Lessons of the Past (3 page)

Chuckling, I said, “Rodriguez.”

“Haven’t heard of him, but I definitely need to see this guy.”

I finished off my drink. “With that, I’ve gotta go sit in his class for an hour. Y’all have fun.”

I left the coffee shop and trekked toward the math building. I couldn’t help the flurry of emotions igniting within me. I knew we’d be getting our grades today and I absolutely did not want to face how poorly I had done, but at the same time, I was anxious to see
him
—bad grade or not. On the bright side, I wasn’t denying that I needed help, and I had been proactive in making sure I had it. On the other bright side, Professor Rodriguez seemed to overlook my embarrassing incident on Monday and he was offering to personally help. On the downside, I wasn’t sure how I felt about receiving his help. I feared I would make an ass of myself again.

I was the first student to arrive and Professor Rodriguez was already at the desk in front of the room. With a heavy sigh, I looked away from him and walked toward my seat.

“Ms. Wilson,” he called, and I turned toward him. “I have your homework.”

I nodded and stepped toward him, trying not to actually look at him. I was afraid I’d gawk again.

He cleared his throat. “Here you go. I think it’s wise to meet with Emily tomorrow.” He handed me the papers, and added, “We’ll go over this tonight, though. Hopefully it will give you time before you meet her to really understand and do better on your work next week.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “Five still okay?”

“Yes.” He didn’t say anything else and began looking over the stack of papers in front of him. I guessed that was my dismissal.

I went to my seat and pulled my textbook and notebook out of my bag as the rest of the class filed in. The next hour was spent with Professor Rodriguez explaining accumulation functions. He explained sketching and interpreting the functions while answering questions from various students. I was relieved to know I wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand, but I was positive they still knew more than me.

At the end of class, I gathered my things and darted out of the classroom without looking at him. He left me feeling confused. He had been so friendly this morning on the beach, and even friendly when he first spoke to me in the classroom, but the way he had dismissed me…rankled. It made me even more uneasy about meeting him for help in his office,
alone
. I knew I needed the help, but wasn’t sure I wanted him to know exactly how stupid I really was when it came to calculus.

I spent the rest of the day attending my other two classes while sneaking in some study time and getting my caffeine fix. Inwardly sighing, I walked out of my last class and steeled myself as I made my way back to
his
office. It was do or die time.

The door was closed, so I knocked, and waited. And waited.
What the fuck?
I checked my watch. I wasn’t early or late, but he definitely was. Footsteps snapped me out of my irritation and I looked up. Professor Rodriguez strode toward me with a bag in one hand, keys in the other. “Sorry,” he said as he unlocked the door. “I was starving, so I went to the deli in the union and got us some food.”

“Oh,” I replied, shocked.

Opening the door, he motioned for me to go inside before flipping the light on and closing the door. His office wasn’t small, but it wasn’t huge either. A wooden desk sat in front of a window overlooking the lawn, bookshelf to the side, and a table with two chairs to the other side.

After placing the bag of food on the table, he pulled out two sub sandwiches and two bags of chips. “I hope roast beef is fine. I had them make it plain. The condiments are in the sack.”

“That’s fine. You really didn’t need to do that.” I set my bag on a chair in front of his desk. “But I do appreciate it.”

“No problem. I didn’t want to be an ass eating in front of you.” He gestured toward the bookshelf. “Could you grab two waters off the bottom shelf?”

I nodded and grabbed the bottles before setting them on the long table where he had placed our food. He grabbed a textbook and sat down in one of the chairs, gesturing for me to sit next to him. “Let’s get started.”

“Okay,” I replied, taking a seat before pulling out my notebook and textbook. He began devouring his sandwich and I couldn’t help but watch his mouth, noticing his full lips.

I grabbed my sandwich and took a bite as he said, “I think we should just start from the beginning and go from there. If you don’t understand that, you won’t be able to pass the class.”

He leaned in closer to me, his cologne wafting toward me. He smelled yummy. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on what he was explaining.

