As she pulled out his book and he noticed many thumbed and marked passages, he reminded himself, she’s not attractive. Interesting.
But who was he kidding. He was dying to ask her about every single thought she’d had while reading.
Once they were in the air, he could resist no longer. “So, how is your reading?”
Her mouth twitched. “It’s excellent. Mostly.”
He nodded and smiled in self-gratification. “What? Mostly?”
His responding laugh made him smile. “It’s just this one premise.”
His attention was now riveted on her fingers, slender, beautiful. What had she found? What premise?
She stopped. “Here it is.” Then she read some inane detail.
He waited. “That’s it?”
She shook her head. “I’m just kidding, Mr. Adams. I couldn’t resist. Actually, I find the book to be fascinating.” Her eyes shone with admiration, but there was a hint of something behind it.
“Except.”
“What?”
“There is a hint of truth to your tease. Go ahead, challenge me.”
She inhaled and held her breath for a moment. Then she explained in great detail how he had neglected an important aspect of the influence of home life on the literature of the day. “I just can’t help but think, for example, that these ancient fisherman came home to wives and children. And most of their decisions were governed by that home life, pressure to feed and care for them, those kinds of things.”
“And how would these familial influences be most evidenced?”
“Here’s where my theory goes into play.” Her face lit with enthusiasm. She seemed to forget where she was as she discussed her research. Her hands lifted and flowed, much like the waves of the sea. Her voice rose and fell in a beautiful, musical rhythm. And while Dex listened to her unique and important research direction, he was enchanted. He felt himself drawn in like a child at story time.
She pulled out her books and opened up notes on her laptop, and the teacher became the student in a delicious airplane classroom.
When a flight attendant interrupted them to ask their drink of choice, Margie called up between the seats. “That was the most amazing lecture I’ve heard in a long time.”
Shawna whipped around in her seat. “You heard all that?”
“Enough to get the gist of where you’re going with this. Dex, I’m impressed with your choice of TA. We’ve got ourselves a grad candidate here.”
She kneeled up on her seat, Dex seemingly forgotten. “I’ve been looking at some programs.”
“Have you? I’m pleased to hear it. You’re just the kind of student we welcome. Pretty soon you’ll be heading our study abroad programs like Dex here.”
“I’d love to get going on my education, I feel like I’ve lost some time, so I’m a bit more urgent than most.”
Dex watched her getting excited about further education, watched Margie falling in love with Shawna, and was pleased again with his excellent find in his new TA. With Shawna here to help, he could probably finish his own research and get moving on another project.
With her interest engaged elsewhere, he studied her profile. Chestnut curls piled on top of her head and cascaded every which way when she excitedly nodded her head. He smiled when a curl fell in front of her eyes and she blew it away with a puff. Three freckles dotted her nose, which dipped up in an energetic perk at the tip. Her clothes hugged her in all the right places, and he realized that not only did Shawna have an engaging mind, but she also was a classic beauty. He would actively pursue her if he’d met her at one of his parent’s functions. With her classic beauty and engaging manner, she kept him watching for what she might do or say next.
When he’d realized she was his equal in just about every way, his plan regarding her changed. Be appropriate. Be professional. And keep her around until he could really date her and see where things could go.
Watching her talk with great animation about plans for a masters and plans to perhaps enroll in more of his own classes, he knew that if he were to hope for anything with Shawna, he had to be in it for the long game. He pulled out his laptop and his reading material and decided he’d just have to wait and see. There was nothing he could do about it now.
Her laugh flowed through him like a soothing torrent. He leaned closer to her without even thinking about it, then straightened.
No matter what happened, he absolutely must do nothing about any feelings in her direction yet.
Chapter 6
Professor Adams slept in the seat next to her.
Hours into their flight, she watched his quiet breathing. The hottest man she’d ever seen was sleeping right next to her. That sounded like the beginning of a steamy romance novel.
And Margie had been amazingly supportive and full of ideas. Shawna had never been more excited for a Wi-Fi connection so she could look up the program Margie was talking about.
Apparently she could finish up her major and get her masters at the same time. Those two years she lost, she could perhaps get back. Everything in her life was coming together. She crossed her fingers. She better knock on wood. Usually right when she felt like everything was going her way, it all fell apart.
Her eyes closed, her lids heavy, but she forced them open again. This time Mr. Adams looked back at her. And for a moment, in the dark quiet of the airplane, they weren’t professor and student. He was a man, she was a woman, and his eyes were full of interest. She let her guard down and smiled. His expression turned knowing, and he shrugged.
Maybe someday. He shifted so his fingers were inches from her own and closed his eyes again.
They landed in Naples, and Shawna looked out the window. She’d forgotten to look out over the geography while in the air, but, in her defense, Mr. Adams had been excitedly explaining his current research that he was hoping the class would help with as they did their assignments. It was all exciting, and her job would be to grade the weekly papers and sift through everything that was submitted for the gems that might aid in his research.
