Temptation

29

After Jerrod was done his spiel, Professor Hunter said we would need a minute to look at the menu. I skimmed through mine, trying to find the cheapest thing as Jerrod left the room. Most of the meals were as much as the used textbooks I always bought for classes. I didn't feel comfortable letting Professor Hunter pay for this.

"Penny?" He reached over and grabbed my hand.

"Professor Hunter, I've never had food that costs this much. What did you say this place was called? The name isn't even listed on the menu." I picked up my glass with my free hand and took a sip of the wine.

"I was thinking Hunter Creek Country Club."

I coughed, choking on my wine. Hunter. The way he was greeted, the way that people stared. I already felt like he was out of my league, but now I felt completely inferior. What was he doing with a girl like me? "Professor Hunter, do you own this country club?"

"It seemed like a good place for a first date."

So you bought it? "What exactly did you do in New York?"

"I was a professor."

"For how long?"

He lowered his eyebrows slightly as he looked at me. "Less than a year."

"And before that?"

"I owned a startup. Would you mind if I ask you a question?"

The mystery of who Professor Hunter was had barely started to unfold and he wanted to talk about me? I wasn't the one that was interesting. "What did you want to know?"

"Everything."

The way he said it made me blush. He had already seen me naked. He had already had me in the most intimate way. "There really isn't that much to know," I said.

"I don't believe that's true. You enjoy challenging me and aren't afraid to speak your mind. I find you unbelievably refreshing."

I took another sip of wine. I felt so nervous under his gaze.

"So why is it that you don't feel like you're interesting?" he asked.

I gulped and looked up at him. It was because of Austin and all the times that he made me feel insignificant. "Honestly, you're the first person that's ever made me feel like I'm the only girl in the room. I'm not used to feeling like I matter."

Jerrod came in to take our order. I looked back down at the menu. I scanned the menu for something that wouldn't get stuck in my teeth. Professor Hunter reached his hand out and grabbed mine again.

"Penny, I've heard that the crab cakes are wonderful here."

I smiled, relieved that I didn't have to choose. "That sounds perfect."

Professor Hunter ordered for us. When Jerrod left the room, Professor Hunter put his elbows on the table and leaned in slightly. "When we're together, I can assure you that I don't see anyone else in the room. You always have my undivided attention."

"That must make grading other student's speeches quite difficult."

Professor Hunter laughed. "It does."

His words should have comforted me, but all I seemed to be able to focus on was when he had said "when we're together." I was reminded of the woman from his office. I wasn't necessarily the only person he was dating. If we even were dating.

Professor Hunter reached in his pocket, pulled out a penny, and slid it across the table. "A penny for your thoughts?"

I smiled up at him. This was why we were here. To talk about what we wanted. "The last guy that I dated didn't believe in labels. So really, I'm just wondering, where it is that we are? I mean, I'm not trying to pressure you. It's only because I'm curious. I just want to know where you stand on things."

Professor Hunter started laughing. He was laughing at me. I could feel my face turning scarlet.

"Where I stand on things? Penny, I don't relish the idea of sharing you, if that is what you're referring to."

"I don't relish the idea of sharing you, either, Professor Hunter."

The expression on his face grew serious. "What do you mean?" he asked slowly.

"I know that you have a girlfriend. That woman from your office. You were going on a date. It was obvious."

He sighed and smiled at me. Did he look relieved?

"That wasn't a date," he said.

"No?"

"We had a work function that we were both attending. I am not interested in Professor Keen. I am only interested in you. But since you've brought it up, if I were dating Professor Keen, you'd prefer that I'd stop, yes?"

"Yes," I replied instantly.

"Then you won't mind me asking you to stop dating Tyler Stevens." He raised his left eyebrow as he looked at me.

"Tyler and I are just friends."

He sat back in his chair. "Then I guess neither of us have anything to worry about."

Saturday

"There is one more thing, Professor Hunter."

Jerrod opened the door and brought in our entrees. I took a bite before he had even left the room.

"This is amazing." I had completely forgotten that I had asked Professor Hunter a question. I took another bite of the crab cake.

"What is it that you wanted to ask me?" Professor Hunter asked.

I finished chewing. "My roommate, Melissa. She can be rather, well, persistent. She always wants me to go out on the weekends and tries to get me to go on double dates and stuff."

"And?"

"And what am I supposed to tell her?"

"That you're dating someone."

"But she'll want to know who it is."

"So tell her about me. Maybe leave off the professor part though." He smiled at me. He had no idea how hard this was going to be for me to do.

"You want me to tell her I'm dating an older, wealthy, unbelievably handsome gentleman who is way out of my league?"

"And you'll want to say my name is James, not Professor Hunter. Which you should probably start doing in public as well."

I was wondering when he'd ask me to call him by his first name. "She won't believe a word of it."

"Hmmm. You'll have to mention that it's the best s*x of your life as well. Maybe you can distract her with those details."