The Professor I Shouldn't Want

First Date

POV: Isadora

I hopped out of the Uber at exactly 7:50 PM. I’d decided at the very last second not to drive. It didn't make sense for Anne to have a car, especially one as expensive as mine. I had to keep that in mind: Anne Simmons wasn't a girl from a wealthy family like I was.

I stared at the restaurant’s facade, my breathing uneven. Come on, Isadora. I mean, Anne. I took a deep breath and headed inside.

“Good evening! Do you have a reservation?”, the host asked as soon as I approached.

“Yes, under Anderson, for 8:00.”, I tried to sound casual, but I was a total wreck. My hands were shaking, and I’d completely forgotten how to breathe.

“Follow me, please.”, the host said politely. “Your table will be ready in just a few minutes. You’re welcome to wait at the bar.”, he smiled. “I believe your date is already here.”

I froze. He pointed discreetly toward a man with his back to us, sitting at the bar, and then walked away.

I swallowed hard. It was him, no doubt about it. My heart started pounding so hard I thought it might jump right out of my chest. What was I doing? This was insane. He was going to recognize me the second he looked at me. And then what? Sue me for fraud?

No, this was never going to work. I had to get out of there. I started backing away, my eyes glued to him, terrified that any sudden move would make him turn around.

And I would’ve made a clean getaway if I hadn't bumped into an older lady walking behind me, knocking her phone right out of her hand.

“I am so sorry, ma’am!”, I leaned down quickly and grabbed the phone. Thank God the screen wasn't cracked.

“It’s alright, dear.”, she smiled, taking it back. “Are you okay? Your hands are ice cold.”

“I’m fine.”, I forced a smile.

“Oh, look, it seems your boyfriend is already waiting for you.”, she said, looking past me.

Oh my God, was he looking at me? Crap. Could he recognize me from the back?

“Enjoy your dinner!”, she said and walked off, leaving me with no choice but to turn around.

This was it. There was no way out. I had to face the music and deal with the consequences of what I’d done. I turned around, fully expecting him to recognize me. He was indeed already looking at me, and God, he looked incredible.

He was wearing a tailored light gray dress shirt and black slacks. His hair was swept back in that perfectly effortless way. Yeah, that definitely wasn't Professor Anderson, that was Henry.

The moment our eyes met, he smiled. Not that intimidating smirk he gave me in class, but a gentle, breathtaking smile. I smiled back, completely baffled. He didn’t recognize me? Did it actually work? He stood up as I walked over.

“Hey.”, he smiled again. Two smiles in less than a minute. I was definitely not used to this.

“Hi.”, I replied, masking my voice a bit and making a massive effort to keep my panic in check. In my head, it was only a matter of time before he figured it out.

“Excuse me.”, the host said, approaching us. “Your table is ready. Right this way, please.”

We followed him to a small square table for two. He left us, and we sat down.

“What do you think of the place?”, Henry asked.

“It’s beautiful!”, I smiled. “You have great taste.”

I’d actually been to this restaurant before with some friends. I really liked it, not just the food, but the vibe, too. It had that classic Italian decor with sophisticated touches. The lighting was low and warm, making the whole place feel cozy and intimate.

I wanted to tell him I already knew the place and loved it, but that would lead to more questions and more stories I’d have to make up.

“You’re going to love the food, too.”, he said, opening his menu.

“Do you have any recommendations?”, I opened mine as well. At this point, I was starting to relax. Maybe it was his smiles, they were melting me and making me forget what a mess I’d gotten myself into.

“Well, I usually go for the good old-fashioned pasta, but there are other options if you prefer something else.”

“I’ll do the pasta.”, I said, and he smiled yet again. Maybe smiling was against the rules at Harvard Law.

The waiter arrived shortly after and took our orders, leaving us with a bottle of red wine. An Italian restaurant, pasta, and wine, it couldn’t get any more romantic.

“So, did you manage to turn in that project?”, he asked while pouring my wine. He always asked about Anne’s work and remembered every single detail I made up, even when I’d forgotten them myself.

“Yeah, it all worked out.”, I replied. “What about you? Still stressed with work?”

“Actually, no.”, he took a sip of wine. “I’ve been in a pretty good mood lately.”, he locked eyes with me, those piercing blue eyes of his.

No way. He wasn't about to start flirting with me now, was he? I’d barely handled the smiles. I looked down at my glass and took a sip.

“You know, you’re a little different than I imagined.”, he said, and I looked up.

“What do you mean?”

“When I first saw your profile picture, you looked familiar. I had this nagging feeling I’d seen you somewhere before.”, I turned to stone.

“But looking at you now...”, he studied my face. “I see that’s impossible. I definitely would’ve remembered you if we’d met.”, I smiled, shaking my head. He almost gave me a heart attack just to deliver a pickup line.

“You surprised me, too.”

“Really? How so?”

“When we started talking, I thought you’d be more... serious.”

“Just because I’m a prosecutor?”, he asked, and I nodded, even though I knew the real reason was because I was one of his students.

“Well, I won’t lie, I am pretty serious, especially at work. But I can’t seem to be serious when I’m with you.”, he stared at me again, and this time, I didn't look away.

We held each other's gaze for a few seconds, and I was certain the table between us was the only thing stopping him from trying to kiss me.

Our food arrived soon after, and the pasta was just as delicious as I remembered. The only thing better was Henry himself, staring and smiling at me the whole time.

After dinner, he insisted on driving me home. Luckily, we’d talked about this over text before, which had forced me to scout out places where Anne might "live." I had an address; as long as I didn't have to actually go inside, I’d be fine.

“Is this the place?”, he pulled up next to the building.

“It is. Thank you.”, I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. I noticed he unbuckled his, too.

“Thank you. I haven't had a night like this in a long time.”, he smiled at me, and when I smiled back, his eyes dropped to my lips. He leaned in slowly and kissed me.

Chills ran through my entire body the second I felt his lips. He cupped my face with one hand, deepening the kiss and giving me total butterflies. I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer.

Things were getting intense; I was starting to lose my grip, and so was he. Then he pulled back, a goofy grin on his face.

“I’d better go.”, I said. He nodded, looking like he knew exactly what would happen if I stayed in that car for one more minute.

“Goodnight, Anne.”

“Goodnight.”

I got out of the car and waved, waiting for him to drive off, but he didn't move. Of course, he was the kind of guy who’d wait for me to get inside. I walked slowly toward the entrance, racking my brain for how the hell I was going to get that door open.

Suddenly, the door swung open and two people walked out. The moment I saw them, I bolted for the door, catching it right before it shut. I looked back, hoping he hadn't noticed my desperation, but he was just smiling. I waved one last time and ducked inside, letting out a massive sigh of relief.