The Professor

by Kelli Callahan

  “I’m more than okay.”

  “Then why won’t you look at me?”

  Slowly lifting my head, I meet his gaze. “Because...that was just too...amazing.” And I’m a little frightened by the intensity of my emotions.

  Bryce strokes my hair. “Yeah,” he sighs, “it was.”

  We gaze at each other for I’m not sure how long. I feel like we’ve come to a silent agreement that we’re not just dating to see where things go any more. We’re...more.

  “I’m glad you kidnapped me tonight.”

  A slow smile takes shape on his lips. “Me too.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Bryce

  I gaze at the sea of elegantly dressed people from the second floor balcony. Marshall manor is packed with the who’s who of Wyoming. They’re all dressed to the nines in designer dresses and tuxedos. My eyes dazzle from the amount of bling in the room. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Diana throws one hell of a party. She knows how to make Dad look good. The old man really should show her more appreciation.

  I spot my stepmother in the throng of guests, working the room like a pro. Holly is in a secluded corner, arms folded, watching everyone with a scowl. She looks about done with the pomp and circumstance. I share her sentiment. Tugging at my tie, I let out a long sigh. Holly glances up in my direction. She shapes out a gun with her fingers and pretends to blow her brains out. Her eyes close and her tongue lolls. I chuckle at her antics. Yeah, the boredom is practically killing me too.

  “Bryce.”

  I turn at the sound of my father’s voice. Hopefully, he isn’t coming to lecture me about not mingling with the guests. His strides are long and confident― bordering on arrogant.

  “Yeah, Dad?”

  “Great crowd we have tonight, eh?”

  I sigh quietly. “Sure. Great turnout.” I’ve been putting up with society parties since I was a kid. I’m sick of them at this point. But, family duty calls. The Marshalls mustn’t look anything less than unified and perfect in the public eye.

  “I invited Chief Traverse.”

  “Yeah, okay…” I don’t even have the energy to try to be interested. The Chief is a great guy. I respect the hell out of him but I can’t imagine what his presence here has to do with me.

  “And his daughter.”

  I look skyward and moan. “For christ’s sake, Dad. You’re still trying to play matchmaker?” He hadn’t mentioned anything about the Chief’s daughter in weeks, so I assumed he was over it.

  “You two should talk. Get to know each other.”

  “I’ve told you numerous times that I’m not interested.” Besides, I’m with her best friend. Talk about awkward. Abby and I have been seeing each secretly for weeks. I wish she were here right now, saving me from utter boredom. But no one can know we’re together. For a moment, I’m tempted to tell Dad because...to hell with what he thinks. However, his disapproval isn’t the only problem. Abby is still my student. And she’d kill me if I let the secret out.

  “It doesn’t matter if you are or not,” Dad says.

  “Excuse me? Considering that I’d be the one dating her, it matters a lot.”

  Dad sighs, his brows drawing together. His gaze sweeps over the room and lowers his voice to a whisper. “Just do your old man a favor, boy. It’s time you took your duties as a Marshall seriously.”

  It all becomes clear and I’m pissed. “You want me to date Kenton Traverse’s daughter, so you can have the Chief in your pocket?”

  Fucking unbelievable.

  Or maybe not so unbelievable. We are talking about Dad, here. He’ll do anything to stay on top. He’s wearing a disturbing smirk and he isn’t denying it. “We all have to do what we must. It’s full time you stopped fooling around with that teaching job of yours and do what we Marshall’s are good at.”

  Gritting my teeth, I keep my temper in check. I have to remind myself not to make a scene that will end up in tomorrow’s paper. “Yeah? What’s that?”

  “Running this town and eventually the state.”

  “It’s all about power for you, isn’t it?”

  He shrugs, grips the wooden banister and stares into the crowd as if assessing his kingdom. “What else is there to achieve but ultimate power, son?”

  I gaze at him, disappointed by what he’s become. Perhaps he’s always been like this and I just didn’t notice. “I can think of many more important things,” I mutter.

  Eyes almost identical to mine swing to me. “What was that?”

