Page 37 of The Professor's Holiday Surprise

I’m sure Paisley will take the entire exam period. Even if she finishes early, she’ll go back over her questions, taking every minute available to her to get the answers and diagrams as complete as possible.

So I have another hour until the rest of my life can begin.

Andthatthought has me picking up my feet and striding with more purpose, new adrenaline pumping through my body.

This must be how Paisley felt in August as she drove to campus. Nervous, excited. Pumped. Unsure of what exactly is going to come next, but knowing that it’s going to be better than what I’m leaving behind.

I’m prepared for all eventualities.

Whatever Paisley wants next, I’m in. I’m hers.

Babies?

Fuck. Yeah.

Sweet hot dirty talk about breeding? I’m her man.

Hell, I’d be over the moon with some good old making out and cuddling at this point.

I just need to hold her in my arms. I’ve needed her on a cellular level since August, but I managed to get through the first three months of term by telling myself she’d never want her professor.

It’s a bright, cold December morning. Chilly enough that my glasses fog up from my breath and I’m glad for my coat and gloves to keep me warm as I stride across campus. My cowboy hat is jammed low on my head, and I’m lost in my thoughts, so I don’t notice my department chair until Chris is right in front of me.

“Noah,” he says as I pull up short. “Is the exam under way?”

“Yep.”

“I reviewed all of her assignments. They’re excellent.”

“I told you she was smart.”

“Considering the situation, you can forgive me for needing to be sure that your previous marks were objective.”

“And were they?”

He doesn’t answer right away. I adjust my hat. “What is it?”

“If anything, you held back.” Chris frowns, his breath puffing in the cold air between us. “I’d have given her higher marks than you did.”

Ah.

I wince. “I fucked up.”

“You sure did.”

“I should have arranged a transfer to another class sooner.” I take my hat off and groan.

“We definitely agree on that.”

But it’s worse than that. I only considered the angle where I’d been right that Paisley is a smart student. I hadn’t given enough consideration to the impact of my bias on her—and any potential overcompensation.

I scrub my hand over my jaw.

Chris opens his mouth to say something, but then snaps his lips shut.

“Noa— Dr. Lowry,” Paisley says from behind me, her voice hitching as she realizes I’m not alone.

I turn on my heel, my eyes soaking up her familiar shape. Her bright smile is complemented today by a bright yellow wool hat with a pompom. Fiery waves spilling out from beneath that, completely the warm sunshine energy. God, I missed her. The tightness in my chest eases as I say her name with a rush of relief.

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