“I see it’s not enough for you to knock me down in class, now you’re resorting to the same abuse in public.” The bold sentiment rolled off her tongue before she could stop it. But instead of shame or regret, she felt liberated. She wasn’t some meek, shy, easily embarrassed little coed. She was a thirty-two-year-old woman, damn it. And Professor Clark wasn’t some almighty entity, especially outside of the classroom. He was a man. And Frankie had never been afraid of a man.
Well, not as an adult, anyway.
She suddenly felt very aware of his hand bracing her arm and shook out of his grasp.
Professor Clark cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Pardon,” he mumbled.
“Really?” Frankie snorted. She dragged a slow appraisal fromhis polished shoes to his scowling face. “All that eloquence and fancy law degree, and that’s the best apology you can come up with?”
“What?” he drawled incredulously. “Would you have me fall to my knees and beg for your forgiveness after what was very clearly an accident?”
“It’d be a delicious start,” she purred.Delicious?Was she flirting with him now? The crotchety professor was absolutely beautiful, wearing an impeccably tailored outfit that showcased what Frankie assumed was are-donk-ulousbody, but he was also, without a doubt, unequivocally the last person she should be flirting with.
Stepping forward and well into her bubble, Clark scooped up one of Frankie’s hands and held it close to his chest. The heat from his fingers bit through the white knit of her mittens while the icy chill of his sapphire eyes drilled into hers. Her heart raced, and she cursed the thumping organ along with her tongue as it unconsciously licked at her dry lips. The impulse to fling her panties at him was strong and she barely managed to keep them in place. Usually, the roles were reversed. She was always the one to play it cool while the menfolk fawned all over her, flexing like silly peacocks to get her attention.
It had to be the celibacy making her feel like a wanton ninny.
“Francesca,” he said as he continued to look down at her. “Please accept my sincere apologies. To say I regret causing you to tumble beneath my oafish feet is the gravest of understatements. And though it may take weeks, years even, for you to forgive my callous response, I am willing to wait with bated breath for you to bestow mercy upon my wretched soul. I have never been so sorry.” His words slid over her skin like hot honey, sweet and soothing.
It took a moment for his cocky smirk to break through the fog.
He was blatantly ridiculing her.
“Prick,” she muttered, pulling from the warmth of his large hands and stepping back. The resulting chill had her hugging the bag of groceries tighter to herself.
“I’ve been called worse.” Professor Clark shrugged.
Frankie clocked the large bouquet in his hand.
“Hot date?” She nodded toward the flowers.
“What? Oh no. I’m visiting my mother; it's her birthday.” He shifted from one foot to the other, clearly done with the exchange.
“I’m surprised you have a mother.” She was sure her eyes glinted as she smirked. “I would have guessed you were spawned in some fiery pit somewhere.”
He recoiled, eyes widening momentarily, then schooled his expression.
“Right, well.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get to it then.”
“Fare thee well, professor.”
“Miss Miller.” He nodded then turned and strode out of the grocery store.
Chapter ten
Benjamin
“The renowned Benjamin Matthew Clark, esquire, finally returns my call,” Johnny crowed good-naturedly through the car speakers. “It’s about damn time.”
Benjamin grinned as Johnny’s cheery tone eased his apprehension. The warm fondness for his friend resonated deep in his bones.
It was difficult for Benjamin to fathom that he hadn’t spoken to his friend on the phone in years. Massive, pivotal life events came and went since he’d last heard Johnny’s voice. Even the request to be his best man had come through as an out-of-the-blue text. Since then, Johnny had sent a barrage of messages and voicemails, insisting on hashing out the details of the coming nuptials. Unfortunately, the quarter had felt particularly challenging, what with a certain interloper front and center in his family law class, that he’d been preoccupied. But that wasn’t all of it. If he was being honest, Benjamin was a little nervous about finally speaking with his friend.
“I know, I know. But you have my near undivided attention while I drive out of the city.” He glanced at the estimated arrival time on his phone and cringed. “The next hour and forty-five minutes are all yours.”
“All I need is five.”