Temptation (The Hunted, #1)(7)

"So your first presentation isn't for a few weeks, but you'll probably want to at least pick a topic soon so you can start mulling it over. All you need to do is pick a person that has inspired you in some way and tell us all about it. But please, I'm tired of hearing about everyone's grandparents, so try to think outside the box. And next week I'll start talking about how to give effective speeches, so you'll definitely want to incorporate that advice. Any questions?"

A girl in the front row's hand shot up.

"Yes?"

"Do we need your approval for our topic?"

"Not for this one. For later projects though, yes. But if you do have any questions you can always email me. My email is on the syllabus. And my office hours are listed on there too, if any of you have any questions or need some guidance on an assignment."

The two girls in front of me giggled. I clearly wasn't the only one that was affected by his good looks.

The pile of syllabi had reached Tyler, but there was only one copy left. He kept it for himself. I cursed silently. Why me? Now I'd have to go talk to Professor Hunter. I looked up at him and he was still holding a syllabus in his hands. He had a smile on his face. Had he purposely not let me get one?

"Any other questions?" he asked.

A normal person would probably raise their hand right now and say they didn't get a syllabus, but my heart was beating much too quickly. He made me so nervous.

"Okay then. Make sure to brainstorm this weekend. If you have an idea in mind on Monday, then my advice will be more beneficial. Have a great weekend."

I heard the pull of zippers on backpacks and feet shuffling. I slowly put my notebook, which was still empty, back in my bag. I pulled my sweatshirt off and stuffed it in my backpack as well. As I was doing so, a shadow fell on me. I looked up and saw Tyler hovering next to my desk.

"Second chance?" he asked sheepishly.

"I'll think about it," I responded.

A smile spread across his face. "Give me your phone real quick."

I handed it to him and stood up. He typed in his number and handed it back to me. "Have a good weekend, Penny," he said and walked away.

I lifted up my backpack and made my way to the front of the class. Professor Hunter and I were the last ones in the room. He was sitting on his desk again now, flipping through the last syllabus. He didn't look up as I approached.

"Excuse me, Professor Hunter?" I said nervously.

"How can I help you, Miss Taylor?" he asked and looked up from the pages.

"I didn't get a syllabus."

"Well here you go then," he said and handed me the one he was holding.

"Thank you."

"So a walk in the rain with a stranger was a highlight to your eventful evening, was it?"

"It was the only good thing about last night, actually."

"I had my suspicions after you referred to this class as a date."

I placed my hand over my eyes, and then slowly let it slide from my face. "I thought I had dreamt that." I was completely mortified.

"I didn't realize I had made an appearance in your dreams, Miss Taylor."

"That's not what I...I mean you didn't. Well I meant..."

Professor Hunter laughed his enticing laugh. "Have a good weekend, Miss Taylor. Maybe on Monday I'll ask everyone to share a memorable dream they had over the weekend."

I felt my jaw drop slightly. The door creaked open and students for the next class started walking in. "Professor Hunter," I said, and quickly turned and walked out of the classroom.





Chapter 6


Sunday

Despite Melissa's protests, I had spent the weekend in sweatpants, holed up in our dorm room with occasional trips to the dining hall. On Sunday night Melissa had practice with her a cappella group. I had just finished putting large curlers in my hair for volume. I could pretend it was for Tyler, or at least someone my own age, but that would be a lie. I was trying to look good for Professor Hunter. He made me feel unbelievably self-conscious. If he really did ask the class to share a memorable dream from this weekend I would die. The only dreams I seemed capable of having were of kissing him under that umbrella in the pouring rain. And him pressing my body against his with his strong hands. What is wrong with me?

I sighed, lay down in my bed, and turned on the T.V. Instead of looking at the screen, I grabbed my phone. I scrolled to the "T's" in my contact list. Tyler wasn't listed. I went down to the "Y's" in case he accidentally forgot the "T," but he wasn't listed there either. I slowly scrolled up through the list until I found him: "Apologetic Tyler."

I laughed out loud. He was near the top of my contacts list. That had to be on purpose. I clicked on his name and then on the message option. "Apologetic Tyler?" I typed. "That's a start." I added a smiley face emoji and pressed the send button.

It would be a while before he texted me back. That was just how texting seemed to work. He'd see it right away, but he'd want to pretend he was busy doing something else and text me back in a bit. Or if he was like Austin, I'd never hear from him again. I put my phone down on my bed. I hated these games.

My eyes wandered to the T.V. screen, but I couldn't seem to absorb the funny scenes from America's Funniest Home Videos tonight. I picked up my phone right when I heard it buzz.