Page 30 of Ice Cold, Red Hot
“If we…If I say yes, then I think we’d have to agree that whatever is between us has to be strictly professional.”
Something cool settled in Ethan’s gaze, but his smile didn’t falter. “Of course. Yeah, of course.”
He gave me a wave and disappeared, and I stared at the closed door long after Ethan left, my mind spinning.
This was what I came here for.
To make smart decisions.
To build something for myself.
To stop depending on anyone else to hold the door open.
And yet, the first image that flashed through my mind when Ethan made the offer wasn’t a conference room or a line on my CV—it was Shepherd. Sitting in the back row of discussion, jaw tight, eyes stormy, refusing to look at me.
This could solve everything.
I wouldn’t be his TA anymore.
No more awkward silences. No more trying to keep things professional when every cell in my body remembered how he tasted, how he felt, how he made me come undone.
I could want him now.
I could have him, if he still wanted me.
But he didn’t.
Not really.
He’d made that painfully clear.
And if I stayed in the class? If I forced the issue, crossed lines, jeopardized everything I’d worked for…
What would I be holding onto? A man who couldn’t even speak to me after touching me like that?
“This is a good thing, Celeste,” Ethan had said. “You should be happy.”
And I’d smiled. Lied. “I am.”
But I wasn’t. Not exactly.
Still, I picked up my phone, thumb hovering over my messages before I opened the email app instead.
I pulled up Ethan’s offer, heart pounding in a slow, heavy rhythm that echoed in my chest. I didn’t need to wait. I already knew the right thing to do.
I typed two words.I’m in. And hit send.
The second it was gone, I felt the shift—clean and sudden. Like a door slamming shut.
I’d made my choice.
CHAPTER 15
SHEPHERD
“Dude, we’re going out and you’re coming. Your panties have been bunched way too tight lately.” Griff leaned against the door jamb of my room. I was on the bed, studying. Or at least the intent was to study. In reality, I was staring at the words in front of me, seeing nothing.
My mind was on everything else.
