Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(32)

"Yes. I'd be happy for him."

"Prove it," she replied.

"Wait, what?" Tyler asked.

"Go ask a girl out. There are at least fifty in here right now. I'm sure one of them would say yes. I can point out a few that have definitely checked you out since you've sat down."

"Look, I don't want..."

"See. That's because you like Penny. Boys and girls can't be just friends. It doesn't work. I have homework to do. I will let you two soak in your denial." Melissa left the table.

"Your roommate doesn't like to be wrong," Tyler said once Melissa was out of earshot.

"Tell me about it," I sighed.

Tyler finished his bagel and turned to me. "So is that what you really want? For me to be dating other people?"

"Well we're friends. I want you to be happy."

"Right." He pushed his scrambled eggs around with his fork. "Well I actually have lots of homework I have to get to too. I'm glad you're feeling better." He stood up and grabbed his tray.

"Tyler?"

He walked away without looking back at me.





Chapter 26


Saturday

As I got ready for my date with Professor Hunter, I tried not to think about hurting Tyler's feelings. I truly did want him to be happy. And I wasn't the person that could do that for him. He deserved better. I just hoped we could remain friends because he had become one of my closest friends since we had met.

Professor Hunter hadn't told me where we were going, but I assumed we were going out to eat. Fortunately Melissa was out to dinner with Josh, or else I would have had to sneak around and get ready in the bathroom. I put on a strapless, summery dress and added a brown belt above my waist. I strapped on a pair of high heeled sandals and looked at myself in the mirror. I added some red lipstick because I liked to think that it made me look a little older.

My alarm went off, letting me know that it was 8 o'clock. I grabbed my clutch and made my way to the curb behind Sussex where Professor Hunter had dropped me off before. His sleek black car was already waiting there. Before I reached the car Professor Hunter stepped out. He was wearing a perfectly fitted black suit with a white dress shirt underneath and a black tie. Just seeing him made my knees shake.

He walked around the car and opened up the door for me.

"Hi, Professor Hunter."

He grabbed my face in both his hands, leaned in, and kissed me deeply. We were supposed to discuss us, but instead all I wanted to do was rip off all his clothes again. He pulled away far too soon.

"Good evening, Penny." He tilted his head, motioning for me to get in the car. "We should get going. We have a reservation." I slowly stepped back and got into the car. He closed the door behind me.

He sat down in the driver's seat and we sped off into the night.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace where we can be alone."

His words sent chills down my spine. "But I haven't had anything to eat." He made me so nervous.

He had a funny look on his face. "Yes, I'm taking you to dinner."

I was a little confused, but I decided to wait and see. I always loved surprises. "So you wanted to discuss what you meant by just this once?"

"I meant what I said."

"Oh." I turned to look out the window. We were on I-95, cruising by all the other cars. The trees were a blur. I felt like I was going to be sick. "I don't understand why you asked me to dinner then."

"Because I've changed my mind."

I tried to slow my breathing. "Why?" I turned back to look at him.

He took his attention away from the road for a second. "Because I can't stop thinking about you, Penny."

I gulped. "I can't stop thinking about you either." We drove in silence for a few moments. I couldn't believe this was happening. "Did you grow up around here?"

"No. I'm from New York."

"What made you come here to teach then?" I was reminded of Melissa saying that he had gotten fired from his last job. Had he worked as a professor in New York?

"I needed a change."

"Did you live in the city?"

"Yes."

"I understand why you needed a change then."

He laughed. "Not a fan of New York City?"

"Everything is so loud and busy all the time. And everyone seems so depressed on the subway."

"I wouldn't know, I rarely rode the subway."

"I'm sure the taxi's aren't much better. And there's not enough grass."

He laughed again. "Well it is very different from here. Is this where you grew up?"

"I live about an hour away. Well, an hour from school. I don't really know where we are now."

We pulled up to a huge building. There was a tennis court to the right and a pool beside it. Behind them I could just make out a golf course in the dark. A valet quickly came to my door and opened it for me.

"Welcome, madam," he said and put out his hand for me to grab. No one had ever called me madam before. I took his hand and he pulled me out of my seat and closed the passenger side door. Professor Hunter stepped out of the car and the valet walked over.