Page 71 of Toy for the Teachers (Forbidden Fantasies)

It was Simone’s turn to be taken aback.

“You’re resigning?”

“Yes, I’ll be taking my name out of the pool for research assistants. I’ve been offered another position outside the university that I intend to accept.”

It had helped that I quickly applied to both open jobs that same evening. With the help of a glowing review from my professor in Ireland, the publishing company offered me the job as a nonfiction editor just a few days earlier. There were negotiations still taking place, but I knew that this was all for the best.

I couldn’t let my work get in the way of my happy ending.

Taking in a deep breath, Simone Martin didn’t seem to know what to say next. All her policies and protocols were failing her, and she had no way to take this matter any further. All she could do, was shake my hand again, thank me for my time, and see me out the door.

My muscles relaxed as I left the ominous office building. Under the cover of my umbrella, I looked at the passing bodies covered in rain jackets, heads all dipped down to avoid the rain. It almost felt like I was back in Dublin again, fighting off the gloomy weather the best I could, but I didn’t want to go back. I was no longer interested in turning back time. Tomorrow felt so much better than yesterday, and I had a few handsome gentlemen to thank for that.

As my phone hummed in my purse, I realized one of them was calling me that very moment.

“Hello, handsome,” I greeted him teasingly. “Don’t tell me I’m on speakerphone.”

“You’re not,” Vlad swore with a low chuckle. “I wanted to know if where you were hiding from the rain.”

“I’m not. I’m standing in the middle of it.”

“Well, that won’t do at all,” he declared.

“What do you suggest then?”

“I’m done with classes for the day. Why don’t we get lunch together instead? I don’t want you standing out in this weather alone.”

“You make me sound pitiful,” I remarked, wondering which direction I should walk.

“You won’t be if you’re somewhere dry and warm with me.”

“All right,” I relented. “Where should I meet you?”

“Meet me by the parking garage, beautiful,” he declared.

How could I refuse a request like that? With a smile, I agreed and headed east toward the place where Vlad parked his sleek sedan. The rain got harder as I crossed the street and headed down the sidewalk, but through my eyes, everything was looking much brighter.

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