Page 3 of Falling For The Professor

"You're welcome to join me while you wait," Ashley said, her eyes falling to Carla's hand that was resting on top of the barstool and her long, slender fingers, her nails painted a rich shade of burgundy.

A wry smile came to Carla’s lips. “I suppose I might as well have a drink while I wait. You don’t mind?”

“Not at all.” Ashley hid her smile, pleasantly surprised at herself for being able to play it cool.

“I’m not interrupting…” Carla’s voice faded off as the bartender came over and she ordered a glass of wine.

“I’m here on my own, so no.” Ashley brought her glass to her lips.

“I’m Carla, by the way.”

“Ashley.”

Carla smiled. “I’m supposed to be meeting someone… For a date.” She sighed. “I’m starting to wonder though. I was already running a few minutes late, so it’s highly likely that I’ve been stood up.” The bartender returned with her drink. “The joys of online dating,” she said with a smirk before lifting her glass to her lips.

“I prefer meeting people out in the wild.”

“That’s certainly the preferred option, but I think that’s much easier to do when you’re straight.”

Ashley shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“I’m just speaking from experience.”

“As am I.”

Ashley could feel Carla’s eyes on her, but she didn’t turn. She would keep playing it cool.

Carla’s voice lowered, laced with intrigue. “Is that so?”

“I’m not always right, but I trust my gaydar,” Ashley said, as if she regularly hit on women in her everyday life. That was not the case. But only because she was always comparing everyone else to her drop-dead gorgeous professor.

“I’m not sure I have any.” Carla’s tone was light. She glanced down at her watch. “I’m calling it. Hannah isn’t coming.”

“Her loss,” Ashley said as she took another sip.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“Sure.”

Ashley forgot all about feeling guilty, because right now, Carla Lawless was sitting beside her, buying her a drink, something that would have been unimaginable just a week ago.

Ashley bit her lip to hide her smile. This was really happening. She was on a date with her professor.

Chapter Four

Carla had come out tonight with very low expectations. So far, her online dates had provided very little excitement, zero connection, and only minor attraction, but Ashley was proving to be far more intriguing than any of those women.

But as much as Carla was enjoying the light flirting and easy conversation, she was aware that Ashley was much younger than her. It had nothing to do with her personality or the way she spoke. It was just painfully obvious when Carla took in her blond hair along with her youthful bright blue eyes and her clear skin, free of wrinkles.

The woman Carla was supposed to have met tonight had already caused her to pause. Hannah’s profile had said she was thirty years old, ten years younger than Carla. That was already a stretch. How much younger was Ashley? Carla was almost afraid to ask. So, she didn’t.

Carla was also avoiding all the usual questions that had come up on all those other dates. She refused to ask Ashley what she did for a living or what her hobbies were.

Tonight, Carla wasn’t looking for someone she could she herself being in a relationship with. She’d had no luck taking that approach so far, and as the months went by, she was actually starting to enjoy being on her own, uncommitted.

What Carla was looking for tonight was a good time. She just wanted to enjoy herself, whatever that meant, and so far, she was. If Ashley wanted to stay for another drink, great. If not, that was okay too. And if things progressed, if Carla asked Ashley back to her apartment… That would also be very okay with her.

Ashley came back from the restroom, and Carla found her gaze lingering on Ashley’s black pants and the way they hugged her hips. Her eyes moved up to Ashley’s white blouse, the scoop neck dipping as she came back to the bar and hung her bag on the hook beneath it. Her blond hair was swept across one shoulder, and her already familiar perfume drifted into Carla’s space.

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