Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(16)

"Did you want to come see my place?" he asked.

I gulped. He didn't really want me to come see his place. He wanted me. And I loved when he wanted me.

"Let me run to the ladies room real quick," I said, and slid out of the booth. I closed the stall door and just stood there. I didn't actually need to use the restroom, I just needed a second to think. Melissa had told me to be strong and I was about to cave. I needed to go back out there and tell him I wanted to call it a night. If he really had changed at all, he'd respect that. I walked out of the stall, washed my hands, and fixed my hair in the mirror.

When I exited the bathroom, Austin was still sitting at our booth alone. But he was turned around, talking to the booth of girls behind him. All four of the girls laughed at something he just said. I felt my heart rate accelerating. I walked back over to our table. He continued chatting to the booth of girls and didn't even notice my return.

Without even realizing what I was doing, I grabbed my glass and tossed what was left of my water in his face.

"Penny, what the hell?"

"Have a good life, Austin." I turned around and walked briskly out of the restaurant.

I heard footsteps behind me. "Penny, wait," Austin pleaded.

I ran down the stairs outside the entrance of the restaurant. My heels clicked on the brick sidewalk of Main Street.

"Penny, I'm sorry."

"Yeah I know, you already said that tonight." I turned around to face him. "What exactly are you apologizing for anyway? Are you trying to say that you somehow 'accidentally' ignored me all summer? Or are you referring to the girls you were just flirting with on our date? Or maybe all the times you've stood me up? Or are you just sorry for being an arrogant asshole in general?"

"Just..."

"Just what, Austin? Just give you another chance? Why, because you didn't mean all those things you said about 'labels'? You've changed and you want to be my boyfriend now?"

"You know that's not what I want. But I do want you."

"And every other girl on campus?" I was seething. I turned to walk away again.

"That's not what it's like. Damn it, Penny, won't you just listen to me?" He grabbed my arm.

My heel got stuck in a gap between the bricks as he pulled me. It snapped off and I fell to my knees. His hands were on me in an instant to help me to my feet.

"Get off me!" I yelled and pushed him away. I stumbled to my feet. The tears were starting to well in my eyes.

"Geez, Penny, lighten up."

"Save your advice, Austin. I don't care. We're done."

"Until you call me again, begging to see me."

He did get my calls! It took every ounce of restraint in me to not slap him.

"Well, until then," he said. He turned away and walked back up the restaurant steps.

"Grow up, Austin!" I yelled. Without turning around he put his hand up in the air to acknowledge he had heard me, and disappeared back inside the bar. He hadn't changed at all.

I was done with boys. I wanted a man. And I wanted that man to be Professor Hunter. It was time to find out if he wanted me. Before I could chicken out, I took my phone out of my clutch and texted Professor Hunter. "Any chance I can get a lift?"





Chapter 14


Saturday

Not even a minute passed before I got his response: "Where are you?"

"Outside of Kildare's."

My phone bleeped. "I'll be right there."

I put my phone back in my clutch and sat down on the curb. My knees were bleeding and I was holding my broken heel in my hand. I smiled when it began to drizzle. It was like my fantasies were coming true. After several minutes of nervous waiting, a black Audi coupe rolled up next to me. Even his car was sexy.

Professor Hunter leaned over and opened the car door from the inside. I climbed inside and shut the door.

"Did I wake you?" I asked. He put the car in drive and drove off. His hair was sleek from the rain. He was wearing dark jeans and a gray hoodie. The zipper of his hoodie wasn't pulled up all the way, and he clearly wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. His outfit made him look even younger. He really couldn't be much older than me.

"Yes," he replied.

The rain quickly picked up. In the silence, the drops began to splash loudly on the windshield. I could tell he was a little grumpy from me disturbing his sleep.

"You live near here?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Where?"

The car pulled to a stop at a red light. He leaned across me and opened up the glove compartment. I gulped. I wanted to kiss him so badly. He grabbed a tissue and placed it gently on one of my cut knees. Ignoring my question, he asked, "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"I fell, that's all," I whispered. His breath smelled minty. I had woken him up and he had taken the time to brush his teeth. Was he going to kiss me? He let go of the tissue and sat back in the driver's seat. I blotted my knees with the tissue.

"That's all?" he said, staring at me.

I lifted my stiletto from my lap and shrugged.

When the light turned green he stepped on the gas. "You enjoyed your date then?"

"No."

We drove on in silence again. We were almost back to my dorm.