Page 4 of Perfect Professor

A spike of irrational jealousy coursed through Adrianna at her friend’s admiring tone. She tamped it down, reminding herself that she had no claim on Mickey. They had shared one night of passion, nothing more.

“He’s an excellent professor and loved by so many students for a reason,” Adrianna said. “It’s wonderful that the English department was able to hire someone so qualified and talented.”

“And handsome,” Tiffany added with a grin. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you making eyes at each other.”

Adrianna’s face flamed, but she forced a scoff. “Don’t be ridiculous. Professor Hanks and I have a purely professional student-teacher relationship now. What happened in the past is just that. A memory.”

Tiffany’s knowing look made it clear she didn’t believe a word of that, but she let the subject drop. Small mercies, Adrianna thought, breathing a sigh of relief. She didn’t know how long she could withstand this torturous semester, but for now, her secret was safe. She only hoped she could keep her traitorous heart in check.

The class ended far too soon. As students began filing out, Adrianna lingered, hoping for a private word with Professor Hanks.

When the last student left, he turned to her with a wary expression. “Miss Rose. How can I help you?”

His formal tone made her bristle. “Please, call me Adrianna.”

One corner of his mouth lifted in a rueful smile. “I think it’s best if we maintain appropriate student-teacher boundaries.”

Adrianna crossed her arms, unable to keep the annoyance from her voice. “So you do recognize me? Why didn’t you tell me you were a professor here?”

A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Well, you never asked about what I did for a living. Honestly, I thought you recognized me from the newspaper announcing my arrival to the college.”

Adrianna had no idea what Professor Hanks looked like and if she did, she liked to think she wouldn’t have gone home with him that night.

“Look, I have no knowledge that you would be in my class. Typically, I don’t see many people in my class over twenty-five. But since we are both here, let’s be clear that nothing like that can happen now.”

“Is that so?” Adrianna strode toward him, emboldened by the heat in his gaze. “Tell me, Professor, do you really expect me to sit in your class all semester, watching you, listening to you, and not think about how good it felt having your hands on me?”

He sucked in a sharp breath as she stopped mere inches from him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating off his body.

For a long moment, he was silent. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough with restraint. “You’re playing with fire, Adrianna.”

A thrill coursed through her at the unspoken warning in his tone. She leaned in closer until her lips brushed his ear. “Then come burn with me.”

3

The musty scent of old books wafted through the air as Adrianna entered the lecture hall. Her gaze settled on Professor Hanks, who was arranging a stack of papers at the front podium with his large, dexterous hands.

A familiar thrill raced through her at the sight of him in his crisp white button-down and charcoal slacks that accentuated his lean figure. How she longed to loosen that top button.

Adrianna shook her head, trying to dispel the inappropriate thoughts, and took a seat in the front row. As the other students filed in, she opened her copy of King Lear and lost herself in the poetic tragedy of Shakespeare’s words.

“Afternoon, class.” Professor Hanks’s smooth baritone shattered her concentration. She glanced up to find his steel-blue eyes peering out from behind a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, gazing at her. Heat crept into her cheeks as she dropped her gaze.

“For your assignment, you’ll be working in pairs to analyze one of Shakespeare’s plays in depth.” A collective groan rose from the students. “Now, now. No complaining. I’ve already assigned partners, so listen up.”

He began listing off names, and Adrianna prayed she wouldn’t be paired with—

“Adrianna Rose and Thomas Anderson.”

Her heart sank. Not him. Anyone but the insufferable flirt who had been hounding her since last week. She risked a glance at Tommy, who winked and shot her a grin that did nothing to ease the dread pooling in her stomach.

Adrianna trudged to the library after class, dragging her feet as she went. The thought of working closely with Tommy for the next few weeks made her stomach churn. Still, she couldn’t deny the thrill that shot through her when Professor Hanks spoke her name, his lips caressing each syllable like a lover’s whisper.

She shook her head again, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand. As much as she dreaded this assignment, she couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing Professor Hanks. She would work with Tommy if she had to—but that didn’t mean she had to enjoy it.

Adrianna spotted Tommy at a table near the back of the library, his feet propped up as he thumbed through a copy of King Lear. With a sigh, she tightened her grip on her book bag and made her way over to him.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he drawled, dropping his feet to the floor as she approached. He stood up and pulled out a chair for her. “Come to work on our little project, I hope?”

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