10

My brows rise. “Your father must have a successful business.”

Her lips part and she sucks in a sharp breath. “How do you know how successful my father’s business is? Do you know him?”

There’s a slightly panicked edge to her tone and I don’t like hearing it there. I don’t know what I said but I also don’t want her defensive. “Not at all. But it’s a logical conclusion. Your father would have to run a bigger-sized business if he talked to you about that level of running it.”

Her gaze returns to the menu and she fidgets with the edge again. “I guess some would call it big where I’m from.”

I want to ask her where she’s from. What business her father runs. Hell, her knowledge keeps me vigilant. “And where is that?”

Her lips press together and she flicks another of her unsure gazes my way before she drops her eyes back to the table. “New York.”

“State or city?” I press. New York is a big place. I want to know exactly where she’s from.

The pause grows long enough for me to know she’s stalling. I’m about to press when the waitress comes from behind me and places our order on the table. “There we go. Burgers. Fries and drinks. Would you like anything else while I’m here?”

“No thank you. We’re good for now.” I’ll make sure to remember to order two pieces of the apple pie I saw in the cabinet when we came here. But later. It will give me an excuse to keep Cathy here a little while longer. I don’t want this day to end. Or this dissertation. For the first time in years, I’ve…enjoyed myself.

“Here you go.” I slide one serve of the fries next to her burger. “This is for you.”

She leans against the seat and shakes her head. “But I didn’t pay for it.”

“Consider it sustenance because I’ve kept you working all day and I know you have other subjects you have to work on. Granted, they’re not as wildly exciting as business analytics, but the work still needs to be done,” I say, aiming to lace some humor into my words to relax her.

She’s not relaxed though, and she’s eyeing the fries and worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Money is a sticking point for her.

“It’s okay, Cathy. You’re doing me the favor. I need another paper to my name to keep my tenure as professor.”

She scoffs. “You already have five. More than most people your age in your position.”

Warmth diffuses in the center of my chest. “You’ve noticed?”

Color dusts her cheeks, but my stomach eases when she picks up a fry and pops it in her mouth. “Shall we continue while we eat? I’m sure you have better things to do than work all day with me.”

No. I don’t. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

I start to formulate words to that effect that won’t scare her off when the bell over the door rings and several of my students walk in. They take the booth nearest the door and sit without noticing us. Not that they would. They’re deep in animated conversation and looking as though they’re having fun. Something I’ve noticed Cathy never has. I turn to find her rammed into the corner as far as she can fold herself and hunkered down with her screen covering most of her face.

She’s hiding from everyone and my mind jumps to the scene in the lecture room.

“Is Chris Adam causing problems with other students? I can have a word with the Dean and have him expelled. Just say the word, and I’ll have him taken care of tonight. You’ll never have to see him on campus again.” There’s enough of a growl in my voice that her eyes flare and the pretty rose hue drains from her cheeks.

“No!” She jolts, then collects herself. “No. It’s not that…I promise. There’s nothing to worry about.”

But there is. And I do. “Then what is worrying you? Tell me and I’ll help you.”

She shakes her head and disappears behind the computer she uses as a shield. “You’re doing more than enough just by letting me do this paper with you. I can’t ask for more than that.”

I hear the wistful note in her voice. The longing that washes over her face. She’s covering up again, but the more I push, the harder she’ll push back. I nod. I make a point of picking up my burger and taking a bite and watch as she does the same, taking a smaller, much daintier bite than mine.

“There’s a little café in my home town that’s like this. The burgers are similar too. I go there every time I go back home.” I try to sound conversational. A hard task when every sense is locked onto her.

I’m rewarded when her gaze returns to me. “It’s exactly like this?”

“The fries are a little crispier. I think it has to do with the country air.”

“Fries don’t get crispy because of country air.” She takes another bite. Her lips close over the burger bun and my stomach does a slow languid roll that drops into my balls.

“It does in Willowbrook.” I watch as I reel her in.

She swallows, fidgets, and I know I have her attention back when she asks, “Willowbrook? I haven’t heard of that town.”

“Kind of ‘nowhere’ with a population of ‘not many’ in the state of Vermont. Known for its natural beauty, quaint country life and lack of personal space when it comes to the local town gossip,” I say. “Actually I’m not selling it very well. It’s not as bad as that. The local town gossip is a hundred years old and as deaf as a post. The best thing about the town is a little cabin my family owns that we all vacation at every year.”

She holds the burger, almost forgotten, in her hands. She’s definitely forgotten about the students chatting in the corner. And Chris Adam, whom I know she has an issue with. I make a mental note to do some digging. He doesn’t have the right to make Cathy miserable. I’m enjoying seeing the spark of life across her face that’s usually a mask of forced calm.

Another wall she hides behind.

Now though…now I’m captured as her face softens and a dreamy look glosses her eyes. “You have a cabin? I’ve always wanted to vacation in a cabin. With no one around. Just me. And nature.”

“It’s by a lake,” I say, watching excitement flare over her.

“It is?”

Most of my holidays were taken up fishing with my father and brother. Early mornings and late evenings lounging and chatting. “There’s also a pier. The lake is filled with very hungry trout. They’re tastier than this burger.”

“Better than the fries?”

My balls kick into my abdomen at the spark in her eyes. “Much better than the fries.”

But not as good as her. Never as good as her.

Clatter and a loud laugh pull her attention from me to the students. They leave the table and pay for their order at the counter before leaving. Cathy shuts her laptop and slides it into her backpack. She’s only eaten half her meal.

“We haven’t finished eating,” I say.

She slides half way down the bench and put the strap of her backpack on her shoulders. She’s leaving. “It’s okay. I’m not really hungry. I should be getting back…’

“I would like to finish outlining the business scope.” It’s late but I can’t let her go. She hesitates and I push forward.

“If we get this last bit sorted, we can start fleshing out a budget for staffing. We can’t run a business without employees.” I smile and pretend I’m okay with her leaving. I pick up my cell and open my calendar app. “If you’re tired that’s okay but the next two days are heavy with classes for me. I have private student sessions booked, as well as staff meetings. We could get back together in five, maybe six days’ time?”

It will be too long for her. She won’t want to stop. It’s not in her nature. My cock jerks when she gnaws her bottom lip between her white teeth. “Six days?”

I keep my expression calm and sip my drink. “That would be the earliest.”

“The café closes at midnight,” she says.

“We’ll go to the library,” I say. My entire focus is on her next words. On the words I’ll say to tap her over the edge.

“We won’t be able to get in at this hour,” she says.

“I have a staff pass. I can go there whenever I need to,” I say.

Her eyes ping from the table, to the counter behind me, to the tired waitress who wants to go home. I resist the urge to fidget when those coffee eyes return to me.

Please don’t find me wanting.

I can barely contain myself when her gaze clears and I know she’s made her decision. “Okay.”