Page 19 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

Does this man ever wear anything casual?

“Yeah,” I mutter back. “It is. Good spot.”

The professor smiles. It’s like I can see him thinking below those gorgeous eyes of his. You can just tell that there’s a very intelligent mind behind that beautiful face. His smile is a tiny smirk dancing on the corners of his lips, like he knows something I don’t.

“One of the classics of gothic romance,” he says. “Those Bronte sisters were very talented, I must say. Are you enjoying it?”

“It’s one of my favorites,” I tell him.

“All about dreams, isn’t it? Ghosts. Regrets. Love.”

I stutter. “Yeah, it’s about all of those things.”

“A book that can give you strange nightmares if you’re not too careful,” Professor Penmayne murmurs.

“Yeah, it can really mess with your head.”

“It certainly can.”

“Do you... like it?” I ask, somehow fumbling to find words to say.

“I like it a lot,” my professor replies. “I do find it a shame that people now seem to only recognize it from that famous song.”

My eyes light up. “Yeah, I was literally just thinking that,” I exclaim, finally excited to find someone who thinks the same as I do. “It’s a good song, but the book is more than just a famous catchy tune.”

Despite my internal panic, talking to the man feels somehow – strangely –safe, like I could chat mindlessly with him all day. I’m never like this with people I’ve just met, and definitely not mysterious, older, beautiful men.

The professor pauses for the briefest of moments.

“I know your face,” he says eventually. “You’re in my class, aren’t you?”

“Yep, I think I am.”

“You were sitting on your own,” he remarks.

“I was,” I reply.

Professor Penmayne pauses again. His eyes don’t blink as he stares at me.

“The runner,” he says slowly and quietly. “From the other night.”

I sense myself beginning to flush with embarrassment.

He knows.

Oh, crap. Oh, crap. Oh, crap.

“Um... yeah. That was me. Sorry about that.”

“No need to be sorry at all,” he replies.

“My name’s Olivia.”

“I know.”

“Oh?”

The professor smiles again. “Enjoy the book,” he says before he turns and leaves the café.

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