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My eyes widened when I saw the five filing boxes piled next to a cabinet. He must have noticed because he laughed and attempted to reassure me.
“You don’t need to get them all done today. Maybe just shoot for one box. A professor who retired last semester left me some of his journals and research files.”
“That’s a little bit more than some.”
“If you’d have seen the rest, you wouldn’t be saying that. Boxes were stacked almost to the ceiling in his office. In multiple piles.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you only got away with five. Otherwise, I’d be here until you retired.”
He laughed, and I became a little mesmerized by his smile. The creases in his cheeks. The small dimple in his chin a little more apparent as the skin stretched across it.
When he looked up, I averted my eyes, feeling like a child caught staring. “Well, I should get started then.”
We worked in a companionable silence for almost an hour. He would leave, but immediately return. Every once in a while, I’d turn to find him looking at me, and he’d just smile or nod before returning to his work. He probably just wanted to make sure I didn’t mess anything up. He seemed very meticulous. I’d look over and watch him shift a pen to line up with the paper, or make sure every piece of paper sat the same distance from the edge, just small things. I had to force myself to stop looking before I got caught staring again.
“Well, I’m heading out,” Donna said, popping her head in through the doorway. “Callum, don’t work this poor girl too hard.”
“But I thought you told me she was my indentured servant forever,” he said, furrowed eyebrows directed at Donna.
She narrowed her eyes back. “I would never,” she said, turning to wink at me. “Have a good night you two. Callum, I’ll see you tomorrow. Oaklyn, I’ll see you Friday?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay. Have a good night.”
When she left, Dr. Pierce leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms above his head. I had to pinch the skin between my forefinger and thumb to force myself to look away from how his light blue dress shirt stretched across his broad chest.
“I guess we should call it a night. Didn’t realize it was already after five.”
“Oh, wow. Time flies when you’re filing papers.”
“Most thrilling job out there.”
I liked his quick banter and easy responses.
“Thank god, since I’m going to be doing it forever as your indentured servant. Don’t lie, you actually have all those boxes stacked in a room waiting for me.”
He smiled and put his hands up. “You caught me.”
“Well, I’ll be back Friday to pick up where I left off.”
Before grabbing my things, I placed the lid back on the box and cleaned up my area.
“It’s late. Do you need an escort?” Dr. Pierce asked.
I giggled like an idiot, opening my mouth before thinking. “I’m good without a male escort.”
“Oh, uh. I . . . uh, didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know. Sorry, I have a weird sense of humor.” My cheeks burned from saying something so stupid to my teacher. But when I looked at him, red tinged his cheeks too. And he was still laughing.
“Next time I’ll definitely clarify. I’d hate for Donna to give me a speech on offering to be a male escort to a student. Don’t tell her, but she scares me a little.”
“Nonsense. Donna is an angel.”
“An angel who can put this whole office of males in their place.” We both laughed at the image. Once we’d gathered ourselves, he asked again more clearly. “Do you need someone to walk you to your car?”
“No, thank you. I’m just running to my friend’s dorm right across the way.”
He nodded. “Okay. Just be safe.”
And with a wave, I was out the door, having survived the first day working for Dr. Pierce without drooling all over him.
I walked the short distance to Olivia’s dorm and she greeted me, letting me in, before taking me to the common area with her other friends. Joining the study party, I pulled my books out knowing I wasn’t going to get anything done. We started talking as soon as I sat down, and I had no doubt it would continue until I left.
“So, how was your first day in the physics department? Did all the geeky guys fawn over you? Were there any hot geeky guys? Please tell me there were.”
I laughed at her rapid-fire questions. “I didn’t see any, but if I do, I’ll send them your way.”
“This is why we’re friends.” She raised her hand for a high-five and I obliged. “But really, how was it?”
“It was good. I helped with lab equipment and then I assisted Dr. Pierce for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Shut. Up,” one of the girls on the opposite couch said. I think her name was Sandy. “He’s so freaking hot. I seriously considered changing my major just for the opportunity to get close to him.”
