“Sure. Shit, this is all happening so fast. What are we going to do with without all of this drama?”
“I don’t know – breathe? Hopefully not make some more. But anyway, the meeting is at 4 PM. We should take separate cars.”
“Sounds good. I hope my mother’s friends at the consignment shop can hook me up.”
“Ask if they have a black pleather cat suit. That would impress the dean.”
“Right? I will follow you in my car. I’ll be out front at 2 PM.”
“Bye, Sweetie.”
****
“Mom, I’m home!” I called out as I entered the house. “I’m finding out my fate today. The dean has called a meeting.”
As I reached the top of the stairs, I caught a naked Claude running out of my mother’s bedroom. Life was heading in the right direction for me. Ryder was cancer free and we had just spent a fun adventurous night together. My view of a sixty-year-old man’s ass wasn’t a welcome part of my day. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes to erase the picture in my head.
“Oh, hi, Jenna. We didn’t expect you home so early. Claude said you went to Ryder’s house and I just assumed you would sleep in.”
“Yeah, long story. Did you hear my news? Dean Meadows has summoned us to his office. I was going to run down to your favorite consignment store but I think I can put something together.”
“Are we going to take your car or my sedan?” my mother asked.
“We?” I asked. “I don’t believe you were invited Mom. We’ve got it from here.”
“I just assumed that we would be a united front. I expected to be in this until the end.”
“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, Mom.”
“I suppose I can remain here with my sweetie. You will have to call us the instant you receive news though. I bet the dean will miss me in my Chanel suit, though.”
“Yeah, Mom. You were quite the powerhouse in that suit. I’m sure he’ll never forget you. Ryder and I are driving separately but we will be caravanning down. If things don’t go my way, he’ll make sure I don’t drive off a bridge.”
“Not funny, Jenna…Good luck.”
“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
Chapter Nine
I pulled off Lewis Ave. with Ryder following behind me in his Lexus. If one considered gender roles, Ryder would’ve driven first, but my lead foot prevailed. Maybe he was thinking ladies first. Regardless, Ryder noticed my speed of about seventy miles per hour and called me. I answered with my car’s Bluetooth.
“Before you say a word, I’m aware of my speed. I can’t help it.”
“Bad excuse. It is simple mechanics. Just lighten up on the gas. This isn’t the Indy 500 and I don’t want to lose you this way. I would have to go face the dean alone and it’s not something I feel like doing.”
“I misspoke. I can help it, but I don’t want to. I have a need for speed. I think that’s a quote from some movie. It looks like I will get to campus first; see you there, slow-poke.”
I peeled away from Ryder’s vehicle and turned off the phone. Instead of listening to Ryder critique my driving, I preferred to relive our night together at the lake. The invigorating water and Ryder’s warm body strengthened me for whatever the day had in store. I knew it was psychological, but Ryder seemed more alive after his appointment with Dr. Borski. I thought I was free to love him completely because now he was going to be around for a while. While I was thinking of Dr. Borski, I remembered something he said, and I had to ask Ryder. I turned my phone back on.
“Hello? I hate when you turn your phone off because I worry about you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I picked up a hitchhiker and he was a nice man. He got out at the next rest stop. But seriously, Ryder, I didn’t know you put on a golf clinic for kids with cancer. Your doctor mentioned it, so care to elaborate?”
“It’s not one of those things that I talk about too much. I feel as if I should give back a great deal more. I have some friends at Magnolia who I have known for years. We started taking a few kids out to hit the ball and realized that it was something that many kids could benefit from. You can’t imagine how isolating cancer can be. As an adult, it was hell. Multiply it 10-fold for kids. Between the others and me, we had the connections to throw together a free clinic and it has become an annual thing. One guy owns a clothing company, so he provides the t-shirts and his wife is a graphic artist and makes up the flyers and name badges. Riko from the club drives the beverage and snack cart. I even have Sammy helping. He is the senior advisor—he loves the title. He lets us know what types of things kids like so we can keep everything relative.”
“I’m impressed. Does your tournament have a name?” I asked as I pulled in front of Pratt Hall.
“Yeah, but it’s not catchy or anything. We made the mistake of letting the kids name it. They called it the T-Rex Invitational. It’s not really named for the dinosaur but for a ten foot alligator named T-Rex. He lives in a lagoon on Pelican Island and is often found sunning himself on the course. The wildlife folks tried to corral him, but he’s a sneaky bugger. The kids love the fact that he eludes capture as they escape cancer. If you listen to their stories, the gator is twenty-five feet long and he’s eaten at least five people. I don’t think the kids have ever seen him, but they swear they have.”
There was a long pause. The story of the mythical alligator made me weepy.
“Hello? Jenna?”
“Hey, I’m here on campus,” I said.
“I know. I’m here too. I’m parked on the other side. I have just been watching you. I could do this all day long. It’s cool to watch you when you don’t know you’re being watched.”
