Page 23 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
What I mean is, hell can freeze over before I dine with you.
Checking my watch, I stand. “I better get going.”
With another awkward hug, Gemma opens her office door, and I step out. I only get two steps forward when a voice booms from behind a door in another office down the hallway.
“You can’t just transfer her to another class?”
My body goes ridged at Locke’s voice.
“I’m sorry, Sullivan. That’s the only class available and she needs the credits to graduate. Is she causing problems?”
I know he’s talking about me. Who’s else is he trying to distance himself from? I suck in a breath, then let the fury soar through my veins. After our little conversation in his kitchen yesterday I thought that he was agreeing to act liken a grown man, clearly, I was mistaken.
Forcing my feet to move, I stride forward, and nearly smack right into him when he comes charging out of the office with a snarl on his face.
Except that snarl falls when sees me and regret morphs into his expression. I’m not sure why he looks so guilty. He’s the one who was just trying to force me out of his class. I’m sure he wasn’t planning on me hearing it with my own ears. It shouldn’t hurt but does. It shouldn’t be a slap in the face, but it is. We had one night. It’s not like we’re skipping down to the alter.
“Ms. Cunningham.” Dean Wilkerson narrows his eyes. “It’s nice to finally put a face with a name.”
“Dean Wilkerson I presume.” I hold out a hand. “I’m sure my father has told you all about me.”
He shakes my hand, his eyes moving to Gemma who’s watching the interaction from her office door.
“We’ve spoken. He’s informed me of your…”
I lift a brow, goading him to finish his sentence.
Instead, he clears his throat, then smooths his hand down his hideous tie.
“I have a meeting.” He glances to Locke before he slides past us.
Thankfully Gemma trails behind him, and I’m about to give Locke a piece of my mind when we’re interrupted.
“There you are.”
My attention snaps to the blonde woman who approaches us wearing a skintight black skirt and a red blouse that's showing an unprofessional amount of cleavage.
Her eyes shift from Locke to me. “You must be Raven." She smiles. “Gemma told me you would be transferring here. I hear you do amazing work.”
Swallowing back the bile in my throat as her hand lands on Locke’s forearm with familiarity, I muster up a smile.
“Thanks.”
“I’m Sasha. We are so lucky to have you.”
Locke is stock still, while his eyes remain focused on the side of my face.
“You ready for lunch, Locke?” She asks.
Not even sparing him another glance I brush past them.
My palm presses against the glass door and I escape out into the hallway just as he says, “Let’s go.”
Chapter sixteen
Locke
Iwatch Raven leave, my chest caving in with every step she takes. I wasn’t trying tohurther. I was trying to protect her. Being in my class is too much. The pull is too strong, and I know before long I’m going to snap. I’d rather it not be in a room full of people that will have us both terminated within the hour.