  Blowing out a breath, I say, “Alright, if I meet the woman, will you get off my back?”

  Dad’s satisfied grin― more like a sneer― rubs me the wrong way. “There she is.”

  I follow his gaze, zeroing in on a pretty blonde in a figure-hugging emerald dress. So that’s Charlie Traverse, Abby’s best bud. Releasing a sigh, I give Dad a withering glare and head down the spiral staircase. I just have to let him see me talking to her. He’ll be satisfied and I can blow this joint after.

  Making my way through the crowd, I offer polite smiles and greetings to a few familiar faces. Nearing Charlie and Chief Traverse, I hear her say, “Daddy, just relax.”

  “This isn’t my scene,” comes the gruff reply.

  I smile. Kenton Traverse is a rugged, no nonsense man. His gruff demeanor hides a great man with a heart of gold. I’ve seen him help countless townspeople. He takes his job of protecting the town seriously. I’m not afraid to say he’s a greater man than my father.

  “Kenton.”

  He turns around, scowl in place, but realizing it’s me, his expression relaxes. “Bryce.” We shake hands.

  “Glad you could make it.”

  His brows shoot up. “Really?”

  “No, I don’t care, this isn’t my scene either. I probably want to be here less than you do.”

  “I doubt that. Your father invited me. I just came to get him off my ass for a while.”

  “Daddy.” Charlie gives him a reprimanding look. “Lower your voice, someone might hear you badmouthing the mayor. His son is right in front of you for goodness’ sake.”

  Kenton’s eyes dance with mischief. “I don’t think Bryce likes his father much sometimes either.”

  My roar of laughter garners us a few curious glances. I look toward the balcony where Dad is watching the three of us smugly. He thinks I’m working his angle. That elicits another laugh. “You’re a perceptive man, Chief. That’s why I like you.”

  He chuckles and looks from me to his daughter. “You two haven’t officially met, have you?”

  “Not officially but I know Professor Marshall,” Charlie says. “I took his class last year.”

  “Oh, how about that.” Kenton shrugs. “Still, Bryce, this is my daughter Charlotte.”

  “Please, never call me that,” Charlie interjects.

  Kenton frowns, “What’s wrong with my mother’s name.”

  “Not now, Daddy,” she huffs. “Nice to officially meet you professor...I mean Bryce.”

  “Same here.” I take her hand in mine. I don’t even recognize her from my classroom. I never look too hard at my female student for fear of them misinterpreting my attention. I’ve gotten a few crazy ones hence, my constant caution.

  “You two enjoy the rest of the party. I’ve got to...mingle.”

  Kenton sighs, “I’ll be out of here as soon I can.”

  I give Charlie a friendly smile and make my escape. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Dad watching me with a frown. Chuckling I hurry to the exit. I did as I promised, I met Charlie Traverse. I never said I’d do anything else. I’m almost free. My car is parked close to the gate, where I knew I wouldn’t be blocked in.

  “You are so not ditching without me.”

  I stop in my tracks and suppress a groan. So close. Slowly turning around, I demand, “Holly, get back inside.”

  “Bryce, come on,” she whines, “don’t leave me, please. I’m dying in there. Do you know how hard it is to maintain a fake smile and pretend to
be into conversations about the state of the economy and whose yacht is bigger than whose? I’m seventeen. Why do those old folks keep pulling me into conversations?”

  Laughter bubbles in my chest then erupts. Holly’s misery is printed on her face. “I feel your pain, really I do but I’m on my way to…” I was going to see Abby. Her shift doesn’t end for another two hours but I just want to sit in the diner and pretend not to know her while I flirt with her a little. It’s become our little inside joke.

  Holly clasps her hands under her chin. “Take me with you. Please.” She pouts and I sigh. “Maybe we can stop and grab burgers or something. Real food.”

  I smirk. So she’s tired of eating food she can’t pronounce too. “Alright, I was heading to the diner in town. We can grab something and then I’ll bring you right back before Diana misses you.”

  Holly snorts. “She nor Michael will notice either of us is gone with that crowd.”

