The Professor Read Free Page B

his deep laugh.
    "I don’t understand,” I said.
    He composed himself before continuing.
    “Of course I don’t expect you to know how to do everything.”
    The grin on his face was on the verge of driving me crazy. Why did he insist on teasing me when it should have been obvious that I was out of my element? Didn’t he know I was having a hard enough time just being around him - I didn’t need him to go and make things even more difficult for me than they already were.
    “You’ll be reviewing some of the data I’ve compiled for my latest paper. It's on the effects of bonuses in the workplace. It’s mundane and boring work - but someone has to do it.”
    I breathed a small sigh of relief.
    “Sounds interesting,” I said.
    “You’re too kind,” he said.
    “What made you want to study that?” I asked. “It sounds… random.”
    He grinned at me. “It’s an important field of study, actually. Businesses need to know how to properly motivate their employees, and how to adequately reward them for a job well done.”
    I bit my lip. “I see.”
    The Professor was much smarter than I would have ever given him credit for - and that was saying a lot. I knew the Business school had a reputation for its scholarly work - but in a million years I would never have guessed what that work entailed. I looked at the stacks of papers in front of me and wondered how all of this work was going to help him out. It all seemed quite overwhelming, and the enormity of the task in front of me was finally beginning to set in.
    “Don’t worry,” he said, as though he could read my mind. “What you’ll be doing is really straight forward.”
    I looked back at him, and was surprised how much his gentle look comforted me. His shaggy brown hair had a way of putting me at ease.
    “Here, I’ll show you.”
    He scooted his chair up next to me. The subtle scent from earlier came on more strongly, and I instantly felt the heat of his body. My head did funny little loops around itself and my thoughts threatened to thicken like a good alcohol buzz.
    It was going to be difficult keeping my thought straight while I worked with the Professor, and I suddenly realized that the research might not be the hardest part about the extra credit after all.

    * * * * *

    The Professor was so close. Too close. He pulled a stack of papers from the piles on the table and leaned in to show me something. His shoulder rubbed against mine - it was as hard as rock and as comforting as a soft pillow. My body craved to be even closer   to him - to curl up against his warmth.
    But that would have been horribly inappropriate.
    I leaned away, subtly; just enough so that I couldn’t feel him against me. The Professor didn’t notice - or he didn’t let on if he did. I tried to calm my racing heart and pay attention to what he was saying.
    I was hopeless.
    “Ms. Ellis?”
    I snapped out of my daze.
    “What?” I said reactively. “Sorry.”
    “Where are you?” he asked.
    “I’m sorry,” I said again. “It’s just all so much.”
    He paused for a moment and regarded me.
    “Let’s take it slow then,” he said. “Keep it simple.”
    I nodded and agreed with him.
    He pursed his lips in a tight grin. I had the distinct impression that he wanted to say something more - that he was censoring himself. I found myself wanting to say more, too, but I didn’t dare. How do you tell the man trying to look out for you that you want him to be so much more?
    “And it’s just Kayla,” I said. His eyebrows pinched together. “If you call me Ms. Ellis again I’m going to be very upset with you.”
    He recoiled, a distraught look darkening his features. “I’m sorry,” he said seriously. “I was just trying to be respectful.”
    I flashed him a smile and nudged his shoulder.
    “ I’m just messing with you ,” I said.
    He smiled nervously, still off-put. “Right, of course.”
    “So you can dish it, but you can’t take it? Typical guy.”
    “It’s not