Page 22 of Broken Beauty (Beauty 3)
“Well, whatever I said, it clearly worked, didn’t it? So she couldn’t have cared very much about you.”
“No, let’s see. I bet you threatened me. And now I’m supposed to believe that you care.”
Finally she looked flustered. “Blake, I’m just trying to help. She’s all wrong for you. Anyone can see that.”
He advanced on her. Her eyes widened. She backed up until she hit the wall, causing the framed black-and-white photographs to shudder.
“Listen to me very carefully. I’ve tried asking nicely. I thought that would be enough. So let me put this in terms you understand. Leave her alone, or you’ll regret it.”
She scoffed, but her lower lip trembled. “What can you do to me? I’m the more senior professor. The permanent one. You’re only temporary.”
“I think the dean would be very interested to know about the rejection letter that magically fell off your records. What made them change their minds only a month later? And wasn’t it generous of your father to pay for a new wing for the sociology building?”
Even in the dim light, he could see her grow pale. Some of the anger slipped off her face. “I didn’t think you knew about that.”
“Yeah, well, I can put two and two together. I didn’t want to know, though. Like you said, we were both young and stupid. We don’t have that excuse anymore. So don’t you dare speak to her about academic integrity. Don’t you dare speak to her about anything.”
She closed her eyes. “Blake, we could be so good together. Don’t you see it? I would stand by your side. Remember how we used to talk about that? I’m not afraid of a strong man, of being the woman behind one. That was our plan.”
“Plans change, Mel. People change. For what it’s worth, I told you that I wanted to make a difference. And you said—”
“I said I would make that difference even bigger.”
“Is this what we’re supposed to be doing, bickering over a fucking semester? We won’t be together, but we can find that spirit again. Of doing things that matter. Not harassing a young woman who’s had a hard enough time as it is.”
To her credit, Melinda looked contrite. “Really, I don’t know where you even found her. I can’t imagine she runs in our circles.”
“Leave her alone, Mel. I know you’re on the committee. You can challenge her all you want, but when it comes to vote, I expect you to do what you would for any other student. And since Reese Miller has been bragging about her project to any faculty who will listen, I have no doubt about the merits of her work. Are we clear?”
“My, my. You certainly get protective where this girl’s involved. I guess it is more than an easy f—”
“Melinda.”
“Fine. I’ll leave her alone. And you’ll keep my secret.” She bent down and rummaged in her leather briefcase, pulling out a manila folder.
He accepted it and flipped it open. Jesus. There was Erin, naked. His pulse pounded. “You came to my house,” he said flatly.
“No, absolutely not. You told me not to.” A pause. “I hired a private investigator. Oh, don’t look at me like that. He didn’t go on your property. He has one of those fancy long-distance-lens things.”
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. The sad part was, he wasn’t even surprised. Just angry. They may have been young and stupid, possibly still were, but Erin was light years ahead of them. Mature and brave. He was furious she’d had to face this alone. Hurt that she hadn’t come to him for help.
I’m sorry, she’d said. Well, fuck, he was sorry too. But he would fix this. He’d fix every single thing that came up, run a goddamn gauntlet if she needed him to until she finally believed in them.
* * *
She’d just gotten out of the shower when her phone rang. She dried herself off quickly and grabbed it, thinking Blake and no, not Blake. Her stomach sank. Her mother.
“Hey, Mom.”
“What’s wrong?” her mother asked immediately.
“How do you know anything’s wrong?”
“Oh, sweetie, I’ve known. You haven’t been calling as much, and now your nose sounds stuffy. Either you’ve caught a head cold, or you’ve been crying.”
Her smile pushed away some of the clouds she’d felt all afternoon. “You know me too well.”
“Talk to me.”
