Chapter 135
**Sara**
As I trudged along the sidewalk, my mind still buzzing from the lecture, I heard the purr of an engine slowing beside me. Great. Some creep was about to ask for directions to the nearest strip club or offer me a ride in his windowless van. I kept my eyes forward, determined to ignore whoever it was.
"Need a lift?"
I froze. That voice. I knew that voice. It haunted my dreams and made my knees weak. Slowly, I turned my head, praying I was hallucinating.
Nope. There, in all his professorial glory, was Tom. His sleek car purred at the curb, looking as out of place on this dingy street as he did. I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes away from his perfectly tousled hair and how his shirt hugged his chest.
Nope. Not going there.
I picked up my pace, pretending I hadn't seen him. Maybe if I ignored him hard enough, he'd disappear like a mirage in the desert. A very sexy, infuriating mirage.
"Sara!" His voice carried over the sound of traffic. "Come on, I know you can hear me."
I kept walking, my cheeks burning. This was ridiculous. I was a grown woman for crying out loud. I shouldn't be running away like some hormonal teenager.
The engine's purr faded, replaced by the sound of a car door opening and closing. Oh no. He wouldn't dare.
Footsteps approached from behind. "Sara, wait up."
I whirled around, nearly colliding with his chest. "What part of 'ignore' do you not understand, Professor?"
Tom's eyes danced with amusement. "The part where I'm supposed to let a beautiful woman walk home alone when I have a perfect car right here."
"Did you hit your head and forget about our little challenge last night?" I crossed my arms, trying to look stern and not like I wanted to jump his bones right there on the sidewalk.
"Not at all. I remember every delicious detail."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm asking you out for a friendly coffee," he said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I arched an eyebrow. "Friendly coffee?"
"Yes, friendly coffee. That magical brew that fuels college students and sleep-deprived professors alike?" He mimed drinking from a cup. "I promise to keep my hands to myself."
I tried to ignore how my heart skipped a beat at his playful grin. "Right, because you're so well-known for keeping your hands to yourself."
"I'll have you know I'm the perfect gentleman."
"Says the man who was begging for nudes last night," I shot back, unable to hide my smirk.
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might grab me and kiss me right there on the street. But he just chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Touché. But I meant what I said about the challenge. No funny business, I swear."
I narrowed my eyes, studying him. "I don't trust you. This is probably some elaborate scheme to make me lose."
"If I tried to lure you into losing, wouldn't that be considered cheating?" Tom asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm many things, Sara, but I'm not a cheater."
I couldn't argue with that logic as much as I wanted to. Plus, the idea of spending more time with him was admittedly tempting. My gaze drifted to his car, sleek and expensive-looking. An idea popped into my head.
"Fine," I said, a mischievous glint in my eye. "But I have one condition."
He looked both intrigued and wary. "And what might that be?"
I jerked my chin towards his car. "I want to drive."
His eyes widened comically. "You want to... drive my car?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?" I grinned, enjoying his discomfort. "What's the matter? Afraid I'll scratch your precious baby?"
Tom's brow furrowed. "Do you even know how to drive?"
I scoffed, offended. "Of course, I know how to drive. I just... haven't in a while."
"How long is 'a while'?" he asked, increasingly nervous.
I flashed Tom my most innocent smile. "Oh, you know... just a few months. Give or take."
His eyebrows shot up. "A few months? Sara, that's—"
"Perfectly fine," I interrupted, holding out my hand for the keys. "Come on, it's like riding a bike. You never forget."
Tom hesitated, his fingers tightening around the key fob. "I'm not sure comparing a high-performance vehicle to a bicycle is the best analogy here."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so dramatic. I drove my brother's car just fine last time I visited home."
"And when was that?"
I mumbled something under my breath.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Tom leaned in closer, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.
"Last Christmas, okay?" I huffed. "But I swear I'm a great driver. Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"
Tom glanced between me and his car, looking like he was trying to decide the greater risk to his sanity. Finally, he sighed and dropped the keys into my outstretched palm.
"Fine. But if you so much as scratch the paint, you pay for it with your body."
I quirked an eyebrow. "Is that a threat or a promise?"
"Both," he growled, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.
I practically skipped to the driver's side, feeling giddy with excitement. As I slid into the leather seat, I couldn't help but run my hands over the steering wheel.
Tom lowered himself into the passenger seat, looking decidedly less thrilled. "Remember, it's been a while since you've driven. Take it slow."
I smirked, unable to resist. "I thought you liked it when I went fast?"
His eyes darkened. "Sara..."
"Relax," I laughed, turning the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, purring beneath us. "I've got this."
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