Bad Professor (An Alpha Male Bad Boy Romance) (19 page)

Everything
was tangled together. Meeting Ford, feeling that first electric spark, and then
having to extinguish it because he turned out to be a professor had tied me in
knots. Then the discovery of the falsified application forms in my father's
office. And, now even when the truth was supposedly out in the world, my father
was still suspended and Ford was heading to jail.

I
leaned over the sink and gaped at the cold porcelain. Tears wouldn't come but
the grip of frustration and fear wouldn't let go. I fought my emotions for a
moment, then gave up. I locked the bathroom door and yanked my phone from my pocket.

"Clarity!
I've been worried sick!" my father cried as soon as he answered.

"Didn't
you get my text message? Nevermind, you didn't think to look. I'm so sorry,
Dad, I should have called. I'm fine."

My
father took a deep breath. "Where are you? I just called Lexi and told her
to keep you off campus. Please tell me you are holed up somewhere safe."

"I
guess that depends on what you mean by safe," I muttered.

"What?"
my father yelped.

My
breath hitched. "I thought we'd all be safe once the truth was out. We
published the expose article last night but the blow-back is insane. I didn't
think it all the way through; I didn't know this would happen. I'm so
sorry."

"Stop
apologizing, Clarity," my father said. "You did the right thing and
I'm proud of you. Of course it caused an uproar. You have no idea. They called
me in the middle of the night to find out what students have access to the
student newspaper website. I told them I couldn't help them."

I
smiled. "That must have caused a whole other uproar."

My
father chuckled. "It’s not my fault they don't keep track of student
activities without me. They ended up having to call and wake up the entire IT
staff. Those poor Landsman employees had to jump online last night and figure
out how to take it all down."

"Have
you been up to campus?" I asked. "From the looks of social media, the
students are in an uproar."

"I'm
so glad," my father said. "The student newspaper is built on the
right to free speech and any tampering with it should cause an outrage."

"I'm
just worried not enough people saw the article," I sighed.

"Clarity,
please, whatever you do, don't go to campus."

The
tone in his voice sent me into a panic. "What? Why? Is everything all
right? Are you all right?"

"I'm
fine. It's just a strange car parked outside our house really early this
morning. Two men are just sitting in it, waiting. Lexi told me she heard that
strange men have been asking around campus after you." My father's voice
was strained and tight. "I think they somehow work for Michael Tailor and
are trying to deliver some sort of message or threat."

I
steadied my voice. "Maybe lurking around is the threat. There's no way
Tailor would do anything. He's probably just trying to intimidate us."

"Well,
it's working on me at least," my father snapped. "Please don't go on
baiting these people. Can you promise you'll stay put? Where are you?"

"I'm
at Ford's apartment. I've been here all night." I pushed on, hoping my
father wouldn't pause to think of what that admission suggested. "And I'd
love to promise that we're staying put, but campus security is here. The
president of Landsman College just called to tell Ford the guards are going to
escort him to the police station. He's being charged with libel."

"Campus
security?" my father asked. "The president can't do that. This is not
a college matter. I mean, it's tangled up with people that work at the college,
but he cannot be compromising the safety of the students by sending the
security guards to babysit an unruly faculty member."

"Oh,
don't worry," I joked. "I'm pretty sure if he hasn't been fired, then
Ford has quit."

"Even
better," my father returned. "They're harassing an ex-employee. Listen,
I've got an idea. Jackson Rumsfeld's wife is a defense attorney."

"Alice?"
I asked, remembering her from Thanksgiving.

"Yes,
and she's got quite an unshakeable reputation. I'll give her a call and see if
she can advise Ford at all."

It
was relief to hear my father's confidence return. "What can I do?" I
asked him.

"Wait
there. Stall the security guards and don't let Ford leave. I'm on my way,
darling. We're all on the way to help."

The
knock on the bathroom door made me jump a foot in the air. My phone clattered
into the sink and I fished it out.

"Clarity?
I don't think we can stall much longer. I thought you were ready?" Ford
asked.

"Nope,
not quite. In fact, I might take a shower," I said.

Ford
rattled the door knob. "Unlock the door, Clarity. This isn't necessary. I'm
ready to take my lumps. It'll be fine; you'll see. Journalists shouldn't have
anything to fear from the authorities. I know my rights."

I
unlocked the door and yanked it open. "Well, I'm sorry, we didn't quite
get to that lesson in class before all this happened."

Ford
smiled and leaned on the door frame. "I think it's already been established
that I'm not the best professor."

I
crossed my arms tight. "What am I supposed to do while you're being
dragged off by security?"

He
stood up and took my hand. "First, I think you should come out here and
tell them about your fears. If you are afraid to set foot on campus, that is
more their business than escorting me to the police station."

I
pulled my hand back and refused to leave the bathroom. "I can't believe
it. You're having fun with all of this! Maybe the president was right; maybe
you somehow brainwashed me."

