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“She’s one of my students,” I said in low voice so only Bill could hear.
Bill’s eyebrows shot up, but his eyes narrowed into a playful glare. “You dog.”
“There’s nothing going on between us,” I said coolly. “Similar interests is all.”
Several people got up and began gathering their things to leave. I hadn’t even noticed the passage of time until I glanced down at my watch and cursed under my breath.
I rose to my feet and clapped Bill on the shoulder while Whitney talked to a few of the people still gathered around the table. “I have a list of books I’m hoping you can find for me. I’d like to use them in my curriculum next semester.”
Bill shrugged as I handed him the list. He tucked it in his pocket without looking at it. Instead, he looked at Whitney, who wasn’t paying attention to us or our conversation at all. “This place is always open to you whenever you need it,” he said, meeting my eyes again. “Just so you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he continued, tilting his head toward Whitney.
I caught his drift and shook my head. “Again, it’s not like that.”
“Uh-huh.” He grinned, then rolled his eyes back to the group as people began to put their coats on.
I grabbed Whitney’s coat that I’d draped over the railing of the loft and helped her into it, my fingers accidentally brushing over the back of her neck. I felt her shiver under my touch, but I didn’t pull away.
We’d sat with our thighs touching all night. She’d leaned in to joke and laugh with me, the wine turning her cheeks a rich, rosy pink. I’d never seen her so comfortable before. Even as she turned to me, adjusting the fit of her coat, she looked loose and relaxed. “I’m not sure I want to go back.” She smiled softly.
Yeah, me neither. “It’s late. I’ll walk you back to campus.”
“What if someone sees?” she teased, her eyes going wide in mock agitation.
What if someone saw? Why, in this moment, did I not care?
I walked her back to campus. We took the darkened bike trail, and her hand clutched my arm as we traversed over black ice and a fine dusting of wet snow. “You’re a card shark, you know,” I said, glancing down at her. I was carrying her bag of winnings on one shoulder, the plastic grocery bag full of books and other memorabilia brought to the party for that specific purpose. “You should be pursuing a masters in mathematics.”
Her nose crinkled as she laughed, throwing her head back so the icy flakes of snow stuck to her lashes. “I’m terrible at math, truly. I almost failed Epidemiology 101 my junior year.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“You think very highly of me, Professor Ellis. Oh!” She slipped, nearly dragging us both to the ground, but I caught her around the middle just in time and hauled her upright, chest to chest in what I can only describe in a lover’s embrace. “And now you’ve saved my life,” she drawled, giggling.
“You’re drunk, Ms. Dahl,” I whispered, so close the words brushed over her cheek. I felt her body suddenly relax against mine, and I pulled away enough to look down at her face and into her eyes.
“Kiss me,” she said so softly I thought I might have imagined it.
“You know I can’t,” I whispered back, my nose brushing against hers.
Her mouth parted and tilted up, only inches from mine.
But then whatever spell wove between us snapped, and she pulled away, cheeks flaming red and not from the chill in the air.
“I’m sorry,” she said hastily. “I—I have a boyfriend.”
Now I pulled away. “Why?” I asked firmly, searching for the answer in her face, but it was totally blank.
She pressed her lips together, hurt flashing behind her eyes, before turning on her heels and walking briskly away toward Greek Row until she was out of sight.
Chapter 11
Whitney
I WOKE UP THE NEXT morning with a headache that rivaled any hangover I’d ever had before. I hadn’t even drunk all that much during my unexpected night out with Rhys—no, Professor Ellis. He would stay Professor Ellis.
