Searching for Mine(3)
Oh, she remembered that conversation perfectly. He’d given her excuse after excuse for why he deserved more time, and she just nodded and didn’t have to say a word. The man was probably so used to women giving him everything he wanted, he hadn’t even bothered to wait for her verbal assent. Just walked away with a smile and a wink. He’d actually winked at her like this was 1970 and calling women in authority by honey and babe was fine.
“It was acceptable,” she said calmly. “But if you’d read your syllabus carefully, you’d see each day it comes in late one full letter grade is taken off. I gave you a break though, Mr. Dunkle. I didn’t count the weekend because I was feeling quite generous. Is that it?”
He blinked. Confusion flickered over his face and she had to tamp down a chuckle. He leaned in just a few inches and dropped his voice to a concerned level. “Professor Blake, I need to get a C in this class. My job right now depends on my graduation this June.”
Her eyes glinted behind her glasses with pure intention. “Did you read The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin? Or did you scan the Internet for analysis and summaries and stick them into your paper to make it look like you read it?”
Oh, she knew that look well. Ella waited to see if he’d lie straight to her face. A tiny crease in his brow gave him away. She was the one surprised when he finally answered. “No.”
“No, what, Mr. Dunkle?”
“No, I didn’t read the story. I tried. But I got bored and stopped.”
She nodded. “I’d suggest if you want to pass my class you begin taking it seriously and doing the assignments. On time.”
His aura simmered with frustration. “I understand. I’ll be sure to read the next short stories thoroughly. Who’s the next author we’re studying?”
“Virginia Woolf.”
He looked like he’d rather stick needles in his eye than read Woolf, but she gave him credit. He kept his expression open and understanding. “Fascinating. Hey, maybe we can get some coffee after class? Discuss some of your viewpoints. Get to know one another better? I feel like we may have gotten off on the wrong foot.”
Unbelievable. The man just kept digging the crater larger and larger. He’d be lucky to graduate. She switched to her disapproving teacher voice: hard, controlled, and full of ice. “I dislike clichés, Mr. Dunkle. In both speech and company.”
“Huh?”
“Gotten off on the wrong foot,” she pointed out. “It’s called a cliché. Look it up. Now, do you have any issues regarding the next assignment?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m just surprised we’re reading another woman writer. This was never explained as a feminist course. I assumed we’d be reading Hemmingway, or Fitzgerald, or Poe. Getting more of the male perspective in society, too, you know?”
Once again, he realized he’d misspoken too late. Her gaze flicked over him, then slid away in dismissal.
“You know what they say about the word assume, Mr. Dunkle?”
“No.”
Her smile was mean. “It makes an ASS out of you and me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for my next class.”
She focused on the stack of papers in front of her and began to read. His stunned silence seethed with unspoken emotions, but finally he walked away with his failing paper clutched in his hand. She risked a peek.
His stride owned pure grace and swagger. His tight, perfect ass made women want to weep. Or cop a feel.
She tamped down the flare of guilt from ogling a student, but the man was her age and ready to graduate, so it wasn’t all that terrible. Besides, she’d never date the man. If he thought their little chat meant she was going to forgive lateness or inane answers in her class, Connor Dunkle would learn quickly enough.
Sighing, she began prepping for her next class. God, she was tired. She loved teaching, but lately, burnout threatened. How long had it been since she spent a night out? Or did anything more exciting than grading papers and playing Wii U Super Smash Brothers? She adored her ten-year-old son, but maybe she needed more balance in her life. Ella didn’t want Luke growing up thinking women didn’t leave the house other than to work. But every time she thought about going out with some friends for a drink, mama guilt kicked in. They’d already been forced to move twice before she got her permanent job at Verily College, and he was still adjusting to a new neighborhood and school. How could she leave him to pursue her own fun? The divorce may have been final for a year now, but the first year was filled with pain, anger, and lawyers back and forth. Luke probably needed more time to accept his parents would never get back together. He’d probably freak at the idea of her trying to date, and Lord knows her first priority was to her son.