Ford
arched a dark eyebrow. Deep in his stormy-gray eyes was a blue sparkle. "You're
mad because I'm happy?"

"Yes!
How can you be happy with this insane mess? I don't want you to be sued for
libel. It's not funny," I snapped.

Ford
cornered me against the bathroom sink and smoothed his hands over my hair. I
put my hands on his chest to push him away but found comfort in the solid
warmth of him. He sighed happily as I rubbed my hands over his chest and
brought them up to circle around his neck.

"You
want to know why I'm acting this way?" Ford asked.

"Yes,
I think you're entirely too happy for a man about to be dragged out of his
apartment by security," I said.

He
leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. His mouth returned to deepen the
kiss and suddenly the whole world was far away. "This," he whispered.
"This is why I'm happy. The rest is just incidental. This is the only
thing that really matters to me."

Ford
punctuated his words with a deeper, hungry kiss that left me loose and blissful.

A
rough, impatient throat-clearing interrupted us from just outside the bedroom
door. Ford chuckled and sighed, but I felt a flare of bright anger.

I
shoved past Ford and marched to the door. The head of campus security stepped
back as I stepped up to him and poked him in the chest. "You know this is
wrong and you should be disgusted. Since when is it your job to go off campus
to deal with faculty issues?"

"Ms.
Dunkirk—"

"No,
you listen to me," I snapped. "It goes completely against your job
description to leave the campus at such a volatile time."

"Volatile?"
his voice was gruff.

I
brushed past him and went to the computer. Social media was plastered with
photographs and videos of students organizing to protest. It looked like very
few Landsman students were actually in class. My heart leapt with pride but I
kept my face stony as I showed the head of security.

"Doesn't
it fall to you to make sure situations like this do not get out of control? Don't
you think that's more important than this little errand for the
president?" I asked.

Ford
sauntered out of the bedroom and joined us at the computer desk. "How
about we go now and let these nice gentlemen get back to campus? Maybe you can
go with and help them find out who is threatening you."

"Someone
threatened you?" the head of security asked.

"Yes,"
I snapped. "You really haven't been listening to us at all, have
you?"

The
poor man rubbed the back of his neck and considered his options. He was clearly
in the wrong place at the wrong time. The computer loaded new images of a
restless student population and a bead of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Now
this looks like a party," Jackson called from the doorway.

Ford
laughed and went over to shake hands with his friend. "Please tell me you
aren't skipping class. I wouldn't want your truancy added to my long list of
infractions," Ford said.

"Class?
It's kind of hard to have class when all the students are on the lawns getting
ready to protest. Seems like security is ... oh, wait, looks like security is
right here," Jackson eyed the guards.

"Actually,
they're just leaving." Alice marched into the middle of the room and,
despite her small stature, captured everyone's attention.

Jackson
wiped the smile from his face and the security guard's followed suit. They stepped
back and gave her the floor.

All
but the beleaguered head of security, who rubbed his neck again and scowled at
Alice. "And who's this now?"

Alice
had to crane her neck to meet the tall security guard's gaze, but it didn't
diminish her command of the situation one bit. "I am Ford Bauer's defense
attorney. And here is a written agreement from the judge that will be reviewing
this case outside of court. The judge also kindly reminded the police that they
do not have enough to charge Ford, so they cannot hold him. I am currently
working with them to schedule a deposition. Until then, your presence is not
required. In fact, your presence has very strange implications, don't you
agree?"

Ford
laughed. "Clarity pointed that out to them early."

"She's
right," Alice snapped. She marched to the door and held it open. The
security guards filed out and she slammed it behind them.

Ford
slipped an arm around my waist. "Clarity's more than that," he
admitted.

CHAPTER
NINETEEN

Ford

I
listened carefully the stranger
presiding over the court. He was younger, affecting a sterner face than was
necessary, and he was acutely aware that everyone was watching how he worked. My
attention, however, was caught by Clarity.

She
sat in the first row and tapped her foot impatiently. No signs of any other
stress besides boredom showed in her face. I knew the signs, I'd seen them
sometimes in class. Clarity was done with this and ready to move on.

Nothing,
not even what the judge was about to say, could make me any happier than that.

"Mr.
Bauer, are you listening?"

"Yes,
your honor. I am guilty as charged," I said.

The
makeshift court snickered, but the interim dean of students silenced them with
a glance. "We don't normally associate guilt with good aspects, though I
was explaining to the students your reputation for pursuing the truth no matter
the professional or personal consequences," he said.

Clarity
smiled, and I knew the small curve of her lips was just for me. At that moment,
I would have walked through fire for her, but all I needed to do was face the
Honor Council and hear the verdict.

"You
say it like he's being all noble, but he's a few years too late, don't you
think?" Libby interrupted the interim dean of students.

