A Taste of Temptation(12)

“I’m almost finished, and I really don’t need that key lime pie I was eyeing.”

“Don’t be silly; have it. You’re in great shape, so a little slice of pie won’t hurt you.”

“Only if you’ll share it.”

“No way; one bite and it shows up the next day.”

“You’re beautiful one way or another.”

She hadn’t expected that, but thanked him anyway.

His waitress approached, eyeing Brandi as if she were a deadly snake. “Is everything okay, sir?”

“Yes, I’ll take the bill.”

She scribbled out the bill while eyeing Brandi, then walked away with an attitude.

Tim noticed the reaction, but Brandi quickly calmed him. “It’s okay, Tim. She’s a jerk.”

“I won’t have that from her, or anyone else.”

“Screw her, let’s just go. Don’t leave a tip.”

“I don’t plan to.”

Brandi was mostly quiet on the way home. At times, Tim took a stab at engaging her in conversation. Forced close to him in a Mercedes Coup wasn’t helping her situation. Their bodies were so close she could smell his cologne. It intoxicated her, intensified her craving for him that much more. “What are you wearing? It smells wonderful.”

“John Varvatos.”

“Really? Eric wears that. It stinks on him, though. It has something to do with body chemistry. Each man is different.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Very much. It smells great on you.”

Their conversation was getting way too personal. He said nothing further. He pulled into her driveway and unlocked the door. “Home sweet home, Miss Miles.”

Thank goodness! It felt as if she had been holding her breath the entire time, fearing what she would say to him. Deciding to keep quiet was her only shot at staying sane around him. Suddenly, something as simple as holding a man’s hand was the hardest thing in the world. Knowing that, she knew she had to leave him, and leave in a hurry before the inevitable happened—a kiss. “I had better get out of here.”

“Yes, I think you’d better.” He pushed her door open further. “You have a good night. Don’t worry about me with Eric. He will only test my waters so far. Besides, I’m not the coach he has a beef with.”

“Eric has a beef with everyone.” She got out, looking back inside at him. “Thanks for rescuing me.”

“Anytime.” Once she was safely inside, he sped off. His hand felt the perspiration on his shirt. His damp clothing wasn’t from the heat outside, but from the heat inside–inside his heart. He wanted Brandi more than he could stand it, and something had to be done about it, but she didn’t know what.

* * *

Mid-October was a repeat of September, warm and humid, perfect timing for Madison’s annual car wash fundraiser. Everyone was excited and buzzing around getting the teachers’ parking lot ready for the event.

Brandi put in her time, along with other student volunteers who didn’t have Saturday jobs. The weather was great for her cut-off jeans and new tank top, just perfect to clean up a parking lot that normally housed over 250 faculty automobiles a day. Tim would be there, having volunteered to take on the fund-raiser this year.

Upon hearing she would be near Tim’s station, Brandi made every effort to switch with someone. The other night in Tim’s car could have turned into a big mistake. Wanting to kiss him was more than a whim, and she had spent half the night tossing and turning from thinking of him. The entire thing was Eric’s fault for having left her at Justin’s. Riding up to White Plains with him would be just as hard as dealing with him at the carwash. But attending the seminar would be a smart move in terms of passing his class. She felt stuck in Tim’s face today, and the upcoming weekend, too.

She couldn’t switch with anyone, therefore she and other students were put in charge of towel drying every vehicle in the lot. She saw Tim, Dr. Malone, and a few other faculty members getting all wet. She tried not to look his way, but then glance and see Tim in a damp shirt puckering in all the right places. It was exciting, and frustrating at the same time.

They were making loads of money. Madison had the undisputed reputation of pulling off great fund-raisers, especially the car washes. Lots of well-off parents and students supported the school’s efforts because it was it was known for its academic excellence. Then there was Tim. For the last three years, he was the one for whom those women in the luxury cars showed up. Anything to get a gander at Timothy Polaris in wet clothing. They were only too glad to shell out the cash for his cause.

