Page 18 of Damaged Professor

“Like what?”

She points ahead with her nose. I look there, trying to understand what the hell she is trying to show me.

He’s standing by the entrance of a bakery. He’s wearing a suit, but no tie and his hair is messy. He has a bunch of papers in hand and seems completely absorbed in them. I light up immediately.

“So?” she asks. Nicole knowingly turns on her heel to let us have our moment.

I take a deep breath and slowly walk towards him. There’s nothing bad in that—it’s just a student greeting her teacher.

Another man barges out of the bakery and goes straight to Dylan. I stop on my tracks.

Dylan looks annoyed but it’s clear that they know each other. The man tells him something that seems to irritate him, causing Dylan to look in the other direction—at me.

He stares in shock. Oh God, it looks like I’m stalking him.

The man keeps talking to Dylan but he doesn’t seem to notice. Then, he looks at me and speaks again. That seems to snap him out. The man gives Dylan a pat on the back and nods at me before heading to his car.

Still frozen, I watch as he walks to me. It feels surreal. His dark eyes seem to burn me as they check me head to toe.

I close the distance, almost falling onto him.

“What are you—“ he starts but seems to change his mind. He looks at the papers in his hand. “I need some help. Can you—”

“Yes,” I answer immediately. Anything to spend some more time with him.

He smiles and offers his arm. “My parent’s anniversary is coming up. I was supposed to choose a cake with my brother…” His eyes glance at where the car was parked. “But he bailed on me. Again.” A pause. “So, I'd appreciate it if I could get your opinion.”

Lucky me. I should thank his brother one day. The bakery is small but a quick glance around is enough to see that it’s on the very expensive side. An employee guides us to the tasting area.

“We’ll be back shortly,” she exclaims.

Alone at last, we don’t need to say anything. He pulls me closer, his hands looping around my waist, his lips hungrily parting mine.

I wrap my hands around his neck, desperate to feel him again.

It lasts for a brief second. The employee opens the door with her back, carrying a platter full of cupcakes. Barely able to move apart, we compose ourselves.

The woman looks at us with a twinkle in her eyes but doesn’t make any comment.

Dylan grabs a pink and brown cupcake and brings it to my mouth. I take a bite, not taking my eyes off him.

No, I’m not okay with just being his student. I want him. I want him no matter what.

Chapter ten

Dylan

I’vebeengoingincircles for weeks. Abby has become this itch that I can’t quite scratch. The ambrosia, sitting just out of reach.

When we had our one-night stand—while of course, the sex was great, it was not what clutched my heart. She’s got this quality about her that made the whole encounter seem electric. That’s what grabbed me. And staying with her that night and the next morning, and seeing her in class, and at the exhibition, and then again at the bakery— Everything reminds me of how utterly lonely I am.

I need to do something to get her off my mind, or else I’m going to lose it.

I’m glad when the class and the students leave. Abby gives me a smile and a lingering look, but she doesn’t stop to talk. She’s clearly trying to be respectful of my job here, which I really appreciate. But it’s not enough.

So, I decide that it’s time to treat this little, raw ache in my chest the same way that I always have: with a drink and a quick hookup with a stranger at the bar.

Not at The Howling Monkey.

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