Page 17 of My Forbidden Professor

She swallows, fidgets, and I know I have her attention back when she asks, “Willowbrook? I haven’t heard of that town.”

“Kind of ‘nowhere’ with a population of ‘not many’ in the state of Vermont. Known for its natural beauty, quaint country life and lack of personal space when it comes to the local town gossip,” I say. “Actually I’m not selling it very well. It’s not as bad as that. The local town gossip is a hundred years old and as deaf as a post. The best thing about the town is a little cabin my family owns that we all vacation at every year.”

She holds the burger, almost forgotten, in her hands. She’s definitely forgotten about the students chatting in the corner. And Daniel Adam, whom I know she has an issue with. I make a mental note to do some digging. He doesn’t have the right to make Steph miserable. I’m enjoying seeing the spark of life across her face that’s usually a mask of forced calm.

Another wall she hides behind.

Now though…now I’m captured as her face softens and a dreamy look glosses her eyes. “You have a cabin? I’ve always wanted to vacation in a cabin. With no one around. Just me. And nature.”

“It’s by a lake,” I say, watching excitement flare over her.

“It is?”

Most of my holidays were taken up fishing with my father and brother. Early mornings and late evenings lounging and chatting. “There’s also a pier. The lake is filled with very hungry trout. They’re tastier than this burger.”

“Better than the fries?”

My balls kick into my abdomen at the spark in her eyes. “Much better than the fries.”

But not as good as her. Never as good as her.

Clatter and a loud laugh pull her attention from me to the students. They leave the table and pay for their order at the counter before leaving. Steph shuts her laptop and slides it into her backpack. She’s only eaten half her meal.

“We haven’t finished eating,” I say.

She slides half way down the bench and put the strap of her backpack on her shoulders. She’s leaving. “It’s okay. I’m not really hungry. I should be getting back…’

“I would like to finish outlining the business scope.” It’s late but I can’t let her go. She hesitates and I push forward.

“If we get this last bit sorted, we can start fleshing out a budget for staffing. We can’t run a business without employees.” I smile and pretend I’m okay with her leaving. I pick up my cell and open my calendar app. “If you’re tired that’s okay but the next two days are heavy with classes for me. I have private student sessions booked, as well as staff meetings. We could get back together in five, maybe six days’ time?”

It will be too long for her. She won’t want to stop. It’s not in her nature. My cock jerks when she gnaws her bottom lip between her white teeth. “Six days?”

I keep my expression calm and sip my drink. “That would be the earliest.”

“The café closes at midnight,” she says.

“We’ll go to the library,” I say. My entire focus is on her next words. On the words I’ll say to tap her over the edge.

“We won’t be able to get in at this hour,” she says.

“I have a staff pass. I can go there whenever I need to,” I say.

Her eyes ping from the table, to the counter behind me, to the tired waitress who wants to go home. I resist the urge to fidget when those coffee eyes return to me.

Please don’t find me wanting.

I can barely contain myself when her gaze clears and I know she’s made her decision. “Okay.”

Chapter Eight

Steph

Why did I say yes? Why didn’t I bolt out of that café and put a serious amount of space between us?

Because I couldn’t. I didn’t want to.

And now, walking next to Jacob is some kind of serious torture.

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