“Ew, Ryder. That’s a little creepy.”
“You should talk. You have made it a hobby to sit on the john and watch me sleep.”
“You got me there. I suppose we should go in and face the music. I will see you in the office. The dean probably has a hidden camera on us to read our body language so we should go in separately.”
****
Going into the office was routine for me. I walked in confidently wearing a pair of cords and a golf shirt. I was tired of dressing up as if I were entering a court of law. A decision had been made and my attire would not have mattered. I walked up to the desk where I was greeted by the fat chick. By then, I knew her well, and she appeared grandmotherly to me.
“Hello, Jenna. You know the drill. The dean will be out in a moment.” The woman smiled.
Ryder arrived behind me and took a seat next to me on the leather couch. He had on a blue oxford and a yellow tie with a tack in the shape of a golf club.
“Hello, Jenna, how are you?” Ryder asked.
I wanted to grab his face in my hands and start making out with him so we could go out in a blaze of glory.
“I’m fine, thanks, Professor Curran.”
Dean Meadows appeared at his office door and nodded at us to enter his office. He was sporting the gray suit again. I was aware that men often wore the same suit but changed the tie and shirt. He always wore a white shirt and the tie had never been anything snazzy.
“I have met with you each individually, and I have also had the chance to meet with your mother.” The dean looked at me. “Quite a colorful woman.”
The comment pissed me off because I knew he didn’t mean it as a compliment. I wanted to show him a bit of color. I wanted to smack the smug smile off his face so that he would bleed all over his gray suit. I was snapped back to reality when Ryder started to speak.
“I hope you have come to some sort of conclusion, Dean. I can deal with this mess, but you’re putting Jenna’s future at risk. She had no way of knowing that her choice of a golf instructor would land her in this predicament. Imagine the stress put on her.”
“We have completed our investigation. It seems that we have insufficient evidence to prove that you’re involved in any sort of inappropriate relationship.”
“Yes!” I interrupted.
Both Ryder and the
dean looked at me—I shut up.
“It seems that the parties who reported seeing you were not reliable sources. We obtained this information from an unnamed source. It sent our investigation in another direction and the two of you were exonerated. Professor Curran, you will be reinstated immediately as an assistant professor for the remainder of the semester. You will be teaching Human Sexuality along with Professor Flynn. He has done a wonderful job in your absence. Next semester you will be teaching human sexuality. We have decided to monitor your class by keeping Flynn by your side. As far as you go, Ms. Walsh. You will begin next semester as a new student. We will reimburse you for this semester. You will be allowed back on campus in the spring and you will be assigned new housing. Your records will be cleaned of this matter. We cannot dictate who you choose as a golf instructor, Ms. Walsh, or who you choose to teach golf, Professor Curran. Please be aware, however, that any romantic relationship between a professor and a student is prohibited. Consider this a final warning for such behavior. Do you have any comments or questions?”
“When or if I resume teaching, I’m not allowed to have a romantic relationship with any student at this university?” Ryder asked.
“That is correct. Whether he or she is your student or not.” Dean Meadows folded his hands.
Ryder repositioned himself in his chair. A smile began to form. It was unlike any other I had seen.
“I plan to take my clean record and my stellar reputation as an excellent educator and quit. I think my skills will be better served on the golf course. I have wanted to say this for a very long time—take this job and shove it.”
The dean and I were speechless. I was astounded at the words that came out of Ryder’s mouth and I hoped he wasn’t running off some high. The good news of the previous day may have clouded his judgment. It sure was sexy seeing him stand up to authority. It was straight out of the movies. I didn’t know how to react and I decided to hold back my impulse to drop out.
“I don’t think you have made a prudent choice, Mr. Curran, but I wish you luck.” Dean Meadows’ hands were shaking. “You can make an appointment with human resources to finalize your separation. And you can contact administration Jenna. I assume you will be returning to South Carolina?”
“I will weigh my options.” I smiled.
Ryder and I walked out of the office. Neither of us said a word. The smile on Ryder’s face said everything. We walked down the steps of Pratt Hall and Ryder grasped my hand.
“Let them read my fucking body language now.” Ryder kissed me passionately on the mouth. “I don’t know what just happened in there, Jenna, but it feels right. I have a second chance at life and I’m going to make it count. I just can’t tolerate being told how to lead my life. Life is too short to waste any more time. What are you doing tonight?”
“I think I’m hanging out with my next door neighbor?”
“Damn right you are. No movies tonight. We have had enough drama in our own lives.”
“Let’s start on the sequel.”
Ryder sat down on a bench.
“Are you tired, Ryder? What’s up?” I asked.
“I just have to get this stupid divot replacer out of my shoe. I had it in here for good luck. I think it worked.” Ryder smiled.
“I still can’t believe you quit your job. You’re definitely moving now, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“But how will you pay for everything?”
