The Dean (Teacher's Pet Book 4) by Cassie Mint

Author:Cassie Mint [Mint, Cassie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Cherry Publishing
Published: 2021-06-02T18:30:00+00:00

Six

James

Her key doesn’t slide into the lock until after 9pm. I pause in the living room, where I’ve been wearing a hole in the carpet, pacing back and forth.

I know Charlotte’s friend went with her to the viewing. But did she have to switch off her phone? I’ve been going insane with worry, gruesome images flashing before my eyes of Charlotte hurt or held captive by some maniac.

“What the hell?” I prowl forward as soon as she appears in the doorway, bundled up in her dove gray pea coat. Charlotte blinks at me, surprised, but there’s no mistaking the shadows under her eyes. The tired slump to her shoulders.

I forcibly soften my voice. “Charlotte. Why didn’t you call? I thought something might have happened to you at that viewing.”

Her mouth forms an ‘O’, her hand twitching towards me, but she snatches it back. “Oh god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think—I went to my friends’ place to watch a movie.”

My eyes drift closed, and the tension drains from my body. Suddenly, I am bone-deep tired.

“Good.” It’s all I can manage. “As long as you’re safe.”

“I was. I am.” She steps forward, timid, and with effort, I open my eyes.

She’s blinding. So beautiful, I can hardly breathe. Maybe she’s right—we shouldn’t be around each other so much. Except the thought of not seeing her every day, of not wandering through the living room and seeing her curled on the sofa, painting her nails…

I can’t bear it. Maybe I’m a monster, but I can’t bear for her to leave.

“Turn down the apartment.”

She snorts. “No fear. There were cockroaches in the bathroom.” She’s unwinding her scarf from around her neck, only half listening to me, dropping the pile of soft wool onto the coffee table. Truffle appears from nowhere, pouncing on the scarf’s end.

“No, Charlotte. Listen to me. Don’t view any others, okay? Stay here.” I swallow. “Stay here with me.”

“But…” She turns to me at last, those big blue eyes fixed solely on me. My battered heart flips over in my chest. “I can’t stay here forever.”

“Why can’t you?”

She laughs, but it’s more shocked than amused. “You don’t want me here full time—”

“Yes, I do.” I step closer. I can’t help myself. I’ve been torturing myself for weeks, straining the last threads of my self control to make sure that I don’t cross any lines. But since waking up with her in my bed, since seeing her eyes wet with tears in the office—my restraint has worn thin.

I’m dancing on a knife’s edge. And suddenly I don’t care about what happens if I fall.

“Stay.” My hand grips her elbow first. Then smooths up to her shoulder. And even through layers of fabric, I can feel her warmth. Her soft skin. “Don’t look for anywhere else. Don’t take yourself away from me.”

“James,” she whispers, something like hope dawning in her eyes.

This is insane. She’s half my age. My assistant. My best friend’s daughter. There are a thousand and one reasons why this can’t happen, but right now, I’ve forgotten them all.

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