  “Let’s go.”

  We stroll to my car and I scowl, shrugging out of my jacket. “You don’t even have your coat.”

  She accepts my jacket with a broad grin. “You’re the best.”

  “We should do this more often. You know, hang out.” Holly glances around the diner. Besides us, there are only two other customers.

  Arms resting on the table, I study her. “You’re lonely in that big house on the hill, aren’t you?”

  She shrugs. The sadness she tries to hide tugs at my heartstrings. It was the same for me at her age. “Michael says I should be grateful because he’s taking care of me even though I’m not his.”

  “He said that your face?”

  She shakes her head. “Uh huh. He says it all the time. It’s no big deal.”

  Scrubbing a hand over my face, I make a mental note to address the situation with the tyrant. Holly is a sweet girl. She doesn’t deserve to have her paternity thrown in her face.

  “You know, when Mom just married Michael and I met you, I thought you were like him. But you’re not. You’re way cooler.”

  “Way cooler, huh?” I smile and try my best to mimic a teenage girl. “That’s like the best compliment ever.”

  Holly snickers and throws a packet of ketchup at me. “Shut up.” We laugh but she quickly sobers. “Seriously, Bryce, thanks for always being nice to me and my mom. I wish you hadn’t moved out. I think Mom wishes the same thing.”

  My smile fades. “Holly, is there something you want to tell me?”

  She fiddles with the lapels of my jacket still draped over her shoulders. “No.”

  I’m not convinced. I study her with narrowed eyes, ready to grill her until she spills what she’s hiding.

  “Wow, she’s pretty,” Holly says.

  I follow her gaze to Abby who emerges from a swinging door behind the counter. She sees us and briefly pauses, her eyes swinging from me to Holly.

  “The waitress?”

  “Yeah. Check out her uniform. I’d work in a diner just to wear one of those short, tight dresses.”

  Amused, I give a slowly approaching Abby a slow appraisal. She’s pretty alright. The hottest waitress I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  She reaches our table. Her eyes flicker over my face then Holly’s with curiosity. “Good evening, welcome to Denton’s Place, what can I get you?”

  “Good evening. I was just telling my brother that you’re pretty.” Holly beams. “And I like your uniform.”

  Abby smiles. “Your brother?” She gives me a knowing look. I’ve mentioned Holly several times. This is their unofficial first meeting. “Thank you, you’re sweet. Are you guys ready to order?”

  Leaning over I make a show of looking at her name tag. “Abigale,” I drawl, and she purses her lips to hide the smile I see trying to emerge. “Tell, Abigale what you want, Holly.”

  “The greasiest, sloppiest burger you have and a strawberry milkshake.”

  Pulling a notepad from her apron’s pocket, Abby chuckles. “A girl after my own heart. Who needs to watch calories, right?” Her attention turns to me. “What about you, sir?”

  My lips twitch. “Just coffee, thanks.”

  Holly, rests her chin on her hand and watches Abby and me curiously. “One more thing, Abigale,” she says. “My brother is single... I think.” Her brows furrow. “Wait, are you? You never said what happened with the woman you messed up with.”

  “Jesus, Holly,” I groan.

  Abby’s eyes light up with amusement as she turns to me. “He messed up with a woman? You don’t say.”

  “Yeah, it was weeks ago. I told him to man up and apologize. I don’t know if he did.”

  Groaning, I drop my head to rub the bridge of my nose.

  “Well, how did it go?” Abby asks with a smile. “Did you two make up?”

  “Yeah, did you? I forgot to ask you what happened.”

  I give Holly a seething look, which has no effect on her at all. Her expectant look remains in place. “Actually, things went well. We... made up.” The last two words come out as a low hum because the memory of how Abby and I made up, instantly heats my blood.

  The pink in her cheeks tells me she’s remembering our first night together too. There have been plenty of hot, passionate nights between us since then. “Good for you.” Her words come out a little breathy.

  “Oh, well, never mind,” Holly shrugs. “He isn’t single after all.”

  Abby’s lips quirk. “It’s okay, he isn’t my type anyway.”