Brandi watched the antics from her station: women handing him lots of cash while students tried dousing him and others with water. Tim finally became a victim of the bucket prank. He was drenched from head to toe, and looking at him with everything sticking to him made her feminine core ache for him. His wet, cold nipples poked through the material, and the bulge pressing in his jeans packed a mean punch. As she watched him flex he flex to shake off the extra water, her mouth went dry.

A honking horn interrupted her daydream. Eric sat behind the wheel watching her watch Tim. The look on his face told her that he well award of the object of her gawking. “I see you’ve found the entertainment.”

“Dry up.”

“Cute, considering what you’re doing.”

“After what you did to me the other night, don’t even think of talking to me, jackass.”

“I admit that was rude, but going gaga over white-boy Rick was also rude, don’t you think?”

“I don’t. I was saying hello to the guy. You were the one seeing what wasn’t there, now make like a bee and buzz off.”

Dr. Moore approached her with an armful of towels. “Miss Miles, take these over to Dr. Polaris before the poor guy freezes to death.”

With little enthusiasm, she walked towards Tim.

Eric heard the exchange and smirked as Brandi walked away with the towels.

The sight of Tim wet with everything sticking to him almost made her stomach churn. Dropping the towels into his arms and scurrying away was her only recourse. “Here. Dr. Moore told me to give you these before you die of pneumonia.”

“They got me good this time, didn’t they?”

“I guess.” Her eyes stared into the distance, never meeting his.

His head tilted to the side, “What’s wrong today?”

She hadn’t been short on purpose, but Eric always managed to bring out the worst in her. “Nothing.”

She headed back, but he stopped her. “Someone’s got your dander up. Now what’s wrong?”

Nothing could make her face him. Instead, she stared at the students running about. “Just a bad day, Dr. Polaris; I’m not feeling well.”

He moved in closer to her, but not close enough to rouse suspicion. “You look wonderful, if you don’t mind me commenting.”

“I do mind.”

A compliment from him should have set her world on fire, but the last thing she needed to hear from him was how good she looked. “Thank you, Dr. Polaris, for the compliment. I should get back to the other side.”

“Wait. Don’t let him get next to you like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Eric Fontaine. I saw him over there.”

She had to look at him. “What can I do? I certainly can’t date you, now can I?”

He didn’t understand her shortness with him and wasn’t in the mood for it. “You’re right. You do need to go back to your station.”

As she walked away she felt guilty about her behavior. Nothing was his fault, and she had taken it out on him. He was only trying to make her feel better, and she had rebuffed him. She threw her towel down and ran to the ladies room, practically in tears.

The following Monday, there was no one in his room after class. No students stopping by to say hello, no women pretending to need help just to get close to him—and no Brandi. She had stayed clear of him, and he knew why.

The letter he had received from the literature department at NYU inviting him to an interview dangled from Tim’s hand. He had liked their program, and taking the job would definitely free him to be with Brandi—if he could handle a relationship. But he didn’t want to leave, didn’t feel it was fair to himself to leave because of a woman. He had invested three years at that school and had loved every minute. No, he couldn’t leave Madison. His life was there. Getting Brandi out of his head would be dreadfully hard, but he could do it.

He thought about Brandi nonstop, no matter how hard he fought against it. No matter how many times he paced the floor trying to find other things to think about, his mind always returned to her. Madison Tech and Brandi were double-teaming him; one he wanted to run from, the other he wanted to run to. His head began to ache, so he left without putting grades on the last batch of student papers.

The cheerleaders were practicing in the gym. Brandi was one of them now that McKenzie Miller had transferred to Princeton. Their routine was almost perfect, and Brandi really added to the team due to her cheerleading experience in high school. The gym doors opened and Tim stepped inside. All eyes were on him, all except Brandi’s.

He watched her routine. Her prowess was breathtaking, her technique flawless. All he could see was a blur of red and white tap panties fitting her like a glove, making him feel the pressure in his pants. He turned to leave, but everyone ran to him for his opinion on the outfits—except Brandi. Mrs. Washington clapped her hands. “Ladies, let the man breathe; he’s not a toy. Hit the showers.” She turned to him. “How are you today, Dr. Polaris?”