Page 38 of The Professor's Holiday Surprise

She waves a hand in a yellow mitt that matches her hat. “I finished early. I was actually already done when you left the exam hall, but I needed to do a final read through.”

“I thought you’d take the whole time allowed.” As I talk, I tug off my gloves just long enough that I can grab an important piece of paper from my back pocket, then I put them back on.

She laughs. “That’s a good guess.” Then she presses her lips together, cutting off her joy, and glances past me at Chris, who she already clocked when she changed my name to Dr. Lowry.

“Chris, this is Paisley Stevenson. The woman in my class who we’ve been discussing.”

Her gaze flares and she jerks her attention back to me. “Discussing me?”

“Chris—Dr. Wesley—is the department chair. My supervisor. And the faculty member who will mark your exam because I can’t.” I hold out my hand. She glances at my glove, and slides her mitt around my fingers.

“The… Right.” She blushes. “Thank you, Dr. Wesley.”

Chris tracks his gaze back and forth between us. Then he nods. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Stevenson.”

I squeeze Paisley’s hand. “Anyone else leave at the same time as you?”

“I don’t think so.” I love the way she searches my face with open curiosity.

It feels so good to be able to openly look at each other!

“Chris, do you have Christmas plans?” I ask conversationally as I tug Paisley right up against my side.

He clears his throat. “The usual. You?”

“Definitely not the usual.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and squeeze. “Starting new traditions.”

He coughs.

I grin. “Speaking of which…” I hand over the folded piece of paper I’ve been carrying with me for two weeks now. “The personal relationship declaration form. Formal notice that I’m in a relationship with a student. This woman, in fact.”

Paisley’s cheeks turn pink as I publicly lay claim to her in front of my colleague.

I smile down at her, then pluck her wool hat off her head and replace it with my cowboy hat. “You’re mine, now.”

She ducks her face for a second, and when she lifts her head, her eyes are bright. “I was always yours,” she whispers.

Chris clears his throat again.

“We should let you go,” I say with a wink.

He nods, then shakes his head. “You warned me this was coming but it’s still…something to see.”

“We’ll be discreet in front of her classmates, don’t worry.” The last thing I want to do is embarrass Paisley or cause drama. “But I need you to know how important she is to me. We’ll talk soon, yeah?”

“Of course. Merry Christmas to you both.” His gaze lingers on Paisley long enough that I growl under my breath and tighten my grip on her.

“Easy, man,” he says, taking a step back. “Ms. Stevenson, if you need anything in the new year—academically, I mean—my door is always open.”

“Thank you.” She nods.

Without waiting for him to stride away, I turn her fully into my arms and tip her back, capturing her shocked little gasp with my mouth.

“Mine,” I repeat after kissing her thoroughly.

“Yours,” she says with a little giggle. “What next, cowboy?”

“I’m taking you home.”

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