Read Online Lessons From the Professor by Shyla Colt - Free Book Online Page B

Sutton?”
    “Leigh’s husband is my best friend.”
    “Oh, are you in the health care business as well?”
    “No, I’m actually a professor.”
    “What do you teach?”
    “Human Behavior Studies.”
    “That must be a very interesting field.”
    “I think so,” he said, a smile on his lips as silence fell
over the room.
    “I didn’t mean to interrupt your night, so I’ll just head to
my room now.   It was good to meet you,
Sidney. Good night, Sutton.”
    Carissa fixed her with a glare that spoke volumes.   She had plenty to say about her new beau.
    “Well, that killed the
mood,” Sutton said.   A heavy sigh left
her lips as
Sidney
frowned.
“If you aren’t ashamed to be seen with me, I’m not sure why you were so rattled.”
    “
Sidney
,
I told you I’m not ashamed of you! I just don’t look forward to the third
degree my family is going to give me.”
    “Because I’m eighteen years older than
you?”
    “No, because they’re nosey as all get out, and think they
know what’s best for everyone.”
    “And what will you say?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What will you tell them about us?”
    “That I’ve met a nice intelligent man who works as a
professor for a local university. We get along swimmingly, I enjoy spending
time with him, and I look forward to seeing where things will go from here.”
    “Maybe we need to take some time and think about what we
both want.”
    “
Sidney
,
why are you acting like this?”
    “Like what, Sutton?”
    “So cold and stand-offish.”
    “I’m too old to play games. I want a woman who’s proud to be
on my arm, and has no problem facing a bit of adversity to be with me. Our age
difference will always make people talk, and our other activities have the
potential to cause even more speculation if they were to ever be discovered. I
need to know you’re prepared to deal with that before we go any further with
this relationship.   I had a wonderful
time tonight, but I think its best that I be on my way
now.”
    She felt like she’d missed something vital as he stood and
headed to the door with her trailing behind him.
    “It’s hard for me to believe this is all coming from a
chance encounter with my sister. I can’t help but feel as if I’ve missed
something here, Sid.”
    “Do you think my request is unreasonable?”
    “Not at all, it’s your complete one-eighty that has me
boggled.”
    “Women aren’t the only ones who wish to protect their
hearts.”   He pursed his lips and clenched
his jaw. Whatever was going on right now was not just about what had happened
in the living room.
    “I think that’s unfair. There’s something you’re not telling
me.”
    He glanced away from her, but the avoidance of eye contact
spoke volumes. He was hiding something.
    “I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to reevaluate what
they want,
Sidney
.
We can’t work through our issues together if you choose to keep me in the dark
on things. I’ve been very open with you from the start—”
    “Except when
Jackson
called.”
    “I explained that to you.”
    “Yes, after I pressed. It’s not easy to show others your
baggage and hang-ups. “
    “No, I’ll be the first to admit that.”
    Another round of silence fell, and she shifted her weight as
she waited for him to make the next move. It was clear he had had some things
to work through. She could only hope in the end he found her worth it. He
stepped back from her door and gave a curt nod.
    “I’ll be in touch.”
    For the first time since she’d met him,
Sidney
looked unsure of himself.   The aristocratic aura she often associated
with him seemed to waver as he walked to his car. She wanted to call him back
and pull him into a hug, but knew he wouldn’t be open to it right now. He was a
hard man to get to know, but she was sure he had his reasons. The glimpses of
the incredible person she saw behind the barrier he kept erected intrigued her
enough to stick it out. No one had breached her high