Page 51 of Forbidden Lessons

“Uh…kind of.” She shrugs, fidgets with her bag.

I can tell I’m losing her to something unpleasant. Perhaps Kai’s callous remarks back there.

“Good. Then it’s settled. If we hurry, you can make the afternoon shuttle back here in time for your class.”

“Wh…wait…” She throws me a frantic look as she realizes what I’m implying. “You want me to go with you? To your…house? Can’t you just bring me the book?”

I huff out a breath through my nose, shaking my head as we turn to head down the stairs into the foyer. “Yes, I could bring you the book, Miss Lee, but this was my only class today, and I have no intention of coming back here until Tuesday morning.”

She’s silent, but still sticking to my side like a burr.

There’s a touch of coldness in my voice when I say, “The whole point of this exercise, me taking time out of my day to do you a favor, is so you can catch up over the weekend.”

Haven darts me an uneasy look, her shorter legs struggling to keep up with mine as I walk faster. “I appreciate that, Professor, I do, but?—”

“Let me guess,” I say dryly. “You had other plans.”

We’re almost back where we started earlier today, my Tesla rearing up ahead like an ergonomic, matte black boulder. I take out my phone to unlock the car.

I turn to her so suddenly, Haven skids in the gravel with the speed she backs up so as not to run into me.

“If getting drunk with your friends, or binging your way through some Netflix show takes priority over your studies, then maybe I underestimated what a waste it would be if you failed.”

Her mouth falls open.

I open my Tesla’s trunk, laying my laptop bag inside, and shut it, silent and focused only on what’s in front of me.

I’m about to close the driver’s side door when Haven darts forward, hesitantly putting out a hand to stop it. “I don’t want you going out of your way for me,” she says.

I drape my wrist over the steering wheel, turning to give her a long-suffering stare.

“No more classes until Tuesday, Miss Lee, remember? I was going home anyway.” I narrow my eyes at her, shifting my weight on the Tesla’s crimson leather. “This has nothing to do with pride, does it? You’re scared to be alone with me. Why is that, Miss Lee?”

“What? No.” I might have believed her if her eyes hadn’t grown to the size of saucers.

“This isn’t a kidnapping,” I tell her dryly. “I wouldn’t risk my reputation at Agony Hollow just to have my way with an unwilling student.”

She releases the car door, glances over at the passenger side. Hesitates.

Come on, Haven.

Just a little closer.

“Fine. I guess one can’t be too careful these days.” I flick my hand at her. “Send your live location to a friend. I’ll wait.”

Haven grabs her tote bag, but only to clasp it tighter to her side. The flush on her cheeks has just faded away, but it comes back full force. Without a word, I take my phone out of my pants pocket and tap on one of my contacts.

Stepping one foot out of the car, I sit forward and hold the phone between me and Haven. As soon as the call is answered, I tap the screen to put it on speaker.

“Need something, Sir?” Kai’s husky voice comes through on the line crystal clear.

There’s panic in Haven’s eyes when she looks up at me.

“Yes, Mr. Jordan. I will be taking Miss Lee to fetch some school supplies. She should be back by two. If she goes missing, please alert the authorities. Isn’t that right, Miss Lee?”

Haven clears her throat. “Yes. That’s…correct.”

There’s just silence on the other end of the line.

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