I rapped my knuckles on the door before entering. His head popped up, and I was met with his Clark Kent glasses.1When he saw it was me, he smiled, and I felt my cheeks stretching in return. I couldn’t help it.
“Hey, Oaklyn. Come on in.”
“I was just stopping by to see if there was anything you needed help with,” I said, walking in and leaning on the back of a chair.
“Did Mr. Erikson finally let you free?”
“Yes, after torturing me for hours with the thought of being a physics major.” I placed my hand over my heart.
“Hey, now. It’s not too bad.”
“That lab looks like hell.”
“It is,” he agreed easily. “But it weeds out anyone not serious in the second year. Every program has a class or lesson that thins the herd.”
“Weaklings,” I said dramatically, making him laugh.
“Well, I’m about to finish up grading these papers and then I have to scan in the assignment for the next class. Then I should be done.”
“Can I help?” I offered, not wanting to leave. I liked his laugh, and I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to hear it. Besides, we’d formed a friendship over the last month. More than occasionally we’d eat lunch together, discussing our favorite superheroes and other silly topics. When I could afford it, I’d bake brownies for the office, but made sure to add nuts to at least half because I knew it was his favorite.
We were friends. I was a friend who probably watched his lips move too closely, but still a friend.2
“Actually, yes, you can help. The papers I need to scan are on top of that bookshelf. If you get the ladder from down the hall, could you grab them for me?”
“I don’t need a ladder,” I said with exaggerated confidence. “I may only be five-five, but I make it work for me.” I scooted the chair over to the shelf and looked back before climbing on. “Besides, I’m way too lazy to have to go get a ladder and then take it back.”
“Alright, Mighty Mouse. Just be careful.”
I stepped up on to the cushion and tried to reach the folder. I couldn’t see on top, so I reached blindly.
“No, not that one,” Dr. Pierce said when my hand landed on a stack of papers. “It’s the one further back.”
My face was pressed to the spines of the books, my feet cramping from trying to push up higher and my shirt rode up past my jeans exposing my skin.
“Here, I’ll get it,” he said, standing.
“Nope.” I gave him a hard stare. “You grade papers. I will conquer this reach.” He didn’t come running around the desk, but he did remain standing.
I looked at my options and put my foot on the thin arm of the chair. Getting a good balance, I held on to the shelf and moved my other foot to the other side. I only wobbled a little bit, which brought him out from behind the desk.
“Please don’t fall, Oaklyn.” He stepped closer.
“I’m not going to fall,” I said, laughing.
I fully extended my legs and could finally see the folder at the top of the shelf. “Who put these up here?” I asked reaching for them. “Whoever files for you, really needs to get better at their job.
“I’ll fire her in the morning.”
“Good plan.” I lowered my arm to hand the papers down and the angle threw me off. My foot slipped and the next thing I knew, I was doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t.
Falling.
My heart pounded and in that split second, all I could think was how dumb I must look after I made a big deal of getting the papers.Idiot.
Strong arms wrapped around me. One behind my back, fingers firmly pressed to my arm and the other over the top of my thighs, his hand gripping close to the crease of my ass. I rolled in toward his hard chest, hands pressed to his sculpted pecs, and my face buried against his crisp, white shirt.3
“I’ve got you.” The vibration of his words rumbled against my palms and shot straight to my core.
