She wouldn’t because she was used to getting her way. Thoughts of Marcella from his college days popped into his head. He had no clue if Jenna was exactly like Marcella, but part of him wouldn’t put it past her.

  “The big deal is other kids do their work and get a B or less. I don’t just hand out grades because someone’s parents have more money than the next. Grades are earned, not bought.”

  She laughed at him. “Please. Money buys everything. But if you won’t do it for that reason, how about I tell people that you and I have been seeing each other and that I broke it off and you are giving me a D for revenge?”

  He felt his face turn red and brief thoughts of why he went into teaching over working in labs and finding cures his family always thought he’d do popped into his head. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”

  “That’s not blackmail,” she said. “It’s just a little statement.”

  “It’s blackmail,” Cindy, his secretary, yelled from her desk outside his office. And that’s why he never allowed his office door to be shut.

  When Jenna stood up to walk to the door and shut it, he could tell what she was about to do, so he said, “Don’t even think about it.”

  “But we need to talk privately,” Jenna argued.

  “No, we don’t. If that is all you’ve got to say, you can leave. If you want to raise your grade, do the extra credit labs I put on the blackboard assignment last week and study for the final. I’ll be handing out review sheets this week. Otherwise your grade is what it is.”

  She turned and stormed out in a huff. He was pretty sure something was going to come from that, but he wasn’t going to worry about it now.

  A few minutes went by and Cindy came into his office. “Can you believe her nerve?”

  “Not really a surprise,” he said. “Girls like her have been around since the start of time. Boys even.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that boys do that too. There are plenty of boys who use girls to do their work pretending that they are into them. It just seems I see it more and more and fewer kids are even trying. They all want free rides now without any effort at all.”

  “I don’t know what this generation is coming to. I just feel bad for those students who try and still struggle with grades.”

  “But you give them a bump and you know it,” Cindy said.

  “If they come see me for help and they are really trying, I’ll bump if it’s close enough to the next grade.”

  He did it once in a while, but not often. He didn’t think he was a hard grader, but he wasn’t handing out A’s just because someone showed up to class. The world didn’t work that way.

  He wasn’t one of those people who believed in handing out a ribbon to everyone or an award for participation. That was the problem in society, to his way of thinking. Not everyone gets a ribbon in life; you have to work for it. Survival of the fittest and that didn’t mean showing up but rather putting in an effort with it.

  “You know, if you weren’t single all the girls wouldn’t always hit on you. Or make threats like that.”

  He looked at Cindy sharply. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “If you were married or ever talked about having a significant other then I think the girls would leave you alone.”

  “First of all, I am seeing someone. Second of all, my personal life has nothing to do with my students nor would I talk about it with them. That’s completely unprofessional and you know it.” She just snorted at him. “And third, being married or in a relationship doesn’t stop other people from having affairs, so it’s meaningless.”

  “You’re seeing someone?” Cindy asked, walking forward and sitting in the seat Jenna had vacated. Crap, he hadn’t meant to let that slip.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s Anne, isn’t it? Why are you keeping it a secret? She’s been hinting around for months about you guys having lunch and working together. What’s the big deal?”

  He let out a sigh. “It’s not Anne. We are colleagues and that is it.”

  “Oh. I think she thinks it’s much more than that. You should really let her know you are seeing someone else.”

  “It’s not my problem she thinks it’s more. I’ve never given her any reason to.” He was trying to figure out how he got into this conversation.

  “Bryce,” Cindy said, clucking her tongue. “Sometimes men are just so clueless.”

  He didn’t think he was clueless at all. He knew Anne wanted more than he was willing to give. There wasn’t anything wrong with her. She was a nice woman. Good looking, but he just didn’t have any romantic feelings toward her.

  “I guess so, but the bottom line is, there isn’t anything going on with Anne and me. We work together and I’d never mix work and pleasure.” That sounded good to him.

  “So that is the reason?” Cindy asked.

  Guess it didn’t sound as good as he thought. “Part of it. We are friends. That is all I feel for her. I can’t make myself feel more than I do, now can I?” The heat filled his face over the confession and he felt a little bit like a fool for saying it to his secretary.

  Cindy stood up. “I guess when you put it that way, it’s hard to argue with it. But I’d still let her know you are seeing someone so she isn’t taken by surprise. Who is it, by the way?”

  “No one you know,” he said, leaving it at that. He wasn’t one for airing out his personal business and was shocked he’d said as much as he had already. Nor was he going to go around announcing to anyone he was in a relationship. That wasn’t his way.

  “It was worth a shot trying,” Cindy said.

  “But you didn’t get it anyway. Thanks for backing me with Jenna.”

  “Just part of my job. You aren’t the first professor to have to deal with that and you won’t be the last.”

  Special Night

  Payton was a nervous wreck waiting on Bryce to pick her up.

  Why had she agreed to go with him to this event tonight?

