Free Legacy of Love by Donna Hill Page A

stories, the myths, the dreams, the hopes and fears all warred inside their heads for attention.
    â€œI’m here with my class,” Jackson finally said.
    â€œOh.” Zoe snapped to attention. “Class?”
    â€œYes, I’m a professor at Clarke-Atlanta.”
    â€œReally? What do you teach?”
    â€œArt history, mainly.”
    â€œI work here. I’m the head curator for the African History Museum.”
    He laughed, thinking of all the times he’d walked past the museum and she’d been there all along engrossed in the very thing he loved—history. A part of him seemed to know that it couldn’t have been any other way and couldn’t have happened at any time other than now. Was it possible that she was even more beautiful than he remembered from their brief encounter?
    She watched the light dance in his eyes and the way the curves around his luscious lips deepened when he smiled revealing beautiful, even teeth. She wanted to stroke the strong jaw and run her finger along the line of his brow, touch the small scar there and ask him how it happened. But she knew. Somehow she knew that it happened when he was about twelve and he’d been riding his bike down a hill and he hit a rock and went flying. She also knew that one day he would tell her all about it.
    â€œHave you seen the exhibit yet?” she managed to ask.
    â€œNo. That’s what we were on our way to do when…we got separated.” He squeezed Shay a bit tighter against him.
    â€œI’d be happy to show you.”
    â€œI’d like that.”
    They walked side by side, intermittently stealing glances and sharing smiles of amazement at each other. And it felt perfect, natural, as if walking together was something that they’d always done.
    â€œZoe…” He loved the way her name rolled off his tongue, and vibrated down to his center.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œHave you ever met someone for the first time but felt that you’ve known them all your life?”
    Zoe stopped walking and gazed up at him. “Yes.” Her eyes moved in increments across his face and her polished lips moved into a smile that expressed more than any words ever could. Coming from anyone else she would have dismissed it as a come on line, but not Jackson Treme. He wasn’t like other men. He was her destiny.
    Jackson had the urgent need to touch her to discover if her skin was a silky as it appeared. He wanted to take her in his arms and rest his head against her neck and inhale her scent, mold her against his body. He wanted to let go of the dream and capture reality. He wanted to know everything about her, listen to her tell him about her life, which he had been led to become a part of. All that would come in time. Of that he was certain.
    â€œThere you are.” Mike approached, short-circuiting the electricity that popped between them. “I’ve been looking all over. I called you on the two-way.”
    â€œOh, I left it in the office.”
    Mike looked at Jackson and realizing that they were together his expression stiffened.
    â€œMike, this is Jackson Treme. Mr. Treme, Mike Williams, assistant curator.”
    Jackson shifted Shay in his arms and stuck out his hand. “Pleasure.”
    â€œEnjoying the exhibit?”
    â€œWe were actually heading into the main attraction.”
    Mike peered around Jackson’s shoulder. “Looks like your little girl is out for the count.” He chuckled.
    â€œNo wonder she got so heavy.” He stroked her back. “My niece.”
    Mike snapped his fingers. “You’re Uncle Jack!”
    â€œGuilty.”
    â€œYeah, gotta be careful with kids. They can get away from you.” Mike turned his full attention on Zoe. “The chairman is here. He wanted to speak to you.”
    Zoe’s eyes widened. “Chairman Lang? Where is he?”
    â€œOn the first floor in the lounge.”
    She turned to Jackson. “It was