The Professor (Forbidden Encounters 1)

I smirk. So she’s tired of eating food she can’t pronounce too. “Alright, I was heading to the diner in town. We can grab something and then I’ll bring you right back before Diana misses you.”

Holly snorts. “She nor Michael will notice either of us is gone with that crowd.”

“Let’s go.”

We stroll to my car and I scowl, shrugging out of my jacket. “You don’t even have your coat.”

She accepts my jacket with a broad grin. “You’re the best.”

“We should do this more often. You know, hang out.” Holly glances around the diner. Besides us, there are only two other customers.

Arms resting on the table, I study her. “You’re lonely in that big house on the hill, aren’t you?”

She shrugs. The sadness she tries to hide tugs at my heartstrings. It was the same for me at her age. “Michael says I should be grateful because he’s taking care of me even though I’m not his.”

“He said that your face?”

She shakes her head. “Uh huh. He says it all the time. It’s no big deal.”

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I make a mental note to address the situation with the tyrant. Holly is a sweet girl. She doesn’t deserve to have her paternity thrown in her face.

“You know, when Mom just married Michael and I met you, I thought you were like him. But you’re not. You’re way cooler.”

“Way cooler, huh?” I smile and try my best to mimic a teenage girl. “That’s like the best compliment ever.”

Holly snickers and throws a packet of ketchup at me. “Shut up.” We laugh but she quickly sobers. “Seriously, Bryce, thanks for always being nice to me and my mom. I wish you hadn’t moved out. I think Mom wishes the same thing.”

My smile fades. “Holly, is there something you want to tell me?”

She fiddles with the lapels of my jacket still draped over her shoulders. “No.”

I’m not convinced. I study her with narrowed eyes, ready to grill her until she spills what she’s hiding.

“Wow, she’s pretty,” Holly says.

I follow her gaze to Abby who emerges from a swinging door behind the counter. She sees us and briefly pauses, her eyes swinging from me to Holly.

“The waitress?”

“Yeah. Check out her uniform. I’d work in a diner just to wear one of those short, tight dresses.”

Amused, I give a slowly approaching Abby a slow appraisal. She’s pretty alright. The hottest waitress I’ve ever laid eyes on.

She reaches our table. Her eyes flicker over my face then Holly’s with curiosity. “Good evening, welcome to Denton’s Place, what can I get you?”

“Good evening. I was just telling my brother that you’re pretty.” Holly beams. “And I like your uniform.”

Abby smiles. “Your brother?” She gives me a knowing look. I’ve mentioned Holly several times. This is their unofficial first meeting. “Thank you, you’re sweet. Are you guys ready to order?”

Leaning over I make a show of looking at her name tag. “Abigale,” I drawl, and she purses her lips to hide the smile I see trying to emerge. “Tell, Abigale what you want, Holly.”

“The greasiest, sloppiest burger you have and a strawberry milkshake.”

Pulling a notepad from her apron’s pocket, Abby chuckles. “A girl after my own heart. Who needs to watch calories, right?” Her attention turns to me. “What about you, sir?”

My lips twitch. “Just coffee, thanks.”

Holly, rests her chin on her hand and watches Abby and me curiously. “One more thing, Abigale,” she says. “My brother is single... I think.” Her brows furrow. “Wait, are you? You never said what happened with the woman you messed up with.”