“Do you understand how I got the answer?” he asked, his eyes locking with mine the same way they had after the first class. My skin tingled as we both stared at each other. I knew he was expecting an answer from me, but his eyes seemed to see right through me. As if he could see my answer already and my schoolgirl crush.

“I…” I blinked and looked toward the paper he had just written on. “I think...I’m not sure.”

“Try to solve this problem,” he said, pointing toward an example.

Blowing out a deep breath, I went through the steps he had just shown me. I hated that he was watching me with those deep blue eyes, waiting for me to misstep.

I finally finished and bit my lip as I placed the pencil on the desk. He looked over at me, a small smile playing on his lips. “You did it.”

My eyes widened. “I did?”

“Yeah. But I think you should do a couple more.”

For the next hour, we ate our sandwiches and chips while I worked on approximating area under a curve problems. He was very kind and didn’t make me feel stupid at all, which was a relief. It made it easier to concentrate.

“You can’t make it to Emily’s tutoring sessions?” he asked as I packed my things in my bag.

“No. I have a class on Tuesday nights.”

“Hmm.” He stroked the scruff on his chin. “I don’t normally do this, but I can meet you at this same time on Fridays. And of course you know where to find me each morning,” he said, smirking.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his desk and wrote something on it. “Take this. I put my cell number on the back. Just in case you’re stuck and really need help.”

“Oh. Wow. Thank you,” I said as he rounded the desk and stood next to me.

“I expect you’ll be spending the rest of the night going over everything we just worked on since you are meeting Emily in the morning. You’ll of course want to be prepared.”

“I…uh,” I stammered, “I have plans. But I—”

He barked out a laugh, cutting me off. “Relax, Alexandria. I was kidding.”

“Oh.” I smiled a notch. “You can just call me Alex.”

“Sorry. Your file says Alexandria. I’ll try to remember.” He reached up and brushed a piece of hair off my forehead, causing my breath to catch. Our eyes locked for a couple seconds. “But for the record, Alexandria is a beautiful name.”

My pulse pounded and my sex clenched. “Thanks,” I whispered.

He nodded and took a step back, but didn’t say anything else. I was being dismissed again. “Well, thank you. For the help,” I said before grabbing my bag and leaving his office. I glanced down at the card in my hand and smiled.

My apartment felt too quiet, so I decided to drive to a small town near Beach Center where a little coffee shop, The Underground, was located. I didn’t feel like going to the one on campus, and this particular coffee shop added liquor to your java, which was the only reason I was drinking hot coffee in August.

I sat down at a small table in the corner of the brick-walled shop located under a bookstore and placed my cup on the table. I took a small sip and let the warm liquid glide down my throat before digging out my health elective textbook. It had absolutely nothing to do with my major, but it was a fascinating class.

While reading the horrible side effects of drinking too much tea, I heard someone clear their throat. I glanced up and my breath caught. Professor Rodriguez stood beside my table, blue eyes glittering in the low light and a small smile playing across his lips. His clothes were nothing like his custom-fitted work attire. He was wearing faded jeans that hung low on his hips and a gray t-shirt snug across his chest. He looked fucking edible.

“Profess—”

“Javier,” he cut me off and glanced around the small room. “May I join you, Alexandria?”

“Sure. And please, just call me Alex. I don’t think I’ve ever been called Alexandria in my entire life.”

He sat down and smiled. “I can’t do that.” He took in my confused expression and laughed. “You see, I have the most irritating cousin named Alex. He’s a…tool, to be honest. So, I can’t call a stunningly beautiful girl the same name.”

Stunningly beautiful.

“Oh…” I breathed. I had no idea what to say to that. My thoughts were still caught on the beautiful part. Somehow, I asked, “Exactly what type of tool would that be?”

I grinned, and he cracked a smile at my lame humor. “I’d say something like a hammer. Loud and obnoxious. Always beating away at your nerves.”

“He sounds great.”

“Yeah.” He took a sip of coffee. “So, what are you doing here on a Friday night? Shouldn’t you be at some frat party?”

