Page 17 of Releasing Reenie

“Maureen.”

Trent’s greeting made my stomach flip, and to hide it, I frowned. It had only been a week since I’d run into him at the cafeteria but it was like I’d forgotten how sexy he was. As if my brain dulled the memory of his handsomeness to protect me.

“I don’t have time for socializing, Mr. Holland.” I eyed his crisp white shirt, striped, blue tie and dress pants that fit just right. Not that I’d seen the back view, but I remembered that view quite well and knew these navy pants would hug his spectacular ass.

“I’m not here for a social visit. I actually have a concern about a student we share.”

My eyes flicked up to his. Waving a hand at the chair across from my desk, I said, “Please.”

I watched as he took a seat. Although my mind was mostly focused on his mention of a student, I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t notice the easy way his body moved, the definition of his shoulders, biceps and chest, that no amount of starched dress shirt could hide, and the way his legs fell open to make room for…

“It’s Mira.”

My focus snapped to attention again, and I closed my laptop, pushing it aside, to show him he had my full attention.

“Mira.” I nodded, my stomach sinking. I’d helped her with her planner, making sure her schedule was doable. But now that Trent had mentioned it, I recalled noticing she still seemed a little frazzled. I’d made a mental note to follow up with her on it, but I’d forgotten, having been caught up in my game of cat and mouse with Trent.

Just another reason to feel like a jerk, I thought, letting out a long, tight breath.

“What’s going on?”

He looked away. “I know you had to discipline her for her late assignment, and I see she’s struggling with my assignments too.I’m new here, and if I didn’t know you’d already dealt with this, I probably wouldn’t be too worried yet. But I can’t unknow it.” His gaze landed on mine again and I saw more than just concern for Mira in it, but whatever else was mixed into his expression, it was indecipherable.

But yes, he was concerned. I bit my lip, lowering my eyes to my desk, wondering if I should tell him what I knew, or send him to Master Derek. Shame hit at my last thought. I was Mira’s professor; I had an obligation to her. I should be able to set aside my personal feelings to talk to another of her professors, whether that be a colleague I disliked, or one I’d had a crush on who sent me running. I was nothing if not professional.

Yeah, and how professional was it to leave your last university with barely any notice?

It’s been three years, I’ve changed.

I brushed my mind’s argument aside and focused on Trent. My eyes found his immediately as if the path to them was so worn I could traverse it unconsciously.

“Your class is an extra for her. She already had a full schedule before signing up for your class. Master Derek gave her special permission because she’s desperate to finish her degree early.”

He looked sideways. “Maybe that explains why she fell asleep in my class today.” When his gaze swung back to mine, he gave me a tight grin. “Thought I was becoming a bore in my old age.”

He was good at comedic relief, so I returned a quick grin. “Please refrain from using the termold. We’re the same age.”

His smile widened and so did mine.

“Right, Sorry. After thirty-five, we use the word experienced, right? That’s what the handbook says?”

“Exactly.” We shared a small laugh but then I opened my laptop and pulled up Mira’s schedule. We hadn’t actually been able to meet to work on it like we’d planned. She’d emailed me to say she wasn’t at the Ranch. Something last minute had comeup. So we’d made her a planner online in a shared doc. I still had a copy.

Looking through it, I said, “I helped her with her planner a few weeks ago. It isn’t overloaded, so unless her extracurriculars are keeping her up late, or she’s taking on extra submissive duties, she shouldn’t be having issues.”

I glanced up at Trent and his eyes were soft on mine. Here was the man I was crushing on back when we worked together at Columbia. Another reason, besides being so relatable, why his students adored him. He cared.

“You took time to help her with her planner?”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “Of course.”

“See this is why you leaving Columbia was such a shame. Professors like you are so rare.”

“Same,” I whispered, my gaze trapped in his. “But it’s also good we’re here. The Ranch is the perfect place for people like us. The students here, they’re vulnerable in a way only we can understand, and they need people like us.”

“Agreed.”

I swallowed again. His look was too intense, too much like an x-ray machine, seeing through me to my deepest parts. Breaking eye contact, I looked at the day before on Mira’s schedule.

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