“I sold a business, Jenna. All that stuff about child support and my mortgage was lies. I was upset because I enjoy teaching, but I realized I could be a golf instructor.”
“You’re rich. That explains a lot.”
“I guess…but I’ll see you tonight, okay? I’m going to stop by my office and pick up my shit. Drive safe.” Ryder kissed me.
****
I floated back to my car to find Max leaning against my vehicle.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I called your mom and she told me where you’d be. How’d things go with the Mean Dean?” Max asked with a smile.
“I’m no longer expelled and Ryder got his job back—but he quit. You don’t look surprised, Max. Did you have something to do with this? What, Max? What the hell did you have to do with this? You can’t keep a secret from me of all people.” I punched Max on the arm.
“Ouch. That hurt. I let the dean know that the three bitches from class were a bunch of cackling jealous hens. Valerie couldn’t have me and she knew we were close friends. She thought she would get to me by hurting you. I also told the board that there was nothing salacious going on between you and Ryder. As your BFF, hope Sayler doesn’t mind sharing the title, I would know. Kelly and I felt compelled to do something.”
“Wow, you can share the title of BFF with Sayler. I can’t believe you did that for me. I will have to give a big thanks to Kelly. Wait a minute—since when have you and Kelly become friends? Max, am I missing something here?” I asked.
“Duh, you have been so busy with lover boy that you haven’t even noticed that Kelly from Kansas and I have been hooking up. We are both applying to the foreign exchange program. It worked out great. It has been going on for months.”
“You rat. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Like you and Ryder, we kinda liked the secretive thing.”
“Did you have something to do with Kelly getting rid of her dog breath? I was dropping hints like crazy and nothing worked. What’d you do?
“I simply said, Kelly, your breath stinks. No biggie.”
I gave Max a big bear hug.
“Kelly is a lucky girl.”
“I know, Jenna. I think you and Ryder have some celebrating to do.”
“I’ll see ya later, Max. You’re right, we do have something planned.” I winked and drove back to Lewis Ave.
Chapter Ten
I skipped the knocker and walked into Ryder’s home. It was dark except for candles that he had placed everywhere. He was wearing a pair of loose black sweats and a grey t-shirt. He had poured us champagne and there was a plate of fresh shrimp on the table. A cup with toothpicks sat next to the seafood.
“You thought of everything,” I said.
“I wanted it to be perfect, like you. From the moment, you stabbed me with that toothpick at the club, I was a goner. I didn’t care how old you were or if I was your professor. I just knew I had to have you.”
Ryder fell to his knees. He started by removing my black strappy sandals and kissing my red toes. I purred in ecstasy, as I knew where he was going. His hands guided his mouth up my inner legs to my thighs. He took the time to nibble as he made his way to my warm pussy.
Ryder gently laid me down on the dining room floor. With a single pull of my skirt’s sash he removed it. Every move was slow and deliberate. He placed his muscular tongue inside of me. He poked and prodded with his lips and tongue as he covered every inch of space. I started secreting juices all over his mouth, which he lapped up in pleasure. To him, it was nectar. He reached my clitoris and he rubbed hard and fast. I nearly peaked and he slowed down. He repeatedly pushed me to the edge of climax until, finally, I screamed in pleasure.
“Bedroom?”
I didn’t need words; I led him to the bedroom and pulled off his pants. We were both naked, finally. I pushed Ryder down on the bed and pushed his hands back. I saw the tie he had worn earlier sitting by the bed. I glanced back at him.
“Yes.”
Ryder put his hands against the headboard and I tightly secure his hands. I kissed his mouth and tickled him lightly on the balls. He grew hard in anticipation for my mouth on his cock. I made it down below his waist and licked around his groin finally placing my mouth around his penis. I sucked hard and slowly moved my head up and down. His groaning turned to screaming. He was unable to move his arms, so he started gyrating uncontrollably. Finally, he came all over me. I rubbed his juices down my neck and around my nipples. He was still unable to move his hands – we spoke with our eye
s.
I untied Ryder’s hands.
“You’re amazing.”
We fell asleep, but woke up an hour later. I was on top as he penetrated me. Our bodies rising like one. It was a perfect lovers’ fit. Our naked bodies slapped together, making music that suited both our styles. We rose and fell together until the next morning when the sun shined through his windows.
We were entwined in each other’s bodies. Neither of us were making an effort to get up.
“Forget the lake and everything else. I feel alive right now. You are my life, Jenna Walsh.”
I smiled at Ryder. All he had left to say were the words I had waited to hear.
“I love you, Jenna.”
The End
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Once complete The Neighbor series will consist of 4 books in total.
The Neighbor - Release schedule:
Book 1: October 8th
Book 2: October 22nd
Book 3: November 5th
Book 4: November 19th
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 Claire Adams
The Neighbor #4 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #4) Page 6