Free The Protege by Kailin Gow Page A

after another few minutes of excruciating silence. Staring
down at the pretty shoes Laura had loaned her, she cursed her hot temper. She’d
put so much effort into looking as elegant and classy as she could, only to let
her mouth show just how little class she actually had. “I’m so sorry I caused a
scene, Sebastian… um, Professor Sorensen. I know this isn’t…”
    He
continued to stare straight ahead as if she weren’t there at all. Tears stung
her eyes as she realized the fool she’d made of herself. She’d ruined
everything.  There was no way he’d consider being her advisor now.  How stupid
could she be?
    Sebastian
pulled the Roaster into a parking lot that overlooked the ocean.  At any other
times, this could have been romantic and dramatic.  Now the ocean appeared dull
and gray; unappealing in every way.  When he killed the engine, Serena bit her
lip in anticipation.  Surely he would let her have it.  Surely he would give
her hell for meddling where she had no business meddling.
    “No
one has ever stood up for me like that before,” he said in a quiet, almost
crumbling voice.
    “I
know it was none of my business…”
    He
reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’ve long passed the day when
I need someone to speak for me, but… I have to admit, I enjoyed that.  You came
to my defense in a way I never could.”
    While
she remained calm and serene on the outside, inside she trembled from the
electric shock that shot through her. His touch was like fire, burning through
her skin while his words reached deep down inside her.
    “So
you're not mad?” she managed to say.
    “Far
from it.  If anything I’m even more fascinated by you than I already was.” He
sat back and leaned into the headrest. Closing his eyes he let out a long and
exasperated breath. “My family,” he grunted.  “They take some getting used to.”
    His
last words were slightly slurred and his fingers slipped slowly away from hers
and went to his belly. She wondered if he’d not had too much to drink.  Wine
had flowed freely at the fundraiser, but she had only seen him take two or
three glasses throughout dinner.  Had he taken more and she simply hadn’t
noticed?
    “You
know, you’ve had a big night,” Serena said.  “Why don’t you let me do the
driving?”
    Without
opening his eyes, he said, “No, I’m fine. I’ll get you home.”
    “Why? 
Don’t you trust me to drive this thing?”  She added a teasing tone to her voice
hoping to avoid a drunken argument.
    Still
leaning into the headrest, he turned to look lazily at her, a crooked smile on
his lips. “You want to try driving it?”
    “Sure. 
Could be fun.”  Without waiting for him to change his mind, she got out of the
car and ran around to open his door.
    Though
he struggled to get to shaky feet, he tried to laugh it off. Walking the palms
of his hands along the side of his car to keep his balance, he made his way to
the passenger seat and got in.
    “Aren’t
you going to buckle up?” Serena said as she got in and started the car, but he
was already out. She reached passed his limp body and pulled the seatbelt
across him. “Let’s get you home, music man.”
    She
eased the car onto the road and though she lacked his skill with the smooth
curves, she managed to make it to her place in one piece. The moment she pulled
into the parking space beside her own car, she realized she’d not really solved
the problem; she’d only brought it home.
    Now
that they were at her place, what was she going to do with him?
    “Sebastian,
can you hear me?”
    “Baby,
baby, baby.  I hear you loud and clear.  Are you having trouble with my
Roadster?”
    Amused
by his uncharacteristic silly antics, Serena helped get him out of the car.
    “You
know,” he said as she guided him up the stairs, “I don’t think I really feel so
good.”
    “No.”
She shook her head as they reached her floor and she propped him up against the
wall beside her door.