  Sure, they’d been dating now for over a month, closer to two really, if she was counting, but she really wasn’t. Was she?

  It didn’t matter. He’d said they had an annual fundraising event and he’d like her to go with him. That he’d never brought a date before and it’d be nice to have someone on his arm.

  She’d laughed over the “having someone on his arm” comment, as she knew that was his crack about her always calling herself arm candy. But the truth was, she was honored that he wanted her with him.

  So she’d gone out and bought a new dress for the night, then had her hair done. She’d told the stylist to keep it simple but make her look classy. The dress she’d chosen for the night was a simple black one. Not sexy but somewhat stylish and mature.

  In the end her hair was kept straight, but had a nice shine to it and Payton kept it parted at the side and tucked behind her ears. Simple silver studs were at her ears and a thin silver necklace with a tiny key on it adorned her neck. Her aunt had given her that necklace as a graduation gift as the key to her future and she only wore it at special times.

  Tonight was a special night for her in her mind.

  She pulled on her black heeled sandals and waited for Bryce to pick her up, telling herself there was no reason to be so nervous.

  It’s not like she was going to be in a room full of snobby people.

  But in her heart, she was afraid that might be the case.

  When she heard the knock at her door, she stood up, but Bryce was there opening it before she reached him.

  He just took her breath away standing there in a suit. Oh man, she hadn’t expected that.

  Dark gray, fitted to his body. The jacket was undone with a light green shirt underneath and a multi-color green tie.

  “Wow, look at you,” she said, walking forward and straightening his perfectly knotted tie, just like she’d seen in the movies and always secretly wanted to do with a man.

  “I feel like I’m choking. I hate ties with a passion but know I’ve got to look the part for this stupid affair. I even hate going to this, but it’s encouraged.”

  “I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”

  “It won’t be,” he said, “not this year with you by my side.”

  “That’s a sweet thing to say, but if anyone is going to feel uncomfortable or out of place, I’m sure it’s going to be me.”

  “Don’t sweat it. You’re good around people and I’ll make sure we are sitting with other professors who bring their wives along who hate it too. You can bond with them over how much you want it over with.”

  “I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse.”

  “It’s supposed to make you feel better, but can I say you look stunning? Do a little spin for me,” he said, holding his hand up and twirling his finger.

  “Do you like?” she asked, letting out a little giggle. “I wasn’t sure if this was dressy enough.”

  “It’s perfect. What is it you women call that? A little black dress?”

  “That’s it,” she said. “I even went and had my hair done so I looked a little bit nicer than normal.”

  “You look perfect to me all the time, but I appreciate you making the effort for this, even though you didn’t need to. Now I just want to stay here and take that dress off of you and mess you up good.”

  “You can think about that all night and then do it when we get back to your place.”

  “That’s your way to get me to leave early, isn’t it?”

  “If it works, then yes, it is.”

  When they got to the campus and pulled into where the event was being held outdoors under a tent, Payton was trying to make sure her jaw was shut and her eyes weren’t bugging out like cartoon characters. That would probably embarrass Bryce.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked her.

  Guess she wasn’t doing that great of a job hiding her shock. “There are a lot of people here.”

  “It’s a big campus. Don’t worry, you won’t have to talk to everyone. I don’t even know a fraction of them here.” He threaded his fingers through hers and her heart started to calm down immediately. “Let’s go find some people I know that you’ll feel comfortable with.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  They’d been seated for an hour while several people came to their table and Bryce introduced her again and again. There were some shocked looks on people’s faces and she wasn’t sure the reason. If it was because he had a date, or it was what she looked like and they were surprised she was his date.

  Both were kind of insulting, but she was trying not to let it get to her since she always got this reaction when she put a minimal effort into dressing up and adding makeup to her face.

  “This is the first time Bryce has brought anyone to this affair,” Melanie said to her. She was the young wife of an adjunct professor in Bryce’s department.

  “He told me that. How many have you been to?”

  “This is my third. They are okay, but I never have anyone to really talk to. Some of the other wives and girlfriends are older or just wander around being catty. I like to stay back and observe.”

  “I feel like that is what I’m doing. I’m glad to be here with Bryce, but I just don’t know what to say or do either.”

  “Do you want another drink?” Bryce asked her. He’d been talking to someone on the right of her.

  “Sure. One more for the night, then I’ll switch to tonic.”

  “So what do you do?” Melanie asked her, getting comfortable in the chairs that weren’t the least bit comfortable at all.

  “I own Millie’s. How about you?”

  “What’s Millie’s?”

  “It’s a deli of sorts. We do breakfast and lunch, early dinners. Subs, salads, baked goods.”

  “Oh, that sounds wonderful. I might have to try that out. Have you owned it long?”

  “Just a year. My aunt owned it and she passed away and left it to me. But I’ve worked there since I was in high school.”

