Page 4 of Hot Professor (Tainted Professors)

“There’s another reason I called you in today.”He pauses as if weighing his words. “I understand you’ve been assigned a new TA.”

“Yes, sir. A freshman, I believe, but a few years older than most with some work experience.”Honestly, I only scanned through the applicants and picked out a few that looked promising. I don’t even remember looking at names. I was too busy compiling the components of my tenure dossier to review the applications closely. I selected my preferred option and handed it over to the office staff to finalize.

Teaching Assistants can be a professor’s best friend. I’ve avoided them in the past, but with my current workload, I submitted a request this year to obtain one, hoping they could take some of the more administrative tasks off my plate. A TAmeans new responsibilities and another plate to juggle, but I can handle it. Especially if they’re as great as their resume suggests.

But an edge to his statement tells me there’s more. What did I miss?

“Do you know the TA’s name?”

I wince. “Quite honestly, sir, I don’t remember. I’ve been very busy with…”

“Her name is Ivy Kendrick.”

Oh.I see where this is going now.

“I almost vetoed the request. But Ms. Kendrick seems to be the best qualified for what you need. And I’m hoping less, shall we say, swayed by your charm.”

“Okay.”I draw the word out, unsure what to say to that statement. But I’m fairly positive he just insulted me, or her, maybe both of us.

“I expect you to maintain a level of utmost professionalism at all times. We can’t afford another... incident.”

I start shaking my head.

“I need some assurance it won’t happen again.”

“Of course.”My reply comes out too quickly. I clear my throat, my face and tone sober as I try again. “I understand, Dean Martens.”

“Good.”He leans back, the lines on his forehead smoothing slightly now that the awkward part of the conversation,for him, is over. “She’s bright, promising. Don’t make a fool out of her—or yourself.”

Or him or the school.

Message received.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,”I assure him, though a part of me wonders how challenging this new arrangement might be given he feels the need to caution and discreetly threaten me.

“Okay then.”The dean stands, signaling the end of our meeting. “That’ll be all.”

“Thank you, sir.”I rise to my feet, eager to escape the confines of his office.

As I walk out, the words ‘bright’and ‘promising’echo in my head. Is she truly eager to learn? Or is this merely a job to her?Ivy is a pretty name, but I struggle to recall the specifics of her application.

But it doesn’t matter because I can’t risk another lapse in judgment, no matter how sweet the temptation.

Chapter 3

Ivy

Stepping into the lecture hall feels like diving headfirst into a new dimension—one where the air crackles with energy, and excitement and anxiety seep from the pores of every student. Or maybe that’s just me, because as I glance around the assembly of young adults already gathered, not one of them has their attention trained on the front of the room. They’re either chatting with the people around them or have their noses buried in their phones, earbuds tightly inserted.

My heart beats rapidly as I turn to the front of the room and the man Mrs. Brookes cautioned me about. While there’s a large whiteboard pushed off to the side, he’s at the chalkboard, his back to me. Walking toward him, I let my gaze track up and down his body. He’s a large man, a few inches over six feet, broad in the shoulders, thinner at the waist, though it’s hard to tell for sure given the black leather bomber-style jacket he’s wearing. His dark hair is on the shorter side with some wave to it, though it’s a little longer in the back than what’s on top.

I stroll up to him, thinking it would be a good idea to introduce myself before the class starts and ask if I should take any extra notes or anything.

“Excuse me, Professor Ashe?” My voice barely rises above the hum of arriving students, but he hears me nonetheless and turns around.

Oh good God—my insides do this weird, fluttery nosedive thing straight down to my core.

He is definitely cute.

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