Page 13 of Irresistible Professor

As we climbed higher, the sounds of campus life faded away, replaced by the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. The hillside overlooked a sprawling green meadow dotted with early spring flowers—yellow daffodils and purple crocuses peeking through the grass. Beyond the meadow, the city stretched out in a haze of soft pastels, the buildings gleaming under the bright sun.

“This looks like the perfect spot,” Ford said, gesturing to a small clearing beneath a large oak tree. The tree's branches provided a patchwork of shade and sunlight, and I nodded in agreement, feeling grateful for the natural beauty surrounding us. We settled down, the distance between us filled with a tension that hummed like an electrical current between two poles. Unwrapping my sandwich, I peeked over at Ford's choice—an Italian sub, brimming with salami, pepperoni, and a peppering of olives that made my mouth water by proxy. I had opted for something simpler, turkey and Swiss on rye, but the first bite tasted like decadence when paired with the stolen glances I threw his way.

"Good?" Ford inquired, catching me mid-gaze.

"Delicious," I murmured, though the flavor on my tongue felt bland compared to the complexity of my feelings. The warmth of Ford’s eyes on me left my skin tingling and my heart racing as always. It was foolish to feel this way, dangerous even, but how could I not? It was unsettling, this acute awareness I had of him, the way his presence seemed to fill the space around me. I took another bite of my sandwich, hoping the act of eating would distract me from the tumult of emotions swirling inside.

“I’ve always liked this spot,” Ford said between bites, his gaze sweeping over the landscape. “It’s peaceful, away from the bustle of everything.”

“It’s beautiful,” I agreed, allowing myself a moment to simply enjoy the view. The sunlight played on the leaves above, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and we ate in silence for a few moments.

"Bonnie," Ford said after swallowing a drink from his can of pop, "you're quiet today."

"Am I?" I asked, fiddling with my napkin. The encounter with Greer at the coffee shop had been weighing on me, and I knew I couldn’t keep it from Ford any longer.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” I began, my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. “Greer asked to meet with me not long ago.”

Ford paused, his sandwich halfway to his mouth. “What did she want?” he asked, his brow furrowing.

“She wanted to talk about you,” I admitted, setting my sandwich down and clasping my hands together. “She asked me to meet her at a cafe, and demanded to know if you were seeing anyone. She said she wanted you back, that your breakup was all a misunderstanding.”

"Ah." Ford leaned back on his hands, looking out over the campus with narrowed eyes. "I'm sorry she involved you in this mess. That wasn't fair."

"Your past is your own, Ford, but secrecy isn't how I operate, and I didn't want…" I cut myself off, realizing I was rambling.

“Thank you, Bonnie," Ford said sincerely, turning those piercing blue eyes back to me. "For being upfront. I appreciate it more than you know."

"Greer seems like she's from a different world," I commented, reaching for my orange.

He chuckled dryly. "That's one way to put it. She was born into money, never had to worry about much except which silver spoon to use."

"Did that bother you?" I asked tentatively.

"Bother me? Nah." Ford shook his head. "Not really. What bothered me was when she suggested her father could just... finance our life together. As if I'd marry into a bank account rather than a partnership."

"Greer offered her family's money?" The idea felt so foreign, so at odds with the Ford I knew.

"More times than I care to remember." He ran a hand through his silver hair, frustration lining his face. "I told her, right from the start, that I wasn't going to be either her sugar daddy or her kept man. I want to earn my way, build my own legacy without handouts. I thought she understood that."

"But she didn’t?” I asked tentatively.

"No." Ford shook his head, his expression darkening. "And that's why we're no longer engaged. I can't be with someone who doesn't get that…someone who doesn't share those values."

"Shared values are crucial," I agreed as Jonathan’s image came into my mind, making me feel suddenly unsettled.

Ford picked at the corner of his sandwich, his gaze drifting off toward the horizon while the sun played peekaboo behind thin clouds.

"There’s more to the story," he started, his voice suddenly earnest,

A knot formed in my stomach. I stopped peeling my orange, suddenly not so hungry, aware that Ford’s confidence didn’t come lightly. “You can tell me, whatever it is. I promise not to repeat it.”

He gave me a small smile and nodded, looking down at his hands briefly before taking a deep breath.

"It’s all right. Most people know anyway. At least everyone in my department. It’s just embarrassing. Last year, out of the blue, I was approached by an investor interested in funding my research center. It was like a dream to be honest. I poured weeks into preparing a business plan, met with this man repeatedly, shared all my hopes and ideas."

The way he spoke, it was as if he was reliving each moment, each betrayal. My heart ached for him.

"Turns out, the guy was just a front, a puppet for one of Greer's father's business entities." His jaw clenched visibly, and he looked away. "They were behind it all along. Greer thought once I had the center up and running, I wouldn't care where the money came from."

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