Page 5 of Dear British Professor
“Yeah, and did you go on a second date?”
I frown. “No.”
“Okay then. You are two consenting adults. It's crazy not to see if this could lead to something more because we both know that you are Mr. Monogamous.”
“How do I do this then?”
"If you need the birds and the bees talk, then I'm seriously questioning the public schools in England."
“I attended boarding school.”
Jack shakes his head and stares at me as if I’ve grown a second head. “Of course, you did.”
“I meant how do I talk to her after reading this. She just agreed to be my research assistant.”
Jack leans forward. “Are we talking about the babe in your office today?”
Possessiveness strikes again inside me, and I have to fight the urge to reach across the table and grab his jacket and tell him to stay away from her. But when I don't answer, he takes this as confirmation.
"She's already made the first move." Jack leans back in his seat. "Damn, that's hot.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” I warn him.
“Just use this time together to see if it leads anywhere. She’s removed any doubt in your head that she might be interested in you. Now it’s your turn to show her.”
4
WILLA
It's been a week, and Professor Waller-Jones isn't showing any signs that he got the letter. I thought we'd be working together more, but I spend most of my time in the university's library and emailing him what I find, which is fine with me. I’m keeping my head down and doing what I can to keep this from being anything more than a professor and research assistant/student relationship, even if he's predominately taken over the lead role in my fantasies at night before bed.
I’ve got my earbuds in and working alone at my table when I feel someone slip into the seat next to me. I glance over and see Professor Waller-Jones mouthing something to me. I stare at his beautiful mouth and try to find the words that match the movement of his lips, but I get maybe every third word.
“You want my toe ring?” I ask.
His dimples appear as he grins at me and tugs gently on one of the wires, popping the earbud in my left ear out.
“I asked you, ‘how is it going?’”
"Oh," I chuckle, embarrassed. "That makes more sense."
He looks down at my bare feet in only flip-flops, and his grin grows wider. "I must admit that the ring on your toe is pretty adorable.”
Is he flirting with me?
I don’t know what to say and blurt the first thing that pops into my head.
“My friend, Lucy, got it for me.”
He doesn't respond but just continues to smile at me. I don’t know how long we sit like this, just staring at one another until the low hum of the speaker overhead announces that the library is closing.
"That's what I was coming to tell you." He points to the speaker. "I figured you've been working really hard. Maybe we can grab a burger and head back to my office to finish up."
“Umm.” I look down at my watch.
“I mean if you’re available. I understand if you already have plans.” His smile disappears. “Or a date, maybe?"
"No date." I shake my head, and I swear I see his shoulders visibly relax.
