I shrugged. “What can I say? I’m like a shiny new penny for her.”
That thought made me think twice about what I was doing in the park, at night, with a student. The dean would not be quite so impressed with me if she knew what I was doing, not to mention what I was thinking at this exact moment.
We sat silent, enjoying the fresh air after being cooped up for so long.
“Did you make any new contacts?” I asked her, knowing she would probably be doing what she could to scout for jobs. It was a rough world after graduation. She would need every advantage, and making contacts now was the best way to ensure her success.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so. Most of the people there weren’t in the marine world at all. They are rich and looking for somewhere to donate money that will earn them a pretty little plaque. I did make a few connections, but we’ll see.”
“It takes time. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but I got really lucky and found a job right after I graduated,” I told her.
“The six-month grace period before I have to start paying my loans doesn’t feel like nearly enough, you know? Honestly, I don’t even know what I really want to do with my degree. There are a lot of different jobs that I could go after, but the problem is picking the right one.”
I had to laugh. “You’ll know it when you find it. It may take some trial and error though. Call it narrowing the field if you decide you don’t like a particular job once you get into it. It’s about living and learning.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Why do I feel like I’m talking to some wise old man?”
I shrugged. “Because you are, I guess.”
She slapped my shoulder. “You’re not old. But thank you for talking to me about it. I will take your advice.”
“No problem,” I said, understanding her plight. I checked my watch and realized it was getting late. We both had to be up early tomorrow for class.
Before I could say anything, she grabbed my hand. “Ian?”
“Yes?”
“I’m right here in a secluded spot; why haven’t you made a move? You texted me to meet you. Did you really want to chat about the benefit?”
I took a deep breath. “Tessa, I’m a teacher. You’re a student. Student and teacher relationships are a no-no. You know that.”
“I’m not your student,” she replied.
I thought about it. “No, I guess you aren’t.”
She looked at me. Questioning me.
“Aren’t you worried?” I asked her.
“I don’t know,” she said, barely above a whisper. “I should be.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes, you should. We both should. This could cost us far more than either of is willing to pay.”
She was quiet for a while. “I don’t know that it is. Why does anyone have to know at all?”
I took a deep breath. She had a point. Couldn’t we have a secret affair? Why did we have to worry about consequences? If we were careful, we could have the best of both worlds. I knew I was making excuses and looking for a loophole, but I didn’t care. I wanted this too much to care about anything else.
I looked at her, making sure she was looking directly at me. “I live near here. Would you like to see my house?” I asked, feeling far more confident than I should.
She hesitated a moment before nodding her head. “I’d like that.”
We stood, still holding hands. Inside, my conscience was screaming at me to stop. It was too late. I couldn’t stop the inevitable. I’m a weak man and can think of nothing other than Tessa. I have to see where this goes. I reminded myself I could still change my mind. Maybe she really only wants to see where I live and she’ll leave after a brief nightcap. There is nothing to get excited about.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tessa
I can’t describe what I was feeling. Nervous—definitely. Excited—absolutely. My body was humming with need and desire, but there was that one little part of me screaming that this was probably the dumbest thing I had ever done.