Chapter 306
**Sara**
"Ha! You are jealous!" he exclaimed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Am not." I buried my face in the pillow, wishing to disappear into its soft depths. "I hate you." The words came out muffled.
"No, you don't. You have me saved as 'My Heart Professor,' remember?"
"I'm changing it to 'Annoying Australian Jerk' right now."
"But I'm not Australian."
"Fine. Just 'Regular Jerk' then."
"You wound me." He placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "I was about to tell you that these meetings are boring business dinners with old men who smell like cigars."
I peered over the pillow. "Really?"
"Really. The most exciting thing about them is their collection of ugly ties."
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart." He made an X motion over his chest. "No attractive secretaries in sight."
"I wasn't worried about that!"
"Sure you weren't." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Just like you're not pouting right now."
"I don't pout!"
"You're literally pouting as you say that."
I forced my lips into a straight line. "Am not."
"Are too. It's adorable."
"Shut up." But I couldn't help smiling. "What are you doing anyway? Besides tormenting me about my contact names."
"Just finished lunch." He shifted the camera angle, wobbling. "Getting ready for those thrilling meetings I mentioned. You?"
"Watching some show about idiots trying to move furniture." I gestured vaguely at the TV. "It's hilarious. They just destroyed a couch."
"Sounds riveting." His eyes crinkled at the corners. "Listen, I should go. Need to prepare for-"
"For your meetings with definitely-not-attractive people?"
"Sara..."
"What? Just making sure we're clear." I gave him my best innocent look. "Because if I find out you're hanging out with any women, I might have to book a flight to Australia."
"Oh? To do what exactly?"
"To kill you, obviously." I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. "I know some very creative ways to dispose of bodies."
"That's concerning." He raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried about how quickly you came up with that?"
"Only if you give me a reason to use my knowledge." I smiled sweetly. "So maybe keep those business meetings strictly business?"
"Trust me, I'm not interested in anyone else right now." His voice dropped lower. "And let's keep the bloody ideas to a minimum, shall we?"
"Fine." I sighed dramatically. "I guess I'll have to cancel my flight then."
"Such a shame. I was looking forward to seeing you in handcuffs."
"Tom!"
"What? I meant when you got arrested for murder." His innocent expression didn't match his tone. "What were you thinking?"
"You know exactly what I was thinking, you jerk." I felt my cheeks flush. "Go to your meetings before I really do book that flight."
"If you want to come to Australia to kill me, I don't mind to-"
"Don't finish that sentence." I pointed at the screen. "And just so we're clear - if I find out you're hanging out with any women, I will absolutely murder you."
"What I was going to say," Tom's lips twitched, "is that I don't mind sending the private jet. But here you are, thinking about other women again. I'm completely innocent in all this. You're the little minx with the violent tendencies."
"Ha! Funny." I rolled my eyes. "You're anything but innocent, Mr. Let's-Talk-About-Handcuffs."
"I'm the picture of innocence." Tom's eyes widened in mock offense. "In fact, the private jet is still waiting. Ready to whisk you away whenever you say the word."
"We've been over this. I can't just abandon my job."
"Ah yes, the job you just started." He tapped his chin. "The one you've mentioned, what, a million times now?"
"I do not mention it that much!"
"Let's see." He started counting on his fingers. "There was the time at dinner, then during our goodbye, then in your texts, your voicemails-"
"Okay, fine!" I threw my hands up. "I like my job. Sue me."
"I could, actually. I know some excellent lawyers."
"Don't you dare!" I pointed at the screen. "And stop looking so smug."
"I'm not smug. I'm just appreciating how dedicated you are to your new position." His lips curved up into that infuriatingly charming smile of his. "Even if it means turning down a free trip to Australia and the chance to meet a handsome professor."
"I already told you I can't just drop everything for a vacation." I rolled my eyes at his smirking face on the screen. "Besides, don't you have some important people waiting for you?"
"They can wait." He stretched, his muscles flexing beneath his t-shirt. "I'm enjoying this view much more."
"Tom! Go to your meetings before they think you stood them up."
"Fine, fine." He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. "I'll call you later?"
"Sure, whenever you're free."
"How about when you're getting ready for bed?"
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't usually schedule my calls for specific times."
"No?" His voice dropped lower. "That's a shame. It's so much easier to slip out of pajamas than regular clothes. And I wouldn't mind if you slept naked in my bed, surrounded by my scent on the sheets."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. "You're terrible! Go to your meetings!"
"Just think about it." His eyes darkened. "Tonight. My bed. Nothing between you and those silk sheets."
"Goodbye, Tom!" I squeaked, gripping my phone tighter. "Some of us have actual work to do."
"I'll take that as a maybe." His smile turned wicked.
"Just go already!"
He laughed, deep and rich, before ending the call. I stared at my blank screen, my face still burning from his suggestions.
I groaned and tossed my phone aside, trying to calm my racing heart. Trust Tom to leave me hot and bothered from halfway across the world.
The TV droned on in the background, and I realized I'd completely missed the end of my furniture-moving disaster show. Instead, some steamy romance movie filled the screen - all tangled limbs and passionate kisses.
"Oh, come on!" I fumbled for the remote as the male lead pressed the woman against a wall, his hands sliding under her blouse. "Not helping!"
The scene grew more intense, clothes started to fly, and my thumb jabbed frantically at the channel button. The last thing I needed was watching other people get action while Tom was teasing me from Australia.
Click. Weather report. Boring but safe.
Click. Cooking show. Better.
Click. Another couple making out in what looked like a supply closet.
"What is this, National Hook-Up Day?" I threw the remote down in frustration.
My mind drifted to Tom's last visit, the way his hands had felt against my skin, how his lips... No. No, no, no. I was not going down that road. Not when he was thousands of miles away and apparently intent on driving me crazy.
But his words echoed in my head. His bed. Silk sheets. Nothing between...
"Stop it!" I smacked my cheeks lightly. "Bad Sara. Very bad, Sara."
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