Creep - Jennifer Hillier [7]
“I love you, too,” Morris said, returning the kisses. He stroked her hair. “You have no idea how happy you make me.”
Sheila pulled back a few inches so she could see his face clearly. It was now or never. “Morris, there’s something I need—”
A movement caught her eye.
Her words died when she saw Ethan standing in her open doorway, watching them. She hadn’t seen him in days, not since their breakup and subsequent showdown. His face was hard, his eyes narrowed into slits. When he realized he’d been noticed, his features immediately arranged themselves into a more neutral expression.
“Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Tao.” Ethan’s words were polite but his voice was edgy. He held up the book he was carrying. “Just returning this to you.”
Morris handed Sheila a tissue and she hurriedly wiped her eyes, getting up out of her fiancé’s lap. “That’s fine, Ethan. Go ahead and leave it there.” She indicated the short, crammed bookshelf beside her door.
Ethan placed the book atop the pile of papers, his eyes darting toward Morris. The grad student’s jaw worked tightly and his movements were stiff. He seemed unnaturally tense, but then again, Ethan had never met Morris. Maybe he’d assumed Sheila had broken off the engagement after his threats the other week. Threats that continued to hang like a noose around her cheating neck.
The graduate student finally stuck his hand in Morris’s direction.
“You must be the lucky man who gets to marry Dr. Tao,” Ethan said, his warm tone contradicting the coldness in his eyes. “I recognize you from the photos on the wall. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.”
Morris stood, his presence immediately dwarfing Ethan’s. Grasping the younger man’s hand, he pumped hard, his typical hearty handshake.
“Thanks, thanks a lot. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”
“Ethan Wolfe. I’m one of the professor’s teaching assistants.” His eyes flicked toward Sheila. “How long have we been together now? Three months?”
“You mean three terms.” Sheila’s voice was strangled.
“Of course!” Morris said, too loudly for the modest-size office. “She’s mentioned you several times.”
Sheila bit her tongue. Always the polite Texan. Ethan’s name had never once come up in conversation with Morris, she was certain as hell of that.
“So tell me, Ethan.” Morris was wearing his wiseass grin. “What’s it like working for this one? She as tough on you guys as she is on me?”
“Oh, she’s definitely demanding.” Ethan winked at Sheila, who was watching the whole exchange in dazed shock. “Never afraid to tell me what she needs. But it’s all good. I’ve learned how to butter her up.”
Don’t vomit. “You mean the homemade oatmeal raisin cookies?” Sheila’s stomach was in knots. “The ones your girlfriend makes?”
Ethan laughed and relaxed against the doorframe. “Right. The cookies. It’s my girlfriend’s grandmother’s recipe,” he said, addressing Morris. “Been in her family a long time. Whenever I need a special favor, I bring in a plate of Abby’s freshly baked cookies for Dr. Tao. Never fails to get me what I want.”
It took all of Sheila’s self-restraint not to backhand the cockiness out of Ethan’s pretty face.
Morris looked at Sheila, feigning scrutiny, and elbowed her good-naturedly. “Is that right? Interesting how you’ve never brought any cookies home for me.”
“She eats them all at work,” Ethan said. “She says they taste better than the ones she eats at home.”
Sheila thought she might faint.
Morris laughed heartily, clearly missing the double entendre. Sheila’s back and shoulders began to ache. Her office had never felt so small.
“You hit the nail on the head with that one.” Morris clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “She does have a sweet tooth. Though I haven’t seen her eating anything too sweet lately, what with the wedding coming up and all. She wants to be a skinny-minny in her wedding dress. You know women.”
“I sure do.” Ethan’s eyes gleamed. “Dr. Tao, since I caught you, I do have a favor to ask. Unfortunately I didn’t bring any cookies.” His tone grew serious, and Sheila felt another wave