He flopped back down on the bed and pulled the pillow she had been using over his face to block the light. "Another hour would have been nice."

"What are you doing here?"

Realizing that he was not going to get to go back to sleep he sat up. "Well, I was sleeping."

Charlie couldn't help her eyes as they wandered down his body. At least he was wearing pajama bottoms.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"It was 3 am and I did try, but you were out cold."

"Then why didn't you sleep on the couch?"

"Nope, I was tired, I have been to hell and back this past week, I was not about to sleep on an uncomfortable couch when I have a perfectly comfy bed. Even if you are a bit of a bed hog."

"I am not." Was that all she could think to say, and how would she know, she had never shared a bed in her life.

"Why are you freaking out?" He yawned and scratched his chest.

"Because it's not right. You are my teacher. I should not be sleeping with you." Her color rose as soon as the words left her mouth. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do." He grinned, suddenly enjoying himself. "You're a prude Charlie, and for the record, I was too exhausted to do anything but sleep last night. Your virtue was safe."

Charlie crossed her arms in a defensive gesture, not realizing that it pushed her breasts up and against an already thin top.

"Although if you keep doing that," he motioned towards her arms, "it might not be."

Charlie looked down and let out a choked sound. Not at all happy, she rushed over to her bag and grabbed some clothes.

"Why are there no locks on your doors?" she demanded. There should be locks, she wanted to take a shower but after last time there was no way she was about to risk it. "Is that a military thing?" she muttered as she gathered her things.

"When I moved in there were no locks. I live alone so it seems pointless to have them, and why on earth would you think it was a military thing?"

"Never mind," she said as she moved towards the door.

"Take a shower Charlie. I promise, no matter how loud you scream, I will not enter." He held up his hand as if in a sacred oath.

She looked at him to see if he was joking. When she met his mossy green eyes she saw nothing but sincerity and she nodded. "Thank you, I think I will."

She hurried down the hallway and closed the bathroom door behind her leaning against it.

What had just happened? When he had pointed out what she had been doing with her arms she should have been repulsed, but instead she was shy and a little bit thrilled that he was interested. This man had seen her naked and slept in the same bed with her, and he hadn't tried to hurt her or push himself on her. In fact, he had only ever been a gentleman. He had covered her with a towel, and then he had pointed out what she was doing with her arms. Most guys would not have said anything and just enjoyed the show.

She started the water and stripped, looking at herself in the mirror. She supposed she had a decent body. She had never really paid attention to it, other than to hide it from view. She was young and had a flat tummy, full breasts and curvy hips. Her long brown hair fell to the middle of her back and was thick and shiny, and her brown eyes were fringed by dark lashes. With her dark hair one would think that she would have a darker skin tone but she was actually very pale with a pink skin tone.

Shaking her head she realized she was starting to look at herself differently. She was noticing that she was finally a women not a girl. She jumped under the hot spray wondering what it would be like to kiss Hilliard. She had never really been kissed and never wanted to, but she'd bet money that he was a very good kisser.

"Stop it," she scolded herself. He was her teacher. She should not be thinking about him like that. Pushing all thoughts, but what she had planned for the day out of her mind, she finished her shower and got dressed.

After she had packed her backpack she walked to the kitchen to see Hilliard still wearing only his pajama bottoms with the phone pressed to his ear and buttering a piece of toast. He pushed a plate with more toast on it towards her then motioned to the coffee on the counter behind him and handed her his cup.

Charlie grabbed herself a cup and refilled his, passing on the toast.

After he hung up the phone he looked over at her. "Don't you eat breakfast?"

"No, not really. It's a hard thing to do when you're in student housing. The best option is the cafeteria on campus and there are entirely too many people there in the morning. It gives me indigestion."

Hilliard laughed out loud.

It was the first time she had ever heard him laugh and she felt a little thrill that she had been the one to make him laugh.

"Yes, I can see that."

Charlie pushed his key towards him.

"Would you mind keeping it in case I need help again?"

Charlie nodded her head as she pocketed it.

They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes and Charlie was feeling relaxed as she watched the bird in the tree outside the window.

"Why did you ask if not having locks on the doors was a military thing?"

Charlie shrugged. "My stepfather's house didn't have locks on the doors either." Not wishing to go into detail she changed the subject.

"I'm having some trouble finding people to talk to for my research. It seems there are not as many people out there who married into a military family as I thought."

"You could always watch Major Dad," Hilliard said taking a bite of his toast.

This time it was Charlie's turn to laugh. "I don't know about that. My professor is tough I don't think that he would consider that a credible source." She looked over at him and met his eyes wanting to share the joke, but he was staring at her as if he had never seen her before. He looked from her eyes to her smiling lips.

Charlie couldn't help but think about kissing him and she bit her lip as the atmosphere changed.

"I would not bite that lip Charlie. That is very much an invitation."

His eyes moved back up to hers but her gaze had moved down to his lips.

She had never touched a man before. What would he do if she touched him right now?

"You could try military men who married non-military women. It wouldn't be quite the same thing but it might be a start." He changed the subject before draining his cup.

"Yes." She cleared her throat placing her still half full cup in the sink. "But I don't know that many military."

"I'll give you one of my teammate's wife's number. You'll like talking with Devon, she's also a psychologist."

"Thanks that would be helpful." She moved to pick up her bag. "I'll see you in class."

He nodded reaching for another piece of toast. "Thanks for the cookies."

She nodded as she closed the door behind her.

She told herself she was upset because the dogs hadn't said goodbye to her. They had been staring at Hilliard's toast. It had nothing to do with the fact that her day lay before her lonely and boring, or that she had to go back to her tiny little room and listen to the other students in the rooms to either side of her and not the birds in the trees or the snoring of two bulldogs.

Instead of going back to her room she went to the library. At least it would be quiet there until it was time for her classes.