Every week, no matter what they did in-country, they were to also submit a journal entry of the experience. She was supposed to make sure they got a completion grade for those.
And she was supposed to help him with his research, go on excursions with the class, and complete all the assignments as a student herself.
Though Mr. Adams said that most of his assignments for her would count in place of the others so that she was relieved of some of the busy work; but she did want to participate otherwise as a regular student. She was as excited to learn as anyone there.
She slipped her laptop case off her shoulder and followed Mr. Adams off the plane. He hadn’t spoken to her yet since landing. Margie was leaning on her husband’s shoulder, and they were deep in conversation.
It felt warm, and she wanted to shed her cardigan. Girls giggled together behind her.
Mr. Adams gathered the class together in the corner near the gate they’d just exited. “Welcome to Italy. We have busses picking us up, well, picking you up. Margie, Mark, and I will be taking cars. You will go check in to your dorms. Be kind to the nuns who are sharing their facilities with us and cooking your breakfast every morning. Be good roommates. And if you have a problem, don’t tell me.”
The students laughed at that.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow morning at seven AM in the meeting hall next door to where you are staying.”
Tiff raised her hand. “Where will you be staying?”
He eyed her for a moment, and Shawna thought he wasn’t going to respond, but he said, “We have separate accommodations.”
Then he walked away with Margie and Mark without a backward glance.
“So I guess you’ll be slumming it with us now?” Brandon stood beside her.
Shawna couldn’t tell what emotion backed up his words.
“Yup. I have to be careful on airplanes. Immuno-compromised.”
“Sounds like a great reason to s
it in first class if you ask me.”
“I’m not complaining.”
Brandon smiled. “So I guess we get our luggage?”
“Sounds about right.”
Tiff and Georgia approached with Peter in tow. Tiff slipped her arm in Shawna’s. “So what’s the inside scoop?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you have our assignments already? Can you give us an early heads up on what he’s looking for? You know, the scoop.”
“Ah, I didn’t learn much more than what’s already in the syllabus. Make sure you actually do the assignments. And he’s looking for people who will help further his own research. I can send you ideas of what to look for.” Dr. Adams had already told her he wanted to give the students leads for their research.
Georgia, the one most interested in having fun, rocked on her toes. “Naples. Who’s on for dinner tonight?”
Shawna couldn’t wait. “Me. I read about five different restaurants I’m dying to try.”
“Okay, how about we all get settled and then meet in the lobby?”
They agreed and then grabbed their luggage and piled in the busses. Shawna couldn’t help looking over her shoulder every few minutes, hoping that Dr. Adams would show up.
He’d apparently forgotten all about her, and the other students, until tomorrow. And that right there was enough to disprove her thoughts that she might be something special to him. Ah well, best to understand that now, right at the beginning, instead of continuing in her delusion through the summer.
They pulled up in front of their first accommodations. Like a youth hostel, the place was clean and sparse. Her room had a cross up high on the wall, two narrow beds, an adjoining bathroom, and a window. The beds shared a nightstand between them. As she unpacked into the dresser, the only other piece of furniture in the room, she felt the silence around her thicken.
The front desk had given her a note from Dr. Adams. It said that she was to have her own room—one of the larger ones with a view. “Your first job perk,” he’d said.
It sounded lovely, but in reality, it was quiet.
She hurried downstairs, looking for the others in the lobby. They soon followed with quite a group. Everyone was on the lookout for dinner. Comments everywhere made her smile.
“The first pizza, right here in Naples.”
“Gelato. I’m going to eat gelato at every meal.”
“I just want some homemade pasta.”
Brandon came to stand beside her. “I looked up all the ratings. I’ve got the best place.”
“After you.”
Their group hurried from the lobby, and several others followed. Soon they were standing in front of the maître d’ in a darling restaurant. There were tables set up outside, and the place was beautiful. The staff was able to seat them all, table by table. She respected the lovely Italian couple who owned the place.
“You are famous for your pasta here.” Shawna smiled. “Famoso.” She wondered if that was a real word.
“That’s not a real word.” Brandon shook his head.
“Famoso? I think it is.” She googled it. “See.”
Brandon shrugged. “I guess you really can add the letter o to any word and it becomes Italian.”
Shawna smiled at the evening sky. Their table was outside, and flowers hung over the wood arbor above them. The air smelled of honeysuckle and violets. And she knew she’d never ever get enough of Italy.
“Everything here is beautiful.” She pointed to the people walking by, hand in hand. “Even the people. They dress with style.”
Their waiter asked for their drink orders, and Tiff gasped. “He has eyes like Professor Adams.”
Brandon grunted. “How do you even know what color eyes our teacher has?”
“Uh, everyone knows what color his eyes are.” She nodded toward Shawna. “Right, Shawna?”
“I guess. Peter, do you know?”
Peter looked surprised at being addressed. “Are they blue?”
She laughed and shrugged.
