“Thank you,” I say instead of needling him.
“You can thank me by hurrying up. Sprint, Lena.”
“Is this your thing?” I ask blandly. “Do you like bossing your students around? This isn’t class, Professor. You’re not in charge here.”
“No more jokes,” he commands. “I want you safely with me as fast as possible.”
My strides lengthen, and my pace quickens. There’s no good reason for me to defy him. I have a creepy stalker watching me, and getting away from him is all that matters.
“You don’t have to say anything.” Rand’s voice is softer now. “Just focus on getting to me. I’m close to Museum Gardens. I’ll be at the river in thirty seconds, and then I’ll come down the path to meet you.”
I fall silent, and so does he. All I can hear are his even breaths that indicate light exertion.
He really is running to get to me.
I don’t tolerate abusive men.I remember what he told me in his office.
Professor Hirst doesn’t know me at all, so he clearly has some sort of white knight syndrome.
Whatever his damage is that made him this way, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to learn his secrets. I just need him present to keep my stalker at bay. If I’m with Rand, the psycho won’t dare to come near me.
My blood goes cold, and I stop in my tracks.
What if my stalker sees me with my professor, and he decides that Rand is anotherunworthyman in my life?
“Lena!”
The ground seems to shift beneath me, leaving me unsteady on my feet.
Professor Hirst closes the last several yards that separate us. He lifts his hands as though he’s going to brace my shoulders, and I flinch away.
“What happened?” he half-growls. “Are you hurt?”
I take a step back. “This was a mistake. I’m sorry I called you.”
He straightens his glasses to peer down at me. “I’m not sorry. You’re pale. You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m right here. No one will get close to you.”
I retreat farther. “Seriously, it was a false alarm. I guess I just got freaked out when I was alone. I’m fine.” I eye his professional attire and leather satchel. “Did you leave class to get to me?”
He waves my question away like an irritating fly. “Stop being evasive. Tell me what’s happening.”
Running in the opposite direction isn’t an option; that’s where I left my stalker behind. But Rand’s huge body is blocking my path back to town.
I try to skirt around him, but he mirrors me. Before I can evade him, he snatches my phone out of my hand.
Damn him. It’s unlocked; our call is still connected.
He finds the messages from my stalker, and his eyes narrow.
“This isn’t a false alarm,” he grinds out. “Why are you lying to me? What happened in the last few minutes?”
I try to grab for my phone. He holds it over his head, which is considerably out of my reach. I’m not about to start bouncing to swipe for it.
Instead, I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.
“I want my phone back.”
“And I want the truth. I’ll give it back when you’re honest with me.”