I laughed. “Tomorrow. Well, not the frat part. My friend is making me go to a party with her since we’re both single.” His eyes narrowed a fraction and I realized I’d just told him I was single. I really hoped he didn’t think I was trying to flirt with him. “And our other friend just got out of a relationship…you know, time for all of us to have some fun,” I rambled, trying to recover, unsuccessfully.

“Ahh, I gotcha.” He nodded. “This way you can be each other’s wingmen.”

I shook my head and laughed. “No. I’d be an awful wingman.”

“How so?”

I took a sip of my coffee. “I would have no clue what to say or do. I’m not really a party girl. I’m more of a coffee shop or beach girl,” I said, setting my cup on the table.

“I can see that.” He shifted in his chair, bringing us closer. “I’m probably just old, but I’d say this is much better than some party.”

“How old are you?” I blurted, and then promptly slapped my hand over my mouth. “That was so completely rude. I’m sorry. It’s just…you look really young to be a professor.”

He chuckled at me and shook his head. “It’s okay. I’m thirty-one.”

“That’s not old at all. At least, I don’t think so.”

He stared at me for a second before brushing a piece of hair away from my cheek. “That’s good to know,” he whispered as we gazed at each other.

My heart began to pound, and my sex began to pulse. Warmth spread through my body as my mouth dried. His stare rendered me bound and motionless. Energy crackled between us, a magnetic pull I didn’t want to fight.

After a beat, he blinked and moved away, leaving me…cold.

He finished his coffee and stood. “I’m going to order another. Do you want me to get you anything?”

I was shocked. I figured he’d want to run like hell from me. “No. I’m fine, thanks.”

He nodded and walked toward the bar. I closed my eyes and tried to figure out what had just happened. I knew he had to feel it. He had wanted to kiss me, or at least be close to me. And he was staying.

A few minutes later, he sat down next to me again, making me smile. “What?”

“Nothing. What are you drinking?”

“Coffee. And maybe a little whiskey. You?”

I grabbed my cup. “Italian Classico with a splash of Amaretto.” I tipped it back, taking a huge swallow. I noticed his eyes on my lips, and the way they grew heated. Oh yes, the attraction was mutual.

I set the cup on the table once more. “So…you never said what you’re doing here on a Friday night.”

He shrugged. “A rare night out for me, actually. And I love it here.”

“Me, too.” I looked around the brick walls. “Have you ever been here when they have a band?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “They usually book local folk bands.”

“Oh, gosh. I love folk rock.”

“Me, too.”

He beamed, and I wasn’t sure why. “We seem to have a lot in common, Alexandria. It’s…” he trailed off.

“It’s what?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I can let you know the next time a band is playing. Or you can just sign up for the text alerts.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Hmm, would I run into you on one of those nights?” I knew I was walking a fine line into dangerous territory.

His eyes heated. “You just might.”

“That sounds—”

“Can I get the two of you anything?” a coffee shop worker asked, cutting me off. “We have fresh samples of our bakery items.”

I began to say no, but the thought of a chocolate croissant sounded really good. “Actually, yes.” I glanced at Javier. “I’ll be right back.”

I shakily strode over to the counter, trying to calm my racing heart. He hadn’t said anything remotely sexual, but…something was going on between us. I highly doubted he sat and talked to all of his students he saw out in public. And the way he was looking at me…I felt more aroused than I had in a long time.

I ordered two croissants and walked back to the table, noticing Javier checking his watch. Setting the plates on the table, I said, “You can’t leave quite yet. You have to eat this first.” I blinked, flushing from my remark.

“Do I now?” I glanced in his direction to see him holding back a laugh.

“The chocolate. You have to eat the
chocolate
first.”

His laugh broke free. “I knew exactly what you meant. In fact, my mind would have never went there, but I knew yours had by the way your face turned red.”

“Shut up.”

He shook his head and shoveled a bite into his mouth. I paused, watching his jaw work as he chewed and his tongue snaked out to run along his bottom lip. I could almost feel it running along my lip. Or along my nipples. Fuck!
Everything he does is sexy.

I turned back to my food and took a bite, moaning at the taste. “So good,” I mumbled, glancing at him. His full attention was on me, his lips parted, eyes were wide. “What?” I asked after swallowing.