Page 9 of Baby Daddy Boss

Chapter 7

Aldric

Roselinewasoneofthe most capable young teachers I had met in a long time. She was intelligent, quick-witted, snappy, and confident. She projected herself with a power that drew everyone’s eye to her.

With her as T.A., the class was easily distracted because of her aura when she moved about carrying out her duties. Hell, even I get distracted, though, for some very different reasons.

She was hard to wrangle and quick to start arguments. Not that I didn’t get some perverse thrill out of that part of our dynamic. I lived to have discussions and have her there to poke and prod constantly. Stimulating my thoughts into looping around and finding flaws in her logic only for her to fire right back at me was exciting.

I swallowed as I watched her scribble on something across from me and wrinkle her nose at an answer on a paper. I held back a snort of amusement. Knowing sometimes the answers my students gave were . . . interesting.

Because of this addiction, we had to have our arguments. And because of my attraction to her, I had to say she distracted me quite quickly. During a lecture where she was simply doing her job, I found myself staring at the swing of her hips.

“Are you sure your students should even be in college?” she snarled. “I don’t think I was ever this dumb. It’s either that or they’re just flippant.”

I laughed and choked down my sip of water, “I ask myself that regularly. What were you like in college if not an idiot?”

Her face darkened though I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me. She withdrew for a moment, seeming to be sucked away by the memories my question had pulled up. I waited patiently, filling out the papers under my fingers with a dogged mindset. She was right; this class needed a swift kick in the ass.

“My college days weren’t exactly normal. But I wasn’t a party girl. More focused on education and trying to keep my grades up and my hours at my job,” she said with a flippant roll of her hand.

My brow furrowed. So she worked her way through college, which was interesting. I was curious as to how that came to be a thing. But there seemed to be more to that story than she let on. Unless she was just that boring, and no one was.

“How did you act in college? Were you always such an ass?” She cocked her head, anticipating my response.

“Probably a little less, old age makes you crabby, you know,” I sneered. You’ll probably be so bitchy when you’re my age.”

I knew I’d stepped over a line, but I couldn’t help it; I wanted to watch her get ready to snap back. It caused a thrill to run down my spine, even as I tried to ignore it, knowing she was reeling from my insult. “

Well, this bitch has somewhere to be,” she snapped, glancing at the clock.

Where did she go every night? She left every afternoon right on the dot at four-thirty. So where was she going that required her to be so punctual? Almost like Cinderella. I smiled secretly at the little nickname.

“Goodnight, Cinderella,” I said.

“Goodnight, Prince Asshole,” she retorted. This was quickly followed by the click of the door closing behind her.

I sighed with a smile curving my lips as I scratched away at the papers in front of me. I wanted to get these done. I should have them finished by six, and then I could head to the lab. I’ll check on the samples I was testing for my latest project.

I got home that night when the clock was striking at ten pm. I felt refreshed despite the work I’d put in that day. But to be honest, I’d noticed I’d been feeling less and less tired since I started working with Roseline. Perhaps she was doing more than her temporary position even called for. The only question was, could I deal with the level of distraction she caused me?

The next day a light scattering of rain had broken through the heavy humidity. The cool drizzle was welcoming. Raindrops rolled over my skin in exchange for sweat; it felt much better. I was walking through the park on the way back from breakfast. I stopped when I saw a familiar back, specifically a set of swinging hips I saw every day during the week, ahead of me.

Roseline was struggling to hold an umbrella and several grocery bags. They looked like they were from the grocery store on the other side of the park. I watched her for a few minutes until she finally stopped to shift things around. Seeing my chance, I hustled to get to the spot beside her.

“Roseline. Surprise, surprise,” I greeted.

She glanced up, narrowing her eyes against the rain that managed to make it under her cockeyed umbrella to see who was addressing her. Immediately her expression went from curious to surprise to irritated, and I laughed.

“Let me help,” I offered warmly, holding out a hand to take her umbrella, and she eyed it like a snake about to strike.

“No thanks,” she breathed. “I have somewhere I need to be quick.”

“You won’t get anywherequickstruggling the way you are. C’mon?” I wiggled my fingers enticingly.

She wrinkled her nose, “You are so damn irritating, don’t know when to drop it and move on. Like a dog with a bone.”

“I just like to think I’m persistent; it’s a good quality to have as a scientist,” I retorted, followed by a cheeky smirk.

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