Page 21 of The Professor
Walking away from him, I grab my keys and wallet. “You can tell me about it while we eat. Come on I’m fucking starving, my treat.”
“If you’re treating I’m definitely in.”
We end up at the diner and of course it’s busy being a Saturday evening. There aren’t too many places to eat close to town, unless you go onto campus. The university is what keeps this town going.
Walking in, I immediately feel eyes on me. Looking around I notice Emma staring right through me. Fuck, she looks beautiful. Her long brown hair cascading over her delicate shoulders. Bringing my eyes down to the cleavage she has showing.
“Hey, you good?” Liam asks, nudging my shoulder.
Pulling my gaze from Emma, I look at him. “Yep.”
We follow the waitress to our table and I can’t help but grin when it’s close to Emma’s. However, my grin quickly disappears when I notice a guy sit down next to her. This unexpected, totally unwarranted, feeling of jealousy rips through me. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach and it’s gnawing at me.
“You ready to order?” The waitress interrupts my thoughts.
Liam and I order, then he begins talking about the plans for the ranch. I want to listen, I’m trying, but my focus is on Emma and that man. She’s with her friend Aubrey and they both seem to really enjoy this man’s company. He has them laughing and has their complete attention. I don’t fucking like it. A part of me wants to go over there and interrupt, but another part, the more rational part, knows I can’t.
“So I think sod is the best option. What do you think?” Liam asks.
Fuck. I didn’t hear one thing he said. Not wanting to appear like I’m more interested in the love life of a student, I agree. “Yeah, I think sod is the way to go.”
“Great, so the sprinkler system will be installed and than we can lay the sod.”
“Cool, it’s gonna look great,” I say, sipping my water.
I focus back on Emma and need to fist my hands when the guy puts his arm on the back of the booth. She’s animatedly telling him something and he listens closely. Too closely. He’s fascinated by her, and son of a bitch I can’t blame him.
“That’s her isn’t it?” Liam asks, peeking over his shoulder.
Lifting my eyes to him, I try to play it off. “That’s who?”
“That’s how you’re going to play this? Act like I’m some prick who doesn’t know you at all,” he pushes.
“Yeah, that’s her,” I admit.
Glancing over his shoulder again, he turns to me with a smile. “I’ve seen her around. She’s hot, but sheisyour student. I know I’m always busting your balls about screwing around, but you need your job, bro. Not to mention you’d never be able to get another one. Losing everything is definitely worth it.”
“Shut the fuck up. That’s not going to happen,” I say a bit too harsh.
I’m feeling all these different things. Things I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m jealous of some man that a student of mine is with and Liam saying that pisses me off. It shouldn’t affect me in any way.
“Drake, you need to relax. Just cause you think a student of yours is hot doesn’t make you a bad guy,” Liam says.
“No, but wanting to do something with her does.” I scrub my face and stand up. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Splashing water on my face, I look at myself in the mirror. I mentally berate myself for all these thoughts. It’s unprofessional, it’s immoral, it’s forbidden. It’s everything I want.
Shaking my head I leave the bathroom. Just as I’m about to pass Emma’s table, the guy calls my name.
“Professor Grayson.”
Stopping in front of him, I lift an eyebrow. “Yeah and you are?”
He extends his hand and I look at it like he’s handing me a dick. I’m not touching it. Not until these words come out of his mouth, “I’m Finn Bower, Emma’s father.”
Her father, fucking hell. This time I grab his hand and shake it with a grin on my face. “Mr. Bower, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The jealousy I felt disappears as quickly as it came.
“I’ve heard such wonderful things about you. Emma is fond of you,” he says, turning to look at his daughter.
