Page 37 of Elias

She still remembered those mixed feelings of terror and excitement as she’d approached Raymond at the end of the lecture. Was he finally free to see her? Perhaps he wanted to spend time with her going over the test results.

Instead, he’d sat her down and accused her of cheating.

The bottom had fallen out of Hayley’s world that day. Raymond claimed he had evidence of her cheating and had submitted it to the college board. Until then, she was suspended, could no longer attend any lectures, and her funding was withheld until the matter could be cleared up.

Hayley had fled the lecture room in tears. She’d hidden in her room, not speaking to anyone and unable to sleep she’d been so frantic with worry. She’d told no one else what was going on and avoided her friends.

At the end of a long and tear-soaked week, she’d received an official letter from the college board. She’d been expelled and was no longer welcome to attend classes. Her funding was gone, and she had to leave immediately.

Those memories made Hayley queasy as she waited by the ship. What sort of man did that to a young girl? Not an honorable one. All she could do was hope that, in the last eight years, Raymond had changed. He’d treated her appallingly, broken her heart, and ruined her dreams of working in paleontology.

She had finished college but had changed to one with not such a great reputation or program of study. She’d still aced her classes and received a distinction but had never managed to bag her dream job. Far from it. She blamed Raymond for that. He’d stamped all over her dreams, so he could get into her pants and slake his lust.

The ramp on the ship descended. Hayley pulled her face into an expression she hoped hid her anxiety and tried to calm her thudding heart.

A moment later, Raymond descended from the ship. He had a few more gray hairs and lines around his eyes but looked as sophisticated as ever.

He smiled broadly as he strode down the ramp, his blue eyes sparkling and his smile wide.

Hayley held out her hand for him to shake. He surprised her by engulfing her in an enormous hug and squeezing tightly.

“I cannot believe it. After all this time, it’s really you.” He stepped back but kept hold of her shoulders as his gaze ran over her. “Hayley Goodacre. You have grown into quite a beauty.” Raymond planted two kisses on her cheeks.

Hayley was too startled to pull away. She blinked up at him. “Welcome to Prodigy, Professor Grenville.”

“None of this professor nonsense. We are friends. I insist you call me Raymond.” He winked at her. “Just like old times.”

Hayley was surprised by the fluttering in her chest. After the way he’d treated her, she should want to punch him in the face. Instead, she’d reverted to the tongue tied eighteen-year-old who’d been ridiculously in love.

“Very well. I hope you have a pleasant stay with us.”

Raymond chuckled and massaged her shoulders with his fingers. “You have grown up. So formal. Where is the innocent, sweet Hayley I used to adore?”

“She is almost a decade older and a lot wiser.” Hayley raised her chin and stared at him, finally stepping out of his reach.

His smile stayed in place, but his eyes hardened a fraction. “Of course, we all change. I must admit I was surprised when I heard your name after submitting my application to My Single Alien. I did not know you worked here. It set me wondering about you and how you came to be in space working for an alien and human matchmaking agency.”

“It took me a little by surprise when I found myself here, as well,” Hayley said.

“Do you enjoy your work?”

“Yes, I do.” Hayley took a deep breath. She had to keep things professional. “And you? Still teaching?”

“Now and again,” Raymond said. “Not full-time anymore. I wrote a few books that did rather well. I lecture part-time on the circuit but grew tired of marking all those papers and having students knock at my door every hour of the day and night. It was time for a change.”

Hayley nodded. Raymond had always been terrible at marking papers. She was sure that some evenings he sat randomly making ticks on the papers and making up a mark at the end of it. There’d never been any consistency to the marks he’d given her. She knew of two students who’d put in a complaint about him and his marking behavior. As far as she knew, nothing came of it.

“I’d love a tour of this space station,” Raymond said. “I’ve been into space twice, but this will be the longest I’ve spent outside of Earth’s atmosphere.”

“That can be arranged.” Hayley gestured to the corridor. “Let me show you to your accommodation.”

Raymond’s hand settled on the small of her back, and his fingers splayed so they brushed her backside. “I was hoping you could show me around. It will be good to get reacquainted.”

Hayley deliberately stepped away from him, making it clear that was not happening. “I’ll see what I can do.”

His hand returned to her back, and Raymond made a small circular motion at the base of her spine. It made her shiver but not with pleasure.

Hayley gritted her teeth and walked fast, sliding him a sideways glance. How had she found him attractive? He was so sleazy. Now she was up close, she saw he’d had hair plugs, and those teeth were capped. The way his forehead refused to move also suggested some sort of cosmetic procedure to keep himself looking young. No doubt to snare more unfortunate girls who didn’t know any better.