Roses in June

 

 

Blurb:

Dawn Stannis has little time for anything besides teaching, never mind organizing a careers fayre for the year nines--but by God's grace, she's able to book popular actor, Gabriel Tyler. Score one for Dawn! His Hollywood playboy reputation might be the epitome of everything Dawn resists, but at least her event will be well-attended.

After his father’s unexpected death, Gabriel Tyler becomes the 8th Earl of Elton a lot sooner than he expected. Now, his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, is insisting he give up acting so he can play lord of the manor and produce heirs. Gabriel isn't ready to give up his career or his bachelor status. At least he doesn’t think so until he meets Dawn. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and it soon becomes apparent to Gabe that his heart is in serious danger.

But Dawn isn’t interested, and if he's to have any shot at all, he'll have to convince her that his playboy image is just tabloid fodder. With a career where everything is a façade, can he ever convince Dawn that his intentions are honest and real?

extract:
“Could I speak to Gabriel Tyler, please? This is Dawn Stannis from Headley Cross Secondary School.”
“I’m afraid Lord Tyler isn’t at home at present. I will tell him you called.”
“Thank you. The easiest number to reach me on is 07986 667804.” She looked the phone as she ended the call. Lord Tyler? What on earth have I gotten myself into here?
The school bell rang and she slid her phone into the desk drawer. Her year-nine geography class trooped in, looking as enthusiastic as ever. She waited until they were sat before she stood. “So, who can remember what we were looking at last time?”
Jodie Philips hand shot up. “Rainfall.”
“Right. And what did we learn?” She looked around. “Vianne?”
Vianne Holmes grinned. “We get wet if we go out in it.”
The class laughed.
Dawn smiled. “Other than that.” She put the presentation up and it projected on the screen, pointing out various things as she spoke.
A phone rang. She sighed. The kids knew phones in class were prohibited. “OK, who does that belong to?”
“I think it’s yours, miss. It’s coming from your desk.” Jodie grinned.
Dawn pulled open the drawer and removed her ringing phone to giggles from the entire class.
“We’re gonna have to give you a detention and confiscate your phone, miss. Can a parent come pick it up after school tonight?” Jodie asked.
Dawn fixed her teacher stare on Jodie and the teen squirmed but didn’t comment further.
“Hello?”
“This is Gabriel Tyler calling for Dawn Stannis.” The deep voice was chocolate smooth and vaguely familiar. Maybe she’d heard a voiceover commercial he’d done.
“Speaking. One moment, please.” She looked up. “OK, answer the questions on page fifteen of your textbooks. The diagram on the board should help you with the answers. I’ll be right outside; keep the noise to a minimum.” She left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. “Sorry about that.”
“Did I ring at a bad time?”
“Not at all.”
“How can I help you?”
“I’m organizing a careers fayre next week for the year nines at Headley Cross Secondary, and I was wondering if you’d be able to come and take part. It involves sitting at a table and talking to any kids that come along and stop there to ask about your career, why you do it, what you enjoy about it etcetera.”
There was a brief pause,
“Yes, I’d love to.”
Dawn straightened in shock. That was the last thing she’d been expecting. “I haven’t told you when it is yet.”
“I’ll do it. I can rearrange my schedule if need be.”
“It’s Thursday, June first. The first session is two until five, and the second is six until nine so that parents can attend as well. There’s a buffet meal provided between the two sessions. I’m also hoping to do a preview session during assembly that morning, but I don’t have anyone lined up for that yet.”
“You do now.”
She could almost hear his smile down the phone. “Really? I wasn’t fishing, honestly.”
“I just pulled up my calendar and I’m free all day. I’d love to do it.”
Her heart leapt for joy. She honestly hadn’t thought it’d be that simple. “Thank you; I’ll pop the details in the post for you.”
“Email is probably faster and safer. My addy is gabrieltyler@tyler151.co.uk.”
“I’ll send the details at lunch. Thank you so much, and I’ll see you on the first.” Dawn hung up and went back into class, typing his email into her address book before she forgot it.
“Put your phone away, miss,” Jodie called.
“Who was that, miss? Was it your boyfriend?”
Dawn shook her head. Chance would be a fine thing, but she wasn’t going to tell the kids that. Nor the fact that as much as she’d love a boyfriend, she didn’t have one. “No. It was related to the year nine career’s fayre. I may just have scored the coup of the decade, if not the century.” She paused. “Who’s heard of Gabriel Tyler?”
Every single hand shot up. And now Dawn really did feel like a dinosaur suddenly transported into the twenty-first century.
“He’s an absolute dish, miss,” Jodie informed her.
She grinned. “Well, guess who just agreed to attend?”
Screams of delight filled the room. Dawn gave them fifteen seconds then held up a hand. “But for now, we need to get back to the thrilling subject of rainfall. Swap books with your partners, and we’ll mark them.”