Free A Taste of Temptation (Love Spectrum Romance) by Reneé Alexis Page B

mean?”
    “Eric Fontaine. I saw him over there.”
    She had to look at him. “What can I do? I certainly can’t date you, now can I?”
    He didn’t understand her shortness with him and wasn’t in the mood for it. “You’re right. You do need to go back to your station.”
    As she walked away she felt guilty about her behavior. Nothing was his fault, and she had taken it out on him. He was only trying to make her feel better, and she had rebuffed him. She threw her towel down and ran to the ladies room, practically in tears.
    The following Monday, there was no one in his room after class. No students stopping by to say hello, no women pretending to need help just to get close to him—and no Brandi. She had stayed clear of him, and he knew why.
    The letter he had received from the literature department at NYU inviting him to an interview dangled from Tim’s hand. He had liked their program, and taking the job would definitely free him to be with Brandi—if he could handle a relationship. But he didn’t want to leave, didn’t feel it was fair to himself to leave because of a woman. He had invested three years at that school and had loved every minute. No, he couldn’t leave Madison. His life was there. Getting Brandi out of his head would be dreadfully hard, but he could do it.
    He thought about Brandi nonstop, no matter how hard he fought against it. No matter how many times he paced the floor trying to find other things to think about, his mind always returned to her. Madison Tech and Brandi were double-teaming him; one he wanted to run from, the other he wanted to run to. His head began to ache, so he left without putting grades on the last batch of student papers.
    The cheerleaders were practicing in the gym. Brandi was one of them now that McKenzie Miller had transferred to Princeton. Their routine was almost perfect, and Brandi really added to the team due to her cheerleading experience in high school. The gym doors opened and Tim stepped inside. All eyes were on him, all except Brandi’s.
    He watched her routine. Her prowess was breathtaking, her technique flawless. All he could see was a blur of red and white tap panties fitting her like a glove, making him feel the pressure in his pants. He turned to leave, but everyone ran to him for his opinion on the outfits—except Brandi. Mrs. Washington clapped her hands. “Ladies, let the man breathe; he’s not a toy. Hit the showers.” She turned to him. “How are you today, Dr. Polaris?”
    “I’ve been better; just tired, Mrs. Washington.”
    “You saw part of the ladies’ routine. What do you think?”
    “It was excellent.”
    “They’ll be ready for the game by Thursday, Dr. Polaris.” She turned and saw Brandi walking back into the gym. “Miss Miles?”
    “I need to talk to Dr. Polaris.”
    He nodded, “It’s okay.”
    Both watched Mrs. Washington leave the room before facing one another. Brandi looked down at her red and white clad feet. “I’m so sorry about the other day. I was rude to you for no reason. Forgiven?”
    “I forgave you the second you said it.”
    “I appreciate that. It’s been really hard for me with Eric always in my face. Hiding how I feel about you is worse, though.”
    “It’ll work out, Brandi. Trust me.”
    “How? Everything seems so impossible.”
    “Right now, I can’t say how it will work itself out, but it will. I actually hadn’t planned to come in here today.”
    “Didn’t you want to see our routine?”
    No! “Sure, but I knew I would see it at the game. I couldn’t work because I was tired, but something is on my mind and I need to clear it with you.”
    “With me? Why?”
    “I was out of place complimenting you the other day. I was out of place to assume anything about Eric.”
    “You were right on target. Screw him. But why do you feel you were out of place complimenting me? I liked it, even if I neglected to tell you.”
    “You did everything right. You weren’t supposed to take kindly