“Correct.” Heat pinks my cheeks, and I hate that he’s making me feel like a damn child so soon after our sexual banter mere moments ago.
“That’s not very responsible.”
“I apologize.” The back of my throat burns, but I straighten my back, keeping my eyes locked on the side of his face.
He can’t even look at me right now, and I’m certain I’ve ruined everything. I don’t have another internship lined up, and I’m lucky my professor is even allowing this to count as the full credit I need when she didn’t have to be so gracious. If I get tossed out of here, I won’t graduate on time.
“And you’re late because you had to make up another class? Was that also because you flaked on those responsibilities?”
My lips quiver, and I know if I open my mouth to talk about the situation I was in before the holidays last year, I’ll cry. There’s nothing more cliché than a college girl shedding tears when put on the spot, so I refuse.
I blink at him, mouth clamped closed. Something over my shoulder catches his eye.
He clears his throat and stands from his chair. I mimic his actions. Giving myself permission to break eye contact, I reach down for my computer bag before facing him again.
“I have to meet this professor.” He waves his hand, cupping his fingers to someone across the room.
“Do I need to leave?”
His eyes find mine once again, and even though there’s still a desk and several feet separating us, I feel small in his presence. Even with respectable three-inch heels on, I feel like he could overpower me if he wanted to, and it’s not just his size that intimidates—it’s the entire package, the look in his eyes, the way his jaw clenches as he assesses me.
“No, but you will need to change.”
“I didn’t bring—” My mouth snaps closed when he shifts his weight. “I’ll figure it out.”
I follow him out of his office, skirting around a middle-aged woman with graying hair.
“Professor Wesley, good morning. Please, have a seat.”
The woman greets him cordially. I turn back around to offer a whispered apology, but he closes the door in my face before I can open my mouth.
Deciding to stick around even though I want to run and beg my dad to fix my mistake, I walk out of the police station and head to my car. Dropping my computer bag in the trunk, I mentally go over my options. I can drive back to my parents’ house, or I can wear the gym clothes I brought this morning for my evening workout. It’ll take well over an hour to go home, get changed, and make it back here. I opt to wear the workout clothes. Besides, I already messed up royally today, so it’s not like my apparel could make things worse.
“Things seemed tense in there.”
I grimace as I pull the gym bag from the backseat. When I straighten to find Haden standing a few feet away, I want to run through every excuse in the book, but lying to a cop hasn’t worked out so far for me today. Yet, the truth isn’t an option either. I decide on half and half.
“He wasn’t happy with my attire.” I shrug. “So, it looks like I’m going to be spending the day in workout gear.”
“Can’t really chase a perp in heels, Soph.”
My eyes widen with the prospect of getting to do some real police work on my first day at interning.
“Really? Think I’ll get to tackle a criminal?”
“No.” He shakes his head, a genuine smile playing at his lips. “You don’t get to rough up perps. Do you honestly think your dad would let you be here if he thought you were in any danger?”
“True.” I shrug because arguing with my dad’s friend about being a grown woman and able to make my own life choices will only fall on deaf ears.
“Is there a bathroom inside?”
“Let me show you to the women’s locker room.”
I follow Haden as he opens a side door with an ID card, and less than a minute later, he’s standing outside of a heavy door.
“I’ll wait here while you change and show you how to get back to Matthews’ office.”
I make quick work of changing, stashing my gym bag, now filled with the skirt from my business suit I ridiculously thought would make me look more professional. Although I’m sure I look ridiculous, I knew I couldn’t spend the day