Page 14 of Irresistible Professor

"Oh my god. Ford, I'm so sorry," I whispered, reaching out to touch his hand. The contact sent a shiver through me, though the sun bore down on us unwaveringly. "That's...it's manipulative and wrong."

"Trust," he said, meeting my eyes again, "is the foundation of everything, Bonnie. Without it, what do we have?" There was a vulnerability in his gaze that I'd never seen before.

"Nothing," I replied softly. "Trust is everything. And shared values...They're not just words; they're what hold us together when everything else falls apart."

"Exactly," he affirmed, a smile flickering across his lips. "It's reassuring to know someone understands that."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "Well, I may not know much, but I do know that much is true."

We shared a laugh, and in that moment, with the gentle breeze rustling through the grass around us, I couldn't help but feel like maybe, just maybe, there were more shared values between us than I'd dared to admit.

"Ford," I ventured, emboldened by his honesty. The words tumbled out before I could stop them, "What would you do if I wasn't engaged?"

He looked at me, a hint of surprise flickering in those deep blue eyes before his lips curled into an unexpected smile.

"I’d marry you," he quipped with such ease that for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. His words took me aback, and a jolt of shock ran through me. Ford seemed equally surprised by his response, and he cleared his throat, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “Hypothetically speaking, of course,” he added hastily. “I know you’re marrying Jonathan. But truthfully, you’re a wonderful woman, Bonnie Kelly. Just the kind of woman I’d want to marry someday.”

His admission left me speechless. The simple sincerity in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, igniting something within me that felt reckless and daring. I knew I should steer us back to safer waters, but Ford's candid confession echoed in my ears, stirring up feelings I had no right to indulge. I looked away, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. Silence stretched between us, filled only by the rustling of leaves and the distant chatter of other students on the campus below.

"Thank you, Ford," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of his gaze returned to me, heavy and warm, leaving me feeling exposed under the afternoon sun. "For thinking so highly of me."

"Bonnie…" he started, then paused, as if searching for the right words. "It's simply the truth."

I smiled, a little sadly, acknowledging the impossible thoughts swirling in my mind.

"Let's finish our lunch, shall we?" I suggested, eager for a distraction from the turmoil inside me. But as I reached for my sandwich, my hand brushed against his, setting off a spark that threatened to ignite the tinderbox of emotions I was so desperately trying to contain.

***

The whisper of silk and tulle swirled around me like a symphony as I stepped out of the changing room. The Chicago bridal salon was a cream-and-gold dream, every surface gleaming with the promise of eternal love, and every corner filled with the rustle of gowns waiting for their moment in the sun.

"Bonnie, you can't possibly still be undecided. It's March already," my mother fretted, her voice threaded with the urgency that had been building since the moment Jonathan slipped that diamond on my finger.

"I know, Mom, I just…" I began, cutting myself off as I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror.

"Good heavens, Bon, look at you!" My mother's hands fluttered to her mouth, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

I took a deep breath and stepped onto the podium, the ballgown blooming around me, layers upon layers of delicate fabric cascading down in a frothy waterfall of ivory. The consultants, sensing a pivotal moment, began to clap, their excitement a tangible thing filling the room.

"Isn't she stunning?" one of them exclaimed, clasping her hands together.

But as their applause washed over me, a sudden, overwhelming tide of emotion surged up from deep within. My vision blurred, and without warning, hot tears began spilling down my cheeks.

"It's perfect," I whispered, my voice trembling, barely audible over the sound of my heart fracturing against my ribs.

My mother reached for my hand, her own shaking slightly. "Oh, Bonnie," she said softly, a world of understanding in those two words. There, under the glittering lights and the adoring gazes, I couldn't escape the truth that clung to me like the train of the dress I wore—a truth that was far more tangled than any lace or beading could ever be.

Turning to face my mother, I saw that her own eyes were brimming with tears. She reached up and gently tucked a lock of my hair back behind my ear.

"Sweetheart," she whispered, "you're in love with Ford, aren't you?"

Her words hung in the air between us. It was undeniable. I felt exposed, seen in a way that left no room for pretense or denial.

"Yes," I admitted, the confession slipping from me like the final piece of a puzzle clicking into place. "Yes, Mom, I am."

She nodded, a sad smile curving her lips. "I knew it was just a matter of time before you figured it out yourself." She took a deep breath, composing herself with the poise that I'd always admired. "Don't worry about a thing, sweetheart," she said with a reassuring squeeze of my hand. "I'll call the wedding planner and take care of everything."

Every word she spoke lifted a weight off my shoulders, each syllable untangling the knots of anxiety that had tightened around my heart.

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