Dr. Stallings flipped through my approval papers, his sandy blond eyebrows drawn down as he checked each signature.

“They’re all there.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and tried to calm my skittering nerves.

“I see.” He glanced at the last page—Blackwood’s page—then leaned back in his chair. “I see you got the Blackwood permission.”

“Yes.” I dropped my gaze to my sensible flats. “I think I’ll start there.”

“I’ve tried for years to get permission to dig out there. No dice.” He gave me a half-smile. “I should have realized all I had to do was send a sexy student to ask.” His light brown eyes scanned me with a cursory sweep. I used to think they were the color of honey, and the man who owned them just as sweet. Not anymore. “Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you on some of the scouting?”

“And interrupt your classes?” I shook my head. “No. I can handle this.”

He narrowed his gaze and motioned toward the door, silently telling me to close it. I stood and pushed it shut, even though acid began to rise in my throat. Even though I knew what was coming next.

“Are you okay?” He crossed his arms over his chest as he asked, the buttons on his light blue dress shirt straining.

“Yes.” I sank into the leather chair in front of his desk and silently prayed he wouldn’t ask me to chat with him on the couch. I’d heard too many stories about that couch.

The wrinkles around his eyes tripled as he gave me a look of faux concern. “I wish you’d let me take you to dinner where we could talk quietly.” He glanced at the door. “More privately. I know it’s hard for you to share your feelings in this setting.”

I had to play this carefully. One wrong move and he’d think I was interested in his advances. A move too far in the other direction and he’d threaten funding for my digs again. Subtlety wasn’t his strong suit.

“I’m still not ready. I’m sorry.” I sank into my chair with a sigh.

He stood and walked around his desk. The skin on the back of my neck crawled as he hovered behind me. “Your mother would want you to be happy.”

Don’t you dare talk about her. “You’re right.”

“I can make you happy.” He slid his hands onto my shoulders, the fingers digging into my flesh like tenterhooks.

“Doctor—”

“Call me Frank. You know you can talk to me.”

I remembered the last time he wanted to “talk.” The memory of his hot breath on my neck made me shudder. “Frank—”

“Come sit with me.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, the sting of pain keeping me grounded. “I’m fine here.”

He squeezed my shoulders hard, too hard. “Come on. You’ll feel better.”

I bit my lip and rose as he released me. He sank onto his couch, one arm slung along the back. He was handsome, his sandy hair and clean-cut features screaming “All-American guy.” I’d never seen him with so much as a shadow along his jaw. Never a hair out of place, his clothes always perfectly pressed. He wore a uniform, a costume designed to lull me into a false sense of security. It failed to hide the fact that he was forty, married, and a known student-fucker.

This wasn’t the first time he’d tried to get close to me. But I’d heard plenty of stories about his conquests, and I wouldn’t be the next. All the same, I had to do this. For Dad. One last gauntlet before I could investigate his disappearance.

I eased down next to him, but not close enough to touch. “It’s going to take time. I still think about her a lot.”

“I know.” He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me into his side. “Shh.” He kissed my hair. “I know it hurts.”

I stared at the door, willing someone to knock. “I think getting out and doing the surveying will help me. Maybe once I get back…” I shrugged and let the carrot dangle in the air.

He ran his hand through my hair, then down to my waist. “You think you’d be ready to talk about it then?” His thumb stroked the bare patch of skin between my pants and my shirt.

I swallowed hard. “I think so, yes. Doing the legwork will help me clear my head.”

“But that will be months.” He sighed and slid his fingers under my shirt.

I froze. “I know.”

“I just thought I’d have the chance to help you through your mother’s passing while it’s still fresh. It’s only been a few months. Is being alone really the best thing for you right now?” He inched his fingers along my skin, sliding up my stomach.

I pulled out my last card. Bursting into tears, I buried my face in his chest. “I just can’t stop thinking about her. Time alone would help me let her go, you know?”

“Shhh.” He rubbed my back, and I could almost feel him smiling. “I’ve got you.”

Not even close. I fake cried with hiccupping sobs as he wrapped his other arm around me.

“I understand.” He kissed my hair. “I can wait. How long will your surveys take? A month?”

“I’ll need at least three.” I could do it in one, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Three?” The frown in his voice iced my insides.

“I want to be thorough, especially since my Ph.D. is riding on this. I hope that’s all right?” I kept my voice meek.

“Well, I suppose that could work. Three months is a long time, but if that’s what you need to get your head clear so that I can help you, then I can live with it.”

I nodded and blinked hard so a tear would wet my cheek, then looked into his eyes. “Thank you.”

His gaze flicked to my lips. “Once the surveying is done—”

“I’ll be back.”

He leaned forward, and I let him brush his lips across mine. Then I buried my face against his shirt again. I hoped my nose would run and leave snot all along the designer check pattern.

“Good.” He held me close. “I want to help you as soon as I can. I care about you so much.”

I sniffled. “I know. You’re so good to me, Frank.”

“That’s my job.” His chest puffed up. “Caring about students and their personal wellbeing is part of it.”

“Thank you.” I lay my head on his shoulder. “I owe you so much.”

“My pleasure.” His erection poked against his khaki pants, fanning out the pleats. He seemed to have no qualms about it. “I’ll get the funds all set up this afternoon. The sooner you get the surveying done, the better. Once it’s all laid out, you can come back. We can…talk through it all until you’re feeling better. Then we’ll both go out and oversee the undergrads on the digs.”

The mental image of him grunting and grinding all over me in a pup tent was a particularly disturbing visual.

I forced a wan smile. “That sounds perfect. I can’t wait.”

“Good.” He stood and pulled me up with him. “I have to prepare for class.” He snagged a box of tissues sitting on a side table. Of course he kept tissue next to the love seat.

“Sure, no problem.” I grabbed my bag and walked to the door.

Before I could turn the handle, he was behind me, his erection pressing against my ass. “I can’t wait for you to get back.” He dropped a kiss on my shoulder.

“Me neither.” I let my breath out on a silent sigh as he backed away.

I pulled the door open and strode down the hall. Once I rounded the corner, I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. Students passed, completely unaware of the wank session I was certain Dr. Stallings was engaging in just down the hall. Despite the fact that my skin still crawled, and I’d have to shower to get rid of the smell of his overpowering cologne on me, I smiled. I had the funding and the go-ahead to start my search.

Blackwood’s secrets were mine to discover, and I would find them all before my three months were up.