  “That’s great. It sounds like such a fun job, especially if you like cooking and baking,” Melanie said. “Of course you must not eat any of it with as skinny as you are. It makes me a jealous bitch saying that, but I just needed to. You’re beautiful and I feel like this frumpy fish out of water sitting next to you.”

  Payton laughed. “I eat, but I never sit still. And you aren’t frumpy at all.” She was trying not to put Melanie in the mean girl category she’d been exposed to her whole life. “What do you do?”

  “I work in patient services at a doctor’s office. Billing, phone calls, office stuff. Whatever they need me to do. I have to confess I always feel out of place with all these highly educated people when I just went to a community college. I don’t really like school.”

  “I’m so glad to hear you say that. I don’t like it either.” She wanted to say school wasn’t her thing but remembered how Bryce had told her to stop saying that and instead said, “I like working around people and working with my hands more. And if we are going to spend that much time in a job, shouldn’t we do what makes us happy?”

  “What a great thought. Wish I could say that, but for me it’s just a job. Sometimes that’s all it can be. And can I say when I saw you walk over I was so intimidated but you’re completely down to earth and so sweet.”

  “Thank you for that. It means a great deal to me.” Not many would say what Melanie did. They’d label her in their mind and not change their opinion. Or if they did, they didn’t share it with her.

  And Payton realized how lucky she was to know she loved what she did and had to stop feeling sorry for herself because she struggled in school and felt this was the best she could do.

  Damn it all, she was thriving at what she did and she loved every minute of it.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” she said. “I need to run to the lady’s room.”

  “No problem,” Melanie said. “It’s through the building on the right, down the hall, and to the left.”

  “Thanks.”

  She got up and grabbed her purse, then made her way into the building. She did her business and was just leaving when another woman was ready to open the door, then stopped and turned to walk down the hall next to her. “You’re here with Bryce, right?”

  “I am. Do you work with Bryce?”

  “I do. I’m Anne Fryer. We work in the same department. I’m surprised to see him here with someone.”

  “Why is that?” Payton asked.

  “Well, Bryce and I are close. I mean we have lunch a few times a week and work closely together. Sometimes late at night, if you know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t know what you mean. Why don’t you explain it to me?” She damn well wasn’t going to be bated.

  “I’m sure you can figure it out,” Anne said, her eyes looking Payton up and down, measuring her. “I mean Bryce and I have so much in common and have known each other for years. Sometimes things happen with colleagues.”

  “So what you’re trying to say but not really saying because you want me to guess is that you and Bryce are or have been romantically involved?”

  “I didn’t say those words,” Anne said, grinning.

  “That’s right, you didn’t,” Payton said, then walked away and tried to control her shaking. She didn’t want to believe it, but she didn’t know what to believe.

  ***

  Bryce was at the bar getting another beer and Payton’s wine when he felt a hand at his arm. “Bryce Fierce?”

  “Yes,” he said, turning to look at the man.

  “Mark Miller. Jenna’s father.”

  Great. Just what he needed to deal with here. He paid for his drinks and moved away from the bar. “What can I do for you, Mr. Miller?”

  “Please call me Mark. Jenna tells me she was bummed she couldn’t pull a B off in your class.”

  “She brought her D up to a C. I think she did well, all things considered.”

  Jenna actually earned the C. Whether she got someone to do the extra credit labs for her or not wasn’t his problem and she did pull out an eighty on her final. It was as Bryce suspected, Jenna was lazy and just used to people giving her what she wanted.

  “She was really hoping for a B,” he said, lifting his eyebrow.

  “She could have easily gotten it if she’d done her assignments better. I explained that to her. But you should be proud she buckled down and pulled her grade up.”

  Mark just looked at him, his eyes narrowing. “She would have done better with a B. What’s the big deal to bump her up?”

  “The grades are final and she ended with a C. Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said and walked away before he lost his temper that rarely made an appearance.

  “Bryce, hold up.” Shit, it was the head of the Science Department now.

  “Yes, Dylan.”

  “I heard the conversation between you and Mark Miller.”

  “And?”

  “Sometimes it’s best to just give in.”

  “I’m not compromising what I stand for. By doing it once, kids think they can do it all the time. I’m surprised to hear you say that.”

  Dylan frowned. “You have to pick your battles, just remember that.”

  “I’ll remember it,” Bryce said and walked away, knowing he couldn’t wait to get out of here now.

  Some Game

  By the time they were in the car and driving back to his place, Bryce couldn’t figure out why Payton was so quiet. He was the one that should be in a mood after pretty much being called on the carpet for not giving grades away.

  The day he started to compromise his integrity was the day he was done teaching. He was sick and tired of everyone thinking they could get stuff and not put the work in. He wasn’t raised that way and he didn’t believe in it.

  Maybe he should have gone down a different career path. He’d always known he still could, but this was what he wanted out of life right now. Was the frustration worth it though?

  “What’s wrong?” he asked Payton.

  “Nothing,” she said, looking out the window.