Page 1 of Irresistible Professor

Chapter One

Bonnie

The morning sunlight crept through the blinds, casting a golden glow over the room as I stirred awake. A flutter of excitement danced through me, mingling with the lingering remnants of dreams where Jonathan and I exchanged vows beneath an archway of roses. Today wasn't just another step toward that idyllic future—it was a leap. With a contented sigh, I rolled over, lightly planting a kiss on Jonathan’s cheek as he continued to sleep, and slipped out of bed, my bare feet landing on the cool hardwood floor.

I glanced at the clock. It was early, but I had no intention of wasting a single moment. Today marked not only the beginning of my work study arrangement but also the first tangible step towards my MBA—a goal I held close to my heart, despite Jonathan's dismissive attitude towards it. He saw my aspirations as a whim, a fleeting fancy, but to me, it was the foundation of our future together. I wanted to contribute, to earn, to be more than just a doting wife waiting at home, even if we wouldn’t need more than Jonathan’s income as a computer programmer to keep us afloat after we were married.

A quick shower did little to dampen my enthusiasm as I dressed meticulously for the day. I chose a smart cream blouse paired with a navy pencil skirt, a professional yet feminine look. My dark brown hair fell in soft waves around my shoulders after some coaxing with the curling iron, and I kept my makeup understated—just a coat of mascara and a little lip gloss to finish. Better to keep it simple for a first impression. I was halfway to the kitchen before realizing that I’d forgotten to put on my engagement ring. Jonathan had surprised me by proposing right before Christmas, so it hadn’t been that long. After retrieving it from its little velvet box where I put it each night before sleeping, I slipped it on my finger and retraced my steps through the house.

Breakfast was a blur of whole-grain toast and fresh strawberries, each bite punctuated by checklists running through my mind.

Notebook? Check.

Sack lunch? Check.

Confidence? That one was iffy.

The drive to the university was a mixture of nerves and anticipation. I had heard stories about Dr. Ford Kingston, my soon-to-be boss. His passion for astrophysics was legendary, as was his temper. I rehearsed polite greetings in my head, determined to start on the right foot.

Pulling into the parking lot of the prestigious Illinois institution, I took a deep breath. The grandeur of the old stone buildings, ivy creeping up their sides, filled me with awe. This was it. This was where I would prove my worth, forge my path.

Stepping into the administrative office, the hum of activity enveloped me. Students hustled by, faculty engaged in animated discussions, and the clack of keyboards underscored it all. My heart pounded a fierce rhythm as I approached the receptionist, who directed me towards Dr. Kingston's office with a knowing smile.

"Good luck," she whispered conspiratorially.

"Thanks," I replied, though I wasn't sure if I needed luck or a miracle.

The door to Dr. Kingston's office stood slightly ajar. I hesitated, smoothing down my skirt, steeling myself for the encounter. One last deep breath, and then, plastering a smile on my face, I knocked lightly before pushing the door open.

"Dr. Kingston?" My voice was steady, betraying none of my inner turmoil.

As I stepped forward, I caught sight of him, his close-cropped silver hair gleaming, blue eyes fixed intensely on a stack of papers. For a moment, I was caught off-guard by his looks—despite the distinguished air, there was an impish quality about him that reminded me of a little boy much too smart and cute for his own good. But there was no time to dwell on how attractive he was; I was here for a purpose.

"Ah, you must be Ms. Kelly," said my new boss without looking up, his voice tinged with impatience. "Come in."

“Yes, thank you. And please call me Bonnie,” I said as I stepped into the lion's den, trying to look as unassuming and professional as I could manage. My fingers gripped the strap of my shoulder bag tightly, a silent anchor in an ocean of nerves as I waited for direction.

Still without looking up from his papers, Dr. Kingston reached into one of his desk drawers and drew out a leather-bound checkbook, passing it across the table to me.

“Very well, Bonnie. I’m Ford.” He tapped the blue ledger with his forefinger and sighed. “Your first assignment is to balance my checkbook. I have a doctorate in theoretical physics, and I still can’t get the damn thing to come out even.”

And just like that, the next chapter of my life began…

***

"Mr. Doyle!" I heard Dr. Kingston's voice thunder from across the room before entering his office the following morning and catching a glimpse of the man.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" The voice of a young man in his late teens or early twenties trembled. I guessed he was one of Dr. Kingston’s students if the overstuffed backpack slung over his shoulders, probably weighing more than he did, was any indication. He was shifting his weight from foot to foot and biting his lower lip nervously.

"Yes, indeed," Ford said definitively.

I cleared my throat, hoping to announce my presence without startling either of them. It was that or else wait outside in the hall for who knows how long until they finished their conversation, and that would mean risking my boss thinking I’d been late on my second day of work.

Ford whirled around at the sound, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine, and for a moment, the intensity of his gaze seemed to penetrate right through me. There was a flicker of something in his expression, but I couldn’t tell if it meant that he was pleased by my sudden appearance or just the opposite.

"Ah, Bonnie. There you are. Good morning." His words were clipped, businesslike, revealing nothing. “You’re just in time to hear what I have to say to this young fellow, Stuart Doyle, who is one of my students in Electromagnetism II. Mr. Doyle, this is Bonnie Kelly, my new administrative assistant.”

"Nice to meet you,” I said, giving what I hoped was an encouraging smile to Stuart before setting my things on the workstation I’d been assigned in the corner of the room.

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