spent so many months serving in. The patients there deserved a chance.
* * *
Kristoffer glanced up from his legal pad before sliding it across the table. No doubt, their first meeting would be an awkward one, but both of them had shown they could be professional and not let what had transpired last night get in the way of business.
“If you two aren’t in any hurry, why don’t you stay for lunch? Kris, you can fill me in on the tour last night.”
So much for postponing the inevitable. Was the doctor blushing? Again? Her freckles faded into the redness of her cheeks. He didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or a byproduct of that strawberry-blonde hair. He remembered the strawberry-blonde standing proudly naked in front of the class—and his tour group—and wondered how she’d respond to Gunnar’s invitation.
“No, I really should be going. I’d like to do a little research before Kristoffer and I meet.”
Thankfully, she wasn’t any more interested in hanging out with them than he was, although it sounded as though he’d be spending more time with her in the weeks to come.
But Gunnar dashed his hopes for a brief reprieve. “Nonsense. I insist. We have a fully stocked kitchen down the hall. It won’t take us but a minute to whip something together—faster than the drive-through in town.” His cousin didn’t sound as though he’d take no for an answer, but the equally willful Pamela probably wouldn’t kowtow to him.
She busied herself with writing down her phone number. “If you insist.”
Submissive . He should have known after last night, although he’d hoped she was merely modeling for the school and not a student.
“Great. Kris, show her to the kitchen. I’ll be right there.”
After they’d packed away their things, he motioned her to precede him out the door. “Take a right.” Walking down the hall, he decided he needed to clear the air before any talk of the academy came up. “Is Gunnar aware that you’re a student at the school?”
She laughed from deep in her throat. “He got me into the academy.”
So his cousin had known she would be there last night. Did he also know she’d be standing naked in front of her class? Had this been some kind of set-up? A test? Gunnar had been vocal over the past year that Kristoffer needed to move on with his life and find someone to at least engage in BDSM with. Over lunch, he’d feel him out to see if he ever intended to purchase the damned school in the first place.
“If it would help in making the decision, I’d be happy to share some of my thoughts about the academy from a student’s perspective.”
“Yes, that might be useful. Thanks.” He opened the door to the kitchen. “Here we are.”
He showed her the fridge and cupboards and helped her prepare a tray of assorted cold cuts, cheese, fruit, and glasses of ice-cold sparkling water. He pulled a loaf of whole-grain bread from the counter just as Gunnar entered the room.
Kristoffer forced himself to engage in social pleasantries, something he’d become quite rusty at, when all he really wanted to do was drive back to Denver and distance himself from everyone. But he’d better become accustomed to spending time with Pamela in the next couple of months. Besides, he owed Gunnar too much, and they hadn’t finished their business yet.
Gunnar was the closest relative and friend he had left in the world, including his own mother. Kristoffer would take a bullet for him, but more likely than not, Gunnar would be the one sacrificing himself in that way. Kristoffer spent his days in safe, nonviolent activities, although he did practice aikido, a form of martial arts. However, that discipline was intended more to seek harmony than to take down an attacker.
Seated so close to Pamela after having inappropriate thoughts about her half the night wreaked havoc with his self-control. Her scent wasn’t flowery like Tori’s. It was subtle, something more…spicy.
* * *
Kristoffer glanced up from his legal pad before sliding it across the table. No doubt, their first meeting would be an awkward one, but both of them had shown they could be professional and not let what had transpired last night get in the way of business.
“If you two aren’t in any hurry, why don’t you stay for lunch? Kris, you can fill me in on the tour last night.”
So much for postponing the inevitable. Was the doctor blushing? Again? Her freckles faded into the redness of her cheeks. He didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or a byproduct of that strawberry-blonde hair. He remembered the strawberry-blonde standing proudly naked in front of the class—and his tour group—and wondered how she’d respond to Gunnar’s invitation.
“No, I really should be going. I’d like to do a little research before Kristoffer and I meet.”
Thankfully, she wasn’t any more interested in hanging out with them than he was, although it sounded as though he’d be spending more time with her in the weeks to come.
But Gunnar dashed his hopes for a brief reprieve. “Nonsense. I insist. We have a fully stocked kitchen down the hall. It won’t take us but a minute to whip something together—faster than the drive-through in town.” His cousin didn’t sound as though he’d take no for an answer, but the equally willful Pamela probably wouldn’t kowtow to him.
She busied herself with writing down her phone number. “If you insist.”
Submissive . He should have known after last night, although he’d hoped she was merely modeling for the school and not a student.
“Great. Kris, show her to the kitchen. I’ll be right there.”
After they’d packed away their things, he motioned her to precede him out the door. “Take a right.” Walking down the hall, he decided he needed to clear the air before any talk of the academy came up. “Is Gunnar aware that you’re a student at the school?”
She laughed from deep in her throat. “He got me into the academy.”
So his cousin had known she would be there last night. Did he also know she’d be standing naked in front of her class? Had this been some kind of set-up? A test? Gunnar had been vocal over the past year that Kristoffer needed to move on with his life and find someone to at least engage in BDSM with. Over lunch, he’d feel him out to see if he ever intended to purchase the damned school in the first place.
“If it would help in making the decision, I’d be happy to share some of my thoughts about the academy from a student’s perspective.”
“Yes, that might be useful. Thanks.” He opened the door to the kitchen. “Here we are.”
He showed her the fridge and cupboards and helped her prepare a tray of assorted cold cuts, cheese, fruit, and glasses of ice-cold sparkling water. He pulled a loaf of whole-grain bread from the counter just as Gunnar entered the room.
Kristoffer forced himself to engage in social pleasantries, something he’d become quite rusty at, when all he really wanted to do was drive back to Denver and distance himself from everyone. But he’d better become accustomed to spending time with Pamela in the next couple of months. Besides, he owed Gunnar too much, and they hadn’t finished their business yet.
Gunnar was the closest relative and friend he had left in the world, including his own mother. Kristoffer would take a bullet for him, but more likely than not, Gunnar would be the one sacrificing himself in that way. Kristoffer spent his days in safe, nonviolent activities, although he did practice aikido, a form of martial arts. However, that discipline was intended more to seek harmony than to take down an attacker.
Seated so close to Pamela after having inappropriate thoughts about her half the night wreaked havoc with his self-control. Her scent wasn’t flowery like Tori’s. It was subtle, something more…spicy.
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