Page 16 of Private Tutoring
All her attractive qualities that reminded me of the life I’d missed were off-limits. I backed up and explained how the rules laid out every aspect of the problem.
Harmony’s brows shifted into a furrowed line as she leaned closer. Much more and her head would be on my arm. When had I shifted around the desk so we sat elbow to elbow? I finished the equation, then wrote a similar one. “Your turn.”
She took the pencil from me, gripping it far enough away that there was no chance of an accidental touch. “Will you stop me as soon as I get something wrong?”
“Yes.” It came out with the force of a promise I had no right to give. It sounded like I cared, and I absolutely could not let myself cross that line.
She worked through the problem with slow, careful numbers and intense concentration curling her over the desk. Her foot bobbed beneath the desk, the side of her shoe rubbing my calf. She must not have felt the friction.
Good for her, because it affected me far more than I thought possible. I helped her through the rest of the problem when she began to struggle. Once we finished it and I checked my watch with a frown, I realized we’d been together for well over an hour.
An hour that felt like no time at all and yet an eternity. I crushed the feeling that had been building since she walked in tonight.
“We can meet again next week. Monday?” I stood, pushing the chair back from the desk and putting space between us.
Harmony followed me up, scooping everything into her bag. “That would be great. Thank you.” Her tone held the same shy softness I’d gotten used to in class.
“Enjoy your weekend.” It was the only thing I had to offer a student.
8
ROBERTO
When I asked Stephen how his tutoring class with Harmony went, he gave me a glare so intense it raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Pretty sure I’d never seen him make that face before. Even in the deepest depths of his grief, he had never shown that level offuck off.
It intrigued me. So much so that I eagerly awaited my own session with Harmony on Monday afternoon. Her confession had haunted me in the most delicious way, and I fully intended on pulling that thread as far as allowed.
I waited for her with my feet on the desk and my chair cranked back as far as it would go as I stared at the ceiling tiles. What was it about modern architecture that took the beauty of scalloped crown molding and wooden beams and turned it into those god-awful rectangular tiles? Convenience should not take precedence over beauty.
A series of slow, hesitant steps announced Harmony’s arrival.
I bit off a grin and rocked my seat back and forth in a series of short squeaks that I stopped the instant they reminded me ofsex. The rhythmic thumping and thrusting motion put far too many delicious ideas in my head.
“Professor Rossi?” Harmony spoke my name in that same cautious tone.
“Come on in.” I sat forward, my hands landing on the edge of the desk with a thud. I wore my usual slacks and button-up shirt, but I’d already tossed my jacket and tie over my satchel where it hung on a peg by my office. Watching her, I rolled my shirt sleeves up to my elbows.
Her eyes tracked the movement, pink infusing her cheeks and her tongue darting out to wet her lips. All signs the crush she’d mentioned was far from over.
“Before we begin, there’s something we should discuss.” I motioned her closer with a wave of one hand. I’d brought a chair up from the classroom and parked it beside mine.
She sank into it with a quiet sigh.
My smile returned in full force. “I’m flattered that you’re attracted to me.”
“I still can’t believe I said that. I made a fool of myself.” She muttered something under her breath, and I swore I caught Stephen’s name. “Can we forget it ever happened?”
“That would be ideal.” I didn’t give her a chance to recover. “You’re a beautiful woman, Harmony. But that does not change the simple fact that you’re my student.” I waved at the classroom around us, where years and years of hard work lined the walls. My accent deepened, something I tried to avoid but that often got the better of me when attraction brought out my natural tongue. “It would be inappropriate to do anything about your feelings.”
She nodded, cheeks flaming. “I understand, and you’re completely right. I never should have said anything. I didn’t mean to make things awkward.”
“It’s fine.” The lie came easily. It would be even more awkward to tell her I felt the same. While I wouldn’t classify it as a crush, there was definite attraction and maybe a few more emotions involved. “Shall we?”
Lowering her bag to the floor, she nodded. “Sure.”
“We’ll pick up where we left off.” I passed her my favorite book of poetry. “Translate as much as you can.” I knew the poems by heart, and the title was an obscure one I had complete confidence she’d have never read. It made for a unique challenge and a tantalizing read.
She took the book from me, holding it at the bottom and resting the edges in her palms. Without looking at me, she scanned the page.
