Page 21 of Reckless Temptation

Professor Gowen liked to consider herself more of a guidance counselor than the other instructors, but it was always a team effort here. My reputation as a law student wasn’t specifically monitored by only one or two of them. They always conversed and shared input about all of their students. It wasn’t only because I’d applied for that internship spot. Iwasunder that panel’s attention, but it was simply part of being a law student in this program.

As she turned her phone around to show me, I knew what she was referencing. Elise had given me the heads up earlier.

“What is this about, Sabrina?” she asked as I glanced at the screen.

Every time I saw the photo that was tagged not only to me, but also the department, the university, and the hashtag I’d startedfor my community project, I wanted to scream. Instead, I bit my lip and kept a calm frown on my face. “It’s not me.”

She raised her brows, setting the device down. “It isn’t?”

I sighed, gathering my courage to explain. “While I don’t judge others for wanting to express themselves in any creative means they choose, participating in a wet T-shirt contest for a fraternity isn’t my style.”

Yet, the photo shared all over suggested it was me standing on the Cricket’s main bar top. The brunette wore my clothes, a similar outfit of mine consisting of a skirt and blouse. Even the shoes matched mine that I wore to school every day. The girl’s face was hidden as she pulled her shirt up and over her head as she flashed the crowd in the bar. But the similarities were striking.

“Hmm.” Professor Gowen pursed her lips. “Please take this as a reminder that we expect our law students to demonstrate propriety inandout of the classroom.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I left, full of scorn and frustration that I had to face this brand of cyber bullying. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right for that jerk to frame me. And that was what made it even worse. He wasn’t trying to hide it.

Nick Grant. He was the one who’d shared the posts.

I spotted him leaning against the wall as I exited the building. Barely casting him a glance, I held my head up high and joined Elise who was waiting for me.

“I just want to know why he’s targeting you,” Elise said as she matched my stride.

“It’s not to flatter me,” I deadpanned.

“But, still…” She couldn’t stop staring at him as we walked by. “You can’t deny he’s… he’s…”

“An asshole? A bully? A rude, insensitive?—”

She elbowed me. “He’s coming this way. Shh.”

I rolled my eyes, not understanding why he’d focus on me. Ever since I ran into him last week, he was everywhere I looked. The art buildings weren’t adjacent to the area of campus that housed the law facilities. He had no reason to be near me. None whatsoever.

Except, apparently, to bully me.

Get in line, asshole.

“Any more contests on the horizon?” he asked as he reached us.

I wished I could run away from him. Avoiding bullies had to be the smartest option. But in these shoes? Not happening.

All I could do was ignore him. Holding my head high, I looked ahead and pretended he wasn’t there.

When I didn’t reply, he knocked his shoulder against me, sending me off balance.

“Look, dude, I don’t know what you’re trying to do,” Elise said, returning to her self-appointed role of being my defender. There was no mistaking how attracted she was to him, but hot or not, she would stand up for me. Little good that it ever did. “But my friend here?—”

“Has a secret naughty side, huh?” Again, he brushed against me.

I tightened my arms on my books so I wouldn’t lose them.

“Shit. My bus stop is back there.” She cringed, looking back before glaring at Nick again.

“Go on. I’ll catch up with you later,” I told her. I hated that we were pulled apart more now with our majors in different directions.

“Leave her alone,” she warned him before jogging off.

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