“I try to keep my personal life and professional life separate. Usually.” I arch a brow at Cody.
While part of me can’t stand that he’s here wreaking havoc, he is saving me, and I appreciate it.
“Sorry, babe, I couldn’t wait till tonight to see you.”
Babe.
That’s what he used to call me. Just hearing him say it again pulls at my heartstrings and stirs memories long buried.
The next thing I know, he’s standing beside me, looking like he is going to kiss me. He must see the way my eyes widen in fear, because he bends down and pecks my cheek. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.”
He extends his hand, and I take it like a lifeline, ignoring the way a simple touch from him lights up my body as we exit the lecture hall and walk toward my office.
Neither one of us says a word until we’re inside and the door is closed. And locked. He’s still holding my hand, and the current that flows between us is all-consuming. I yank my hand out of his.
“Nice timing, but how the hell did you hear what he said?”
“The door was ajar. When he went up to you, I thought you might have something going on with him, but then I saw the fear in your eyes. Why the hell did that punk have his hands on you?”
“Excuse me? Are you trying to blame this on me?”
He runs his hands through his hair, and I jealously follow their path. I used to run my hands through his hair every time we kissed. “No, I’m sorry. Seeing another man put his hands on you made me angry.”
I sit down in my chair and glare at him. “You have no right to be angry.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But I still was. Then when I realized you didn’t want the attention, I wanted to tear him to pieces.”
I suppress my smile. He isn’t as unaffected as he seemed yesterday. Knowing that makes me feel better.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” I tell him. “He would just turn it around on me.”
“How do you mean?” Cody sits in the chair across from me. As he leans back, I notice the fabric of his shirt straining across his broad chest. I wonder if he ever rips out of shirts like the Hulk.
“Lucy?”
I glance up. Cody’s staring intently at me. And that damn green shirt really brings out his eyes. I squeeze mine shut. I need to focus. What was I talking about? Oh yes, Randy.
“Last year, a student accused a professor of unwanted advances. There was no proof, but the student made sure that all the parents found out. And since those parents have money and power, they were able to force the professor out of her job.”
“Do you think the professor did it?”
“Absolutely not. There’s even footage of the student who accused her going on and on at some frat party about how he got a professor fired for no reason.”
Cody leans forward. “Was the professor reinstated?”
I shake my head. “She couldn’t get a job at any other university, either, due to the rumors that followed her.”
“That’s why you fear Randy?”
“It’s not unreasonable. He’s in the same fraternity as the other accuser, so he knows how to get what he wants. And based on what Randy said today, he apparently wants me.”
“I’ll kill him,” Cody says as he jumps up.
Something tells me he could.
“Cody, while I appreciate you wanting to go all caveman, I’ll deal with him.”