I
watched as Clarity's father, the former dean, whispered in his daughter's ear
and she smiled wider. Everything was going to be all right. If Clarity could
put my mistake in the past, then so could Landsman College.

"Ms.
Blackwell, we've heard quite enough from you. More than necessary, in fact. I
believe I can speak for the entire Honor Council when I say that your testimony
sounded more like bragging to an audience."

"What
does that have to do with anything?" Libby demanded. "Professor
Bauer's the one that overstepped the rules and had relations with me. Was that
stated prudishly enough for you, judge?"

The
interim dean of students looked at Libby over the top of his glasses and tried
to ignore how everyone in the room looked to Patrick Dunkirk. "Your obvious
enjoyment at relating the details of your 'relations' was more than enough to
convince the court that you enjoyed the situation. Now, your interruptions are
not in the spirit of the Honor Council and I have to ask you to stop
speaking."

Clarity's
father leaned back and glanced around the room. He was in a Polo shirt and
khakis on campus for the first time. The early-retirement look was good on him,
especially coupled with a navy blue sport coat that still leant him an air of
professional wisdom. His replacement looked at him briefly before addressing
the assembled students.

"I
would ask that the Honor Council please remember that it was Ford Bauer himself
that brought this infraction to light. Despite the lapse in time, it was Mr.
Bauer that decided to confess to breaking the rules of propriety, and not Ms.
Blackwell," the interim dean said. He wiped his brow with a white
handkerchief and shuffled his notes. "To own up to a past indiscretion is
the mark of maturity as is the willingness to face the consequences."

Clarity
gave an audible sigh. Her father nudged her in the ribs, but had to smother his
own smile behind a fake yawn.

Libby
fluctuated between flipping her hair, giving flirty looks to the male members
of the Honor Council, and glaring at me. She had not managed to mount any kind
of case, especially not when she ranted at the council about how she had
pursued me and been rebuffed. She even quoted my use of the rules as protection
against her solicitations.

The
Honor Council stood up and adjourned into the back room. Landsman College
allowed up to an hour for deliberation, but no less than fifteen minutes. In
the meantime, everyone shifted, half the students left, and Clarity looked
ready to tear her hair out. It cheered me that Clarity was so sure of the
outcome.

I
still feared the council would assume the worst and decide I had coerced a
student into an unwanted relationship.

Until
I overheard Libby. "He's just bringing all of this up now because I may
have actually found a serious boyfriend. I mean, I get it. Jealousy makes
people do funny things. I guess Professor Bauer saw me with my new man and
decided to go ahead with all of this as a way to remind me of what we had. He
totally wants me back."

I
got up to stretch but could not bring myself to walk over to Clarity and her
father. There was a wall between Clarity and I. Things had settled down since
we broke the Landsman donors’ corruption scandal. I hadn't seen much of her,
and it worried me that Libby's self-serving lie was close to the truth for
someone else.

I
did it for Clarity. I wanted her to know that the truth mattered to me. I
wanted to face her free and clear of all my past mistakes. It felt like we
would never be on solid ground if I didn't face this last indiscretion.

How
could I tell her how special she was until she knew for certain she was the
only one for me?

The
thought threw me back into my chair. I was ready to stew for an hour when the
back door opened and the Honor Council returned. The foreman handed a slip of
paper to the interim dean of students. He reviewed it and then cleared his
throat.

"The
Honor Council has reviewed the evidence, heard testimony, and decided on how to
move forward. In the matter of Professor Bauer and Libby Blackwell, the Honor
Council finds the relationship was consensual."

A
ripple sigh and smattering of applause went around the room.

The
interim dean frowned and continued. "The relationship should have been
declared to administration, but, seeing as Mr. Bauer has left Landsman College,
the Honor Council finds no farther action is necessary."

I
stood up lighter than I had felt in years. Former students waved and it was
easier to look everyone in the eye. Especially Clarity.

I
turned to meet her gaze and felt a bolt of lightning run through my body. She
waited until most of the students had filed out of the assembly room, but she
never once took her eyes off me. Thomas, her former classmate, tried to get her
attention, but she waved him away. Her father went to talk to his replacement,
and the room emptied out.

As
soon as the crowd was gone, she moved. I stood rooted to the ground as she
wound her way through the empty folding chairs. A few feet from me, Clarity
broke into a run, and she was flying by the time she leapt into my arms.

I
caught the enthusiastic hug with a wave of surprise. "I understand if
you're still disgusted by my past with Libby," I said.

Clarity
tossed back her hair and hooked her hands behind my head. "The past is the
past. Who wants to think about something that won't change? Besides, our future
is much more exciting."

I
pulled her into the doorway of the back room. "Our future?" I asked.

Her
green eyes darkened as she grinned. "You know, you didn't need to do any
of this. You've already proved yourself to me in many different ways."

