“Because I was waiting for my sister.”
“Where was she that you were waiting for her?”
“I don’t know. She ran away last week. But before she left, she told me she’d come back and get me once she found a new place for us to live.”
“So you skipped school?”
“I pretended to go in the morning and then I came back to the house after Benny left. I didn’t want to miss her if she came back for me while I was at school.”
“Do you know why your sister ran away?”
She was quiet for a long time. Then she finally said, “I think it was because of Benny.”
That sounded like the fucking understatement of the year. “Did Benny go looking for your sister?”
“No. He yells a lot about her after he gets home from work. But then he falls asleep on the couch that smells like him.”
“You need to go to school. Talk to a teacher. Tell them what’s going on at home.”
“No. I don’t want to get my sister in trouble.”
“You won’t.”
“I don’t know…”
I was thinking it was time I went to the police. But what would I say? Hi. I’m a fake priest, and you need to look for a guy named Benny and a skinny little girl who rides a blue bicycle?
“What’s your name?”
She was quiet again. “I have to go.”
“Wait!” I’d been flipping the penny around the entire time we were talking and suddenly stopped. “Did you drop some change on the floor?”
Her voice was low and almost melodic. “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck.” Then the door creaked open and closed behind her.
With whatever shit was going on in this little girl’s life, she was sneaking in to drop coins on the floor for the priest to find and have good luck. Unbelievable.
Rachel
I agreed to have dinner with Davis in spite of the glum feeling I’d been walking around with for a few days. Or, maybe I hadn’t done it in spite of myself, but more like to spite someone else. Because I made sure that someone knew I had plans for this evening. I’d blown my naturally curly hair straight, slipped on a sexy, little summer dress, and laced-up, high-heeled sandals that tied with ribbons wrapping up my legs. The ensemble made my legs look long and the skirt look extra short. Perfect.
The additional effort getting ready was worth the response. Caine had trouble keeping his eyes off me during the entire class. I’d chosen to sit in the front row today, an end seat, so I could casually dangle my legs. The way his eyes heated, I could feel their caress on my skin. But by the end of class, I realized I was getting hot and bothered by one man before my date with another. It was disrespectful to Davis, even if he had no idea.
So, when class was over, I decided not to stick around and chat with Caine like I normally did. There was no rule that the TA had to stay after class unless she was teaching an extra-help session. I’d made it about three steps up toward the exit when Caine’s voice stopped me.
“Ms. Martin, can I see you for a minute, please?”
I couldn’t very well ignore him. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and headed back down to the front of the lecture hall. A few students were lingering to turn in papers that had been due last class. I waited dutifully off to the side. Caine spoke briefly with each student and then began to pack away the papers in his bag, ignoring me while he did so.
Eventually, I grew impatient. “Did you want to speak to me?”
He looked up and watched the last of the students as they exited the classroom. Once the door closed, he finally acknowledged me.
“What are you doing?”
I acted innocent, pretending I was oblivious. “I’m standing here waiting for you to tell me what you wanted to talk to me about. Isn’t that obvious?”
Caine frowned. “You know what I mean, Rachel.”
“I don’t think I do.”
His response was not verbal. Instead, his eyes started at my feet and raked up my body. It was a slow, intense, heated gaze that made me want to squirm. But I didn’t. Somehow I managed to stand tall and even pulled my shoulders back so my breasts were more prominent. When his eyes finally made their way up to mine, I returned his stare, not giving an inch. I was pretty damn proud of myself.
“You can’t come to class dressed like that.”
I looked down. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It’s distracting for the male students.”
I arched a brow. “For the male students?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Is there an echo in here?”
My hands went to my hips in full don’t screw with me mode. “There is nothing wrong with what I’m wearing. It’s a sundress and sandals. I’m not even showing any cleavage.”
Caine’s eyes dropped to my chest. I might not have been showing any cleavage, but the dress was thin, and I felt my pebbled nipples protruding.
“I can see the outline of your nipples.”
“It’s cold in here.” My initial reaction was to want to cover myself, but…fuck him. I thrust my chest forward a little more. “You know what? Your pants were so snug a few weeks ago, I could see your outline. Why is that okay, but seeing my outline isn’t?”
Caine’s eyes rose to mine. His voice was hoarse. “You were staring at the outline of my cock?”
“It was right in front of my face. I couldn’t help but look.”
He took a step closer, his nostrils flaring. “Did you like what you saw, Ms. Martin?”
I have no idea where it was coming from, but I wanted to keep dangling a red cape in front of the raging bull. Rather than reply, I ran my tongue across my top lip. Slowly. His eyes followed in pursuit.
The way his chest was heaving up and down, I thought he might blow. It made me feel fearless and empowered. You don’t want to be with me? Good. But here’s what you’re missing, Professor West.
“Don’t ask for something you don’t want, Rachel. I’m warning you.” He took a step closer, invading my private space.
His pupils were dilated, and he looked angry as hell, but there was something lurking just beneath his dark gaze—desire.
I tilted my head coyly and leaned in. “Who says I don’t want it? I’ve seen the outline.”
Caine’s jaw flexed while I waited with my heart hammering inside my chest. I held my breath as he reached for me, the blood swirling around inside my ears so loudly I couldn’t even hear my own gasp as his hand gripped my hip.
I braced for it…waiting for a string of frustrated curses I would have sworn were coming, waiting for his mouth to crash down on mine.
But instead, it wasn’t Caine’s voice I heard.
“Professor West?”
Oddly, I’d heard the door creak open at the top of the lecture hall, it just didn’t register in my brain until a few seconds later when reality smacked me in the head.
Caine stepped back. He walked to his desk and cleared his throat. “Ginger—Professor Ashby. Can I help you with something?”
She looked back and forth between us. “I was hoping I could speak to you in private—about a student. But if I’ve come at a bad time?” She pointed to the door that was now behind her. “I can come back later.”
“No. It’s fine.” He looked at me sternly. “Ms. Martin and I are finished.”
For a moment I was still in shock from the rapid change of events. But that didn’t take long to morph into anger. I looked at him with disgust and spoke under my breath so Professor Pink wouldn’t be able to hear me.
“Are you serious?”
He lifted his bag. The desire so openly on display just two minutes ago had been quickly shuttered over. He spoke under his breath. “We’re done here, Rachel.”
The bastard had dismissed me already. Well, screw you, Caine West.
I walked up the stairs with Caine a safe distance behind me as we made our way to Professor Pink—only today she had on an aqua suit. Apparently Ginger liked color. My guess was she liked to stand out in a sea of black-wearing New York women.