Come Monday Read Free Page A

because he felt more like her own child, rather than just a brother. While she’d merely taken on the mother role figuratively in her other siblings’ lives, she truly had raised Sean, who had only been nine when their mother died.
    “Where are you going?” she asked as he put on his coat. “It’s a school night.” Even as she asked the question, she internally winced. She just couldn’t seem to kick the mother hen habit where he was concerned.
    “Big history project due tomorrow. I’m going to Chad’s house to work on it.”
    “Oh, okay. Well listen, don’t be too late. Did you eat something?”
    “Chad’s mom’s having lasagna. She invited me to eat with them.”
    “Sorry about dinner,” she said, guilt pummeling her. Prior to her decision to attend college, she’d always made sure there was at least something on the table for dinner.
    15
    Mari Carr
    Her mother had ensured the family gathered for dinner upstairs, away from the hubbub of the restaurant, and for years Keira had managed to maintain that tradition.
    In many ways, she felt as though she was letting her family down through her decision to continue her education.
    Sean grinned and gave her a quick hug. “Are you kidding me? Chad’s mom makes the world’s greatest lasagna. She makes it from scratch.” She laughed. “What? You mean people actually eat lasagna that doesn’t come in a box marked Stouffer’s? You’re kidding me.”
    “Riley would flip out to hear you even mention frozen lasagna.” Keira nodded. “Yeah well, that’s clearly why she took over the cooking duties as soon as she was old enough.” Riley was destined to become the greatest chef in Baltimore. Despite being only twenty-one, she was setting the city on its ear with her delicious recipes. Since she’d assumed the role as chef in the restaurant, business had nearly doubled as folks came from far and near to eat her traditional Irish dishes.
    “I gotta go or I’ll be late. See you later, Keira.”
    “Bye, Sean. Be careful.” He rolled his eyes at her warning. It was the same warning she gave him every time he left the house. They were the identical words her mother had always said to her and she was determined Sean would have the same life he would have had if their mother hadn’t been taken from him when he was so young.
    She changed quickly and returned to the restaurant just in time for the dinner rush.
    She was so busy she didn’t have time to worry about the prospect of returning to Professor Wallace’s office until she fell into bed that night. It was well after two a.m.
    and she knew she should be too tired to think, but her mind kept lingering on a dangerous, delicious fantasy.
    In her thoughts, she’d overslept and was running late…
    She rushed into Professor Wallace’s office shortly after nine with an apology hovering on her lips.
    “Shut the door, Miss Collins,” he said before she could speak. “And lock it.” 16
    Come Monday
    She obeyed, wondering at his too-calm disposition.
    “Come here.”
    Again she complied and a tiny part of her marveled at his ability to make her follow his commands. She wasn’t the type of person to take orders easily from anyone. She’d spent far too much of her life in charge, the responsibility of caring for her family weighing heavily on her shoulders.
    “You’re late,” he said.
    Again she started to apologize, but he placed a firm finger against her lips, halting all sound.
    “I warned you.”
    She nodded.
    “Turn around and bend over the desk. Lift your skirt in the back.” She shivered at his request before her fantasy broke briefly.
    Why am I wearing a skirt? I never wear them.
    Shrugging off the wayward thought, she bent over his big desk, her mind only slightly aware of the fact the surface had been cleared.
    His hand lightly brushed the back of her thigh as he helped her raise her skirt to her waist.
    She whimpered softly at the impact of his touch.
    “Shh,” he soothed. “This is for your