Once their food came, everyone quieted down. Shawna savored each bite. There was something to be said about homemade food and natural ingredients. It made all the difference in the world. She hoped she’d never forget this meal.
And then her grin grew, because she knew she could eat right here at this café as often as she liked.
Brandon’s leg brushed her own, and he left it there. “I saw on the syllabus we are going to spend a week going north. Rome, Siena, Verona, Civita di Bagnoregio, whatever that is, and Florence.”
“I can’t wait. I think it’s a full ten days.”
“We leave pretty soon. But before we can go, there’s this killer long paper due.”
“What?” Georgia’s face drained of color. “Like when is it due? How long?”
Everyone looked at Shawna.
“Now wait a minute. I didn’t assign it, and I don’t know. We’ll have to check the syllabus and make sure we stay on top of things. Let’s text about it tonight and decide when to meet tomorrow.” That seemed to pacify everyone.
She exhaled slowly. Being a TA was not going to be as dreamy as she’d originally thought.
They finished their meal and walked back to their dorms. On the way, they stopped for their first gelato.
Shawna had her doubts. How much different could this gelato be than all the ice cream she’d ever had in her life? She ordered stracciatella and took her first bite, expecting it to be nothing special. But as soon as the sweet, cool, creamy dessert hit her tongue, she knew she’d underestimated gelato. The flavor was so rich, so consuming. The perfect texture and taste. She’d found another thing she must eat every day.
“For the win!” Georgia danced in the street while they walked back holding cups of gelato, spoons going to mouths as quickly as possible.
“Right! I’m posting this for the masses.” Tiff snapped a selfie with her gelato and then skipped up next to Georgia so they could do the girl whisper and laugh thing.
Brandon, Peter, and Shawna walked behind.
Shawna took another bite. “Peter, what flavor did you get?”
“Cinnamon.”
“What? I didn’t even know they had cinnamon.”
“The girl told me they don’t have it in many places and that I should try it here first while I had the chance.”
“Is it good?”
“It’s quite good. The flavor is so much stronger than I thought it would be.”
Brandon nodded. “I got tiramisu. Same here. It’s life changing.”
They made their way back to the residence hall. Students were getting cozy on couches in the main lobby area, and Shawna could tell students would be up late into the night.
Brandon stood closer. “Want to play some cards?” He pointed to the last remaining seating area. There were games up on the shelves nearby, including cards.
“I’m game. I’ve got a killer game of hearts.”
The others agreed, and Shawna settled in to being a student again, a true student—staying up late, getting up early, all of it.
She could only think of one thing that would make the situation even better. And he was probably adulting with the true university staff.
Chapter 7
Dexter wondered what Shawna was doing. How could she just get on the bus without once looking back? Something persistently reminded him he’d done the same. But it didn’t signify. She’d forgotten him already. Flanked by Brandon and Peter, she’d hung out with the students, rode in the bus, and went off to the student living area.
He felt a pang, knowing he’d be staying in much nicer accommodations. The university paid for him to stay in the residence hall with the students, but he’d made up the difference for him and Margie and her husband to stay elsewhere.
So he’d called the front desk and made sure Shawna had the best room, a private room. He stepped out on his balcony, overlooking much of Naples, and wondered how she was doing. Five times he’d wanted to text her about tomorrow�
��s class, about their coming assignment, but he knew she didn’t need anything more from him. So he’d resisted. And now it was late. He was going to have to wait until morning to see her again.
Seven AM. Bright and early. This would be an excellent test to see if she could handle the rigors of the course and her job. It was going to be a fast and furious semester. He knew she’d be fine. Once she partied with everyone the first night, they would get it out of their system as soon as they realized how soon seven in the morning came.
Was she a partier? Would she hook up with someone? Have a summer fling? He paced on the balcony. That was none of his business. Students. He’d keep them busy enough, keep her busy enough she didn’t have time for partying and flings.
He smiled, thinking of their breakfast. It was going to be delicious, practical, and filling. And the only coffee in the place waited on the breakfast tables. Everyone would go down to eat in order to get their coffee fix. Which was just what he wanted. They’d need some good food in them if they were going to be walking all over the place like he hoped to do.
After a couple hours of his own writing, he at last fell asleep.
He hurried through his breakfast the next morning and headed to the classroom. It was situated in an upper-level room, with windows all along one wall. They would have class time in the mornings, and afternoons were for assignments, individual research, and recreation. The day felt fresh, new. Being outside at such an early hour rejuvenated his plans for the group. He had opted to walk to their building and drank in the clean alleys, the cobblestone streets, the bright blue sky, and the occasional bird. He was in Naples. One deep breath after another, and his feet were practically skipping by the time he could see the building up ahead.
He was early, forty-five minutes early, but even so, a lone figure waited for him by the front door. Shawna. His feet picked up their pace, his smile grew, and hopeful anticipation rose up inside him almost before he’d registered his reaction.
Her Billionaire Professor Page 4