  Eyes snapping to her, I scowl.

  With a smirk, she lets us know, “I’ll be back shortly with your order.” Then saunters off.

  My gaze drops to her ass. The sexy sway of her hips is captivating.

  “Oh, my God.” Holly laughs. “You’re totally checking her out. Your girlfriend would be pissed.”

  I gaze at Holly with a small smile. If only she knew Abby is my girlfriend. It hits me how much I would love to go public. I want everyone to know that she’s mine and I’m hers. How long can we keep us a secret?

  Minutes later, Abby arrives with our order. I watch her every movement from beneath my lashes as she moves around the diner. She disappears through the swinging doors again. “I need to use the restroom,” I announce. “Will you be alright by yourself?”

  Holly lifts a brow. “I’m not five Bryce, of course I’ll be alright,” she mumbles with a full mouth.

  I shake my head as I slide out of our booth. She has as much attitude as Abby does. Making my way to the back of the diner, I peep through an ajar door. It looks to be the employee’s break room. Angela, the older waitress is sitting in a recliner dozing with her head tilted precariously to one side. Abby is nowhere in sight. Venturing further, I see that the back door is open.

  I find Abby outside, hauling a bag to the huge dumpster. She shivers and burrows into her coat as she makes her way back. Stepping out, I close the door and her head snaps up.

  “Bryce, what are you―”

  I pull her against me and cover her mouth with mine. She instantly goes pliant, leaning into me, kissing me back. “Hi,” I whisper.

  Gazing up at me with passion-glazed eyes, she laughs. “Hi. What in the world are you doing out here?”

  “I missed you.”

  Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she pulls back to give me a once over. “Is the party over already?”

  “No, Holly and I ditched. We were bored.”

  She smiled. “You sister is the cutest. I like her. I’m glad I got to finally meet her.”

  My shoulders sag a little. “I should be able to introduce you as my woman.” It disturbs me that I have to come to the diner and pretend not to know my own girlfriend.

  “It’s okay, Bryce.”

  “Not really,” I sigh.

  She palms the nape of my neck and pulls me down for another kiss. Needing more, like I always do, I spin us around and back her into the wall. I tug the zipper of her coat down to palm her hips. She giggles against my lips.

  “Bryce, what are you doing?”


  “Showing you how much I missed you.” My roaming hand slips under her dress.

  “We’re in an alley,” she protests, yet, her legs part, allowing me better access.

  “I wish I could take you back to my place right now.” My lips trail down her neck while my fingers brush her mound over her underwear. She gasps. “Or maybe I can show you right here.”

  “Bryce,” she moans. “As much as I want to keep going, we can’t.” She gently pushes against my chest. “You sister is waiting for you, and I have to get back in.”

  Backing off and ignoring hardening cock, I sigh. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I just can’t get enough of you.”

  Abby grins. “Doing it in a dark alley would be adventurous, though.”

  My jaw clenches. “Don’t tempt me.” I pull her coat back together and take a step back. I have to shove my hands into my pockets to resist touching her again.

  Reaching up to stroke my tie, she eyes me with sympathy. “You had to wear a tie. You poor thing. I’ll have to make you feel better when I get the chance.” There’s a seductive gleam in her eyes that makes my cock jump.

  “Tonight?” I ask, hopefully. “My place.”

  She nibbles her lower lip. “Tempting but I have to study for your exam, professor.”

  Rocking back on my heels, I grunt. “Right. You can study at my place.”

  “You and I both know I’d never get the textbook open if I come to your place.” She smirks. “The only thing that would get open are my legs.”

  I sigh my longing “When you create such imagery, you make it hard for me not to touch you.”

  Her teasing smile, fades. “Are you going to head back to the party?”

  “Yeah, I just really wanted to see you. I have to get Holly back home soon. I wish I could have taken you with me tonight.”

  Her lashes lower. “I wouldn’t fit in with that type of crowd.”

  And that’s what I love most about her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Abby

  “I’m going away for the weekend,” I casually announce.

  Jake and Lucy stop eating to stare at me.