The Professor (Forbidden Encounters 1)

But it feels like we’ve known each other much longer.

“I’ve never felt so much for someone so quickly. Ever,” he finishes.

That warms me but I’m still pissed about him and that other woman. “Then how come you’ve moved on so quickly?”

“What?” He blinks. “Do you mean what you saw in the parking lot? Good God, Abby that was... a misunderstanding.”

I glare. “I know what I saw.”

“What you saw was a woman angling for a date. I can’t stop others from being interested. She crossed the line with the touching but I didn’t want to be rude. I turned her down.”

“You sure are popular with the ladies.” I can’t blame the female population for having the hots for him, though. It isn’t his fault he’s insanely gorgeous.

His lips twitch and my glare intensifies. Stoking the stubble lining his jaw, he says, a little too smugly, “I like that you’re a little jealous.”

I’m a lot jealous. “Don’t sound so smug.” His deep chuckle tickles me between my legs. I have to cross them under the counter.

“Alright, I’m sorry and you’re sorry,” he declares. “Can we move on from this?”

“You ignored my calls,” I accuse with a scowl.

“I was angry. I’m sorry about that too.”

With a haughty air, I sniff. “I too apologize for ignoring your calls after you ignored mine.”

His lips stretch into a broad smile. “From here on out we discuss things like grown adults. Deal?”

I lift a brow at eye his extended hand with amusement. “We’re going to shake on it?”

“Would you prefer we kiss on it? Because we can.”

I wouldn’t mind that. Swallowing, I place my hand in his, trying to ignore the heat in his eyes as we make the connection. I definitely can’t ignore the heat in the atmosphere. It seems to appear every time we touch. Pulling my hand from his, I pick up my mug to hide my expression.

“Do you want to talk about what else happened today?”

“Nothing else happened,” I grumble too quickly.

His brow quirks. “I told you, you can talk to me, Abby.”

Shoving my mug aside because what’s left of the hot chocolate is lukewarm, I give him an annoyed look. “It does matter what else happened.”

“I think it does. You were sitting in a parking lot crying.”

“If you tell anyone you saw me crying, I’ll…” I’ll what? Bryce waits for me to finish, amusement evident on his face. “Just forget you saw me in that state, okay?”

“I can’t just forget.”

“Why not?”

“Because I care. A lot.”

Defenses slipping, I sigh. I don’t start talking immediately. Instead, I gaze outside. I hear Bryce’s footsteps then feel the heat of his body close to mine. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”

Turning, I’m surprised to find him leaning so close. Our faces are only centimeters apart. “No, I want to tell you. I was gathering my thoughts.” Trying to formulate my words in a way that won’t make me seem like a big cry baby. “It was just... everything.”

He remains silent.

“I was miserable about my car not starting because it added to the list of things that were already wrong. My dad, the way things have been since we lost Mom, living in this town, you being mad at me, then seeing you so cozy with someone else. I don’t deal with things the way I should. I have a habit of keeping things locked away until it boils over. That’s what happened tonight. I was keeping too much inside. And you don’t have to tell me, I know that’s not healthy.”