I
shrugged, "I just wanted to make sure I had my bases covered."

"Grand
slam," she said and leaned closer to me.

I
set her back, still keenly aware we were on her college campus. "Clarity,
I'm serious. I want to start whatever this is on the basis of total and
complete honesty."

She
widened her eyes. "Whatever this is? You mean this?" She brushed her
breasts against my chest. For a moment our hearts pounded against each other. "Or
did you mean this?" Her lips hovered near mine.

"More,"
I whispered. "I want more."

Her
cheeks blushed and she seemed to remember that people could still see us. "What
kind of more?"

I
chuckled. "Everything. A whole relationship. You'll be stuck with me, if
you let me."

"Oh,
then, yes," Clarity said.

I
tugged her closer, our bodies flush, and her lips were inches away.

Then
Jackson and his wife popped up in the doorway. "Oh, no, don't do
that," Jackson groaned. "Now my wife will think she really is a
matchmaker. None of my friends will come over for beer anymore because she'll
be so busy setting them up on dates."

"Matchmaker?"
Clarity asked.

"Sorry,"
Alice smiled, "but I couldn't help notice at Thanksgiving. We've known
Ford these past few years, and when I saw him chatting to you, I knew we'd only
known a part of him."

"See?
This is what I'm talking about," Jackson said. "Just because we're
happy in love and we happened to spot another happy couple, does not mean this
is all you should think about. For god's sake, get a hobby."

"You
mean like practicing law?" I asked.

Jackson
chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose she is pretty amazing at that too."

I
let go of Clarity only to shake Alice's hand. "I can't thank you enough,
Alice. You really saved me there."

She
shrugged her diminutive shoulders. "I didn't do much else besides call in
a favor. The judge took one look at all the evidence you compiled and threw out
the libel suit. We may not have been able to make anything stick to Michael
Tailor, but at least the truth is out there."

"Without
you, both my father and Ford would have been mired in courts and paperwork for
years," Clarity said. She snaked an arm through mine.

I
hugged her arm close, despite Jackson's wide grin. He winked at me and snaked
his arm around Alice's waist, not to be outdone.

"In
the end, I think all of this was the best lesson you've ever taught, Professor
Bauer," Jackson said. "The students were outraged over the article
being taken down and they are now set to defend their freedom of speech in the
real world."

"It
was all part of my lesson plan," I said.

Clarity
rolled her eyes and turned to Alice. "So, Michael Tailor is really going
to get away with it after all?"

"I'm
pretty sure Junior is looking for other schools," Jackson said.

"Thanks
to your article, I was able to prove to the judge that Michael Tailor's money
gave him influence over campus activities and processes. He agreed to keep it
quiet in order to discourage further retaliation from Tailor."

"The
judge also expunged the charges from my father's professional record. That was
the amazing part. Thank you," Clarity let go of me to hug Alice.

Alice's
cheeks lit up. "Just doing my job," she said.

Jackson
beamed and kissed his wife on the head. "She's so modest. Though, really,
the students did a lot of the work for her. They protested, they organized, and
they've even come up with a plan for Landsman College to have more
administrative transparency."

Clarity
laughed, "Yeah, I hear they have an expert consultant helping them." Her
father joined us and she nudged him in the ribs. "Tackling the shadowy
world of college administrations, huh? That's how you decide to start
retirement?"

Patrick
Dunkirk stepped forward and hugged Alice. "Thank you so much for
everything." Then he turned to me. "I appreciate that you went the
extra mile to atone for past mistakes."

I
felt awkward, my arm brushing intimately against Clarity's as her father spoke
to me. "I needed a fresh start."

Patrick
eyed our arms as Clarity, who was chatting with Alice, slipped her hand into
mine. She wasn't watching her father's face as closely as I was. My heart
stopped.

The
former dean burst out laughing. "Ford, if this whole thing has taught me
one thing, it's to trust my daughter. I'm glad she's met her match and that
she's already making you a better man."

"I'll
shake hands on that," I said.

The
interim dean of students moved past us and out into the hallway. Patrick was
nice enough to offer him a smile and a nod.

"Was
it strange to be at Honor Council and not presiding?" Clarity asked her
father.

"Yes,
of course, but satisfying. It was really great to see that the system I fought
to get put in place actually works. Mighty nice of you to try it out, Ford,
though I'm sure we didn't all really need to know your dirty laundry."

"I'm
sorry I wasn't able to get your job back," I said. "Our article
outlined how Tailor intended to coerce you, and Alice was able to prove to the
judge how you were set up, but the president of the college was firm."

Patrick
waved a hand at all our concerned expressions. "How am I supposed to stand
in the same room as the Honor Council and not own up to my mistakes? I accepted
the gifts from Tailor, I decided to make use of his influence, and I paid for
it. I'm just glad that I was the only one."