Free Worth the Trip by Penny McCall Page A

History.”
    “Like your job,” Raymond said coldly.
    Norah seemed to falter a bit.
    Without thinking, Trip sidled a step closer in case she needed his support. “How long?” she asked, stiffening her spine and lifting her chin.
    “Until this issue is resolved,” the dean said. “Of course, if you were inclined to share your father’s story, and anything that results from it, with the college . . .”
    “You’re blackmailing me?”
    “Of course not. It’s just that the publicity is so disruptive, and if the treasure were found that would stop.”
    “You were happy about the publicity from my book, and all the attention it brought the college.”
    “Yes, but you don’t want anyone hurt on your account.”
    Norah looked over at Trip. “No one is going to get hurt.”
    “Well, now, we don’t want to take any chances.”
    Norah digested that for a moment. “And what are the chances my position will still be open when this . . . stupidity is over?”
    Dean Kline gave her a slight smile. “I’ll do everything in my power to see that you have a place here to come back to, once you’ve dealt with your personal unpleasantness.”
    Trip fielded a look from Norah, pure fury. “Thank you,” she politely said to Kline, then whisked out of the office, rounding on Trip the second they were in the hall again. “You went to that ass behind my back.”
    “Actually, my boss called that ass behind your back, then he sent me to see him.”
    “I’m not tenured. I could lose my job.”
    “Kline assured Mike you wouldn’t.”
    “Did he also mention that we dated for three years?”
    “And he slept around.”
    She frowned. “Actually, he didn’t, not that I could ever find out. He did a lot of looking, and he wasn’t really in the relationship for the last year, but I can’t say there was someone else. In fact, he wants”—she smiled faintly—“wanted to get back together. I doubt he still feels that way. Silver lining. Which doesn’t absolve you.” Norah hefted her briefcase and started walking, this time heading for the faculty parking lot.
    “You don’t need that job.”
    “I like that job. And don’t tell me what I need.”
    “You don’t want to know what I think you need.”
    “Does it include you going away?”
    Trip chose to ignore that remark.
    “That wasn’t a rhetorical question.”
    “I’m not going to explain why I’m here again. You’re stubborn, not stupid.”
    She glanced over at him, so angry that Trip wondered why she didn’t burst into flame. “You seem to be quite intelligent, and yet you have a real problem figuring out when you’re not welcome.”
    “You’re a pain in the ass. A wordy pain in the ass.”
    “Here are two more words for you. Interfering jerk. ”
    “Stubborn idiot.”
    “Government patsy.”
    “Bookworm,” Trip shot back, and then he had her up against her car, his mouth on hers, his hands on her body, taking as much of her as he could get. She came right back at him, curling her hands into his shirt, trying to drag him closer, which was impossible since the only thing between them was a couple of thin layers of clothing and enough heat to cause spontaneous combustion.
    And then she was pushing him away. Trip surfaced enough to hear the catcalls and whistles of a group of students passing by. Instinctively he shielded her from them, telling himself he’d caused her enough trouble for one day.
    If not for the taste of her still lingering on his tongue, the feel of her body against his, the need pounding through his bloodstream, he might actually have believed it.

chapter 6
    “I TRIED. TWICE.”
    “Tell me.” And make it fast , he added, but he kept his impatience to himself. Time was at a premium, but pushing the kid only discombobulated him, and then it would take twice the time to get the facts.
    “I just got out of Professor MacArthur’s lecture,” Bobby said. “I asked her to tutor me at her house.”
    “You what?!”
    “It’s okay. She