The Professor Woos The Witch
She crossed her arms and slumped in her chair. “Yeah, okay, but I still don’t see why we can’t ask Pan—Miss Williams if Grandpa can come.”
“Because it’s short notice and impolite. End of discussion.” Let Kaley be mad at him. It was easier than explaining that her grandfather might interfere with her chances at getting the witch tutoring she needed.
She let out an enormous sigh.
Cole went back to making sandwiches. Maybe he wasn’t going to win any Father of the Year awards, but he’d bet good money she’d forget all about Jack not being there once they got to dinner.
Pandora arrived at Cole’s promptly at six thirty, dressed a little nicer than usual for Saturday-night family dinner. She’d started to put on her usual jeans and cute tee, then realized Cole had seen her mostly in ratty tank tops and gym shorts. That had been impetus enough to slip into white ankle pants and a turquoise wrap top that showed off her assets and made her skin glow.
Pumpkin had given her the side eye for white pants after Labor Day, but what did cats know about fashion? Plus, states below the Mason-Dixon Line weren’t under the same rules when it came to wearing white. Heat and humidity had a way of negating those things.
She parked her sedan and walked to the front door, the click of her strappy high-heeled sandals accompanying her. She knocked and stood back to wait, but Cole answered quickly.
He looked…dreamy. He wore dark jeans with a pale blue and white checked shirt rolled up to show off his hard forearms. His hair was neatly combed, and his face was freshly shaved, revealing the chiseled line of his jaw.
She was definitely hot for teacher.
He stepped outside and shut the door behind him, but not before she heard laughter from inside. “I’m really sorry.”
“About?”
“Kaley’s in a mood. I thought she would have shaken it by now, but she’s holding a grudge. Hard.”
“Really? Because I could have sworn I heard her laughing just now. What happened? You didn’t try to convince her witches aren’t real again, did you?”
“No, I’m past that, I promise.” He glanced back at the house as he adjusted his glasses. “It’s just…my father is here, and he tried to invite himself to dinner tonight, but I told him no. Now Kaley thinks I’m being mean.”
“You kind of are.”
“What?”
She shrugged. “Bring him. It’s no big deal. These dinners are very fluid. We’re constantly bringing friends at the last minute.”
“But you don’t even know him. In fact, your family doesn’t know us.”
“But I know you and Kaley, and after tonight that’ll all be moot anyway.”
He sighed.
“Okay, seriously, what’s up? Do you not like your dad or something?” Her eyes widened a bit. “Did you have a big fight over your parents not telling you about your true nature?”
“No. Not exactly.” Cole closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I’m worried he’s going to cause problems with your family. And you. He’s convinced you’re after me only for what I can do for you.”
“You mean because you’re a familiar.”
Cole nodded. “He’s also convinced you’re going to lure me to bed to bond with me as fast as you can.”
“Yes, I’m a regular seductress.” Pandora rolled her lips in, but snorted in laughter anyway. “As if.”
One of Cole’s inky brows lifted over the rim of his glasses. “Have you seen yourself in this outfit?” His gaze traveled down to her cleavage and lingered. “It’s pretty seductive from where I’m standing.”
She crossed her arms, realized that only hefted her chest higher, and then uncrossed them. “I was trying to look nice.”
“Nice?” He raked a hand through his hair. “You look”—he swallowed—”edible.”
Heat swept through her, leaving her dizzy and on the verge of bad decisions. “You shouldn’t say things like that unless you mean them.”
He stared her down, his dark gaze taking on the feral look she’d seen before. “You tempt me, Pandora.”
Without thinking, she licked her bottom lip.
He made a growly sound, and the next thing she knew, his mouth was on hers. For several long seconds, all she could do was feel. The pressure of his mouth, the grip of his hands on her shoulders, the intoxicating scent of a man fresh from the shower. He became the heat coursing through her, then a soft breeze seemed to lift her off the ground. She was floating. Or they were floating.
Or they were flying.
In a moment of panic, she pushed a stabilizing spell at him.
Then a throat cleared.
They broke apart. A man stood in the open door behind Cole. He was an older version of Cole, hair more salt and pepper than pitch black, stockier, maybe an inch shorter and wearing different glasses.
Pandora felt a new kind of heat rise up in her. The kind that came from sheer embarrassment. Cole’s dad had just caught them kissing, except kissing didn’t really encompass what they’d just been doing. Making out like horny teenagers was probably more on point.
He cleared his throat again and looked at Cole expectantly. “Are you going to introduce us?”
Cole showed no signs of mortification. Pandora wished the same was true for her, but she knew her face had to be the same color as her hair. Cole rested his hand lightly on her back. “Dad, this is Pandora Williams. Pandora, this is my father, Jack Van Zant.”