Learning Curves. Joanne Rock

Maddy. I can’t.”

      He was prepared for her to be disappointed. He wasn’t prepared for the horror in her voice as she echoed his words back at him.

      “Can’t? What do you mean, you can’t?”

      2

      SHOCKED AT CAL’S announcement, Madeline allowed her gaze to roam over the broad expanse of his impressive chest. “I have a hard time believing that, Cal Turner. You have the most notorious reputation on campus! I don’t think you could have claimed such a distinction without being perfectly capable of fulfilling the mating function.”

      Cal’s jaw dropped as he gaped at her. “I am capable, Maddy.” He squeezed his temples, his closed jaw now flexing in what appeared to be a case of vast frustration. “In fact, I am more than capable.”

      An odd flash of relief sizzled through her at that news. Her quest to study mating rituals aside, she recognized that she had propositioned Cal because she’d been attracted to him for years.

      His hands fell to his sides and he stalked toward her. There was no other way to describe how he zeroed in on her as he approached. Like a watchdog with hackles raised, Cal seemed to have flexed every muscle in his possession. She could pick out the lines of virtually every one exposed to her view.

      Madeline swallowed hard, trying to will away thoughts of the strong sinews that were off limits to her hungry gaze. Her interest in him wasn’t purely carnal, after all. She might have always been attracted to Cal, but she never would have approached him if she hadn’t desperately needed his help for scientific purposes.

      He didn’t stop until he stood toe to toe with her—until his big chest hovered inches from her starched shirt. Her flesh tingled and tightened in direct response to the heat of his body.

      “I am also very ready, and physically willing.” Cal’s hazel eyes seemed to darken to almost-brown as he stared down at her. “Do you know what that means?”

      Madeline forced herself to not look down. “I have a pretty good idea.”

      “The problem is not that I can’t, Professor, but that I will not allow myself to indulge in…” His gaze slid from her eyes to her body, and perused her with aching slowness. “…the pleasure.”

      Awareness kicked to life, making her wish for the first time that she was the kind of woman who wore silks instead of cottons. Would he have taken her up on her proposition then?

      “Oh.” The edgy hunger inside her started to fade—a little anyway—as it began to sink in that he was really telling her no. She took a deep breath and attempted to smile politely. “I see.”

      “No. You don’t see.” Cal stepped back a pace and seated himself on one of the tables.

      Madeline had no desire to hear Cal’s excuses for not sleeping with her. She’d put herself on the line and he’d turned her down flat. She wouldn’t stick around for a let’s-still-be-friends speech.

      “That’s okay.” She retrieved her glasses and shoved them back where they belonged. Picking up her U of L mug, she retreated to the lounge’s small kitchen area. As she washed the cup and placed it back on the rack next to a dozen other people’s mugs, she rambled. “I just happened to think of you because we’ve been friends for a while, and I thought you were safe.”

      Maddy noticed Cal wince, so she hastened on “But I guess it was a pretty bold thing of me to even ask. Especially since the university could officially ax us if we went too public with a relationship.” The administration frequently overlooked liaisons of that sort, but Madeline knew better than to risk her job, didn’t she? The whole idea had been crazy—a lame-brained attempt to fulfill a fantasy and to show her review committee she wasn’t such an inexperienced old maid after all. She tried to edge past him to the door. “I’d better get back to work now.”

      “Maddy, wait.” He reached out to her, cupping a hand around each of her upper arms.

      She wanted to keep on walking. But some emotion in his eyes proved even more compelling than his touch.

      Madeline waited.

      “I need to keep a low profile these days because I’m trying to gain custody of my half sister.” Cal let go of her, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and flipped it open to a worn photo of a grinning preteen with braces. “Of course, she’s sixteen and twice as much trouble now.”

      “She’s a half sister?” Madeline couldn’t help but be intrigued by this rare glimpse of Cal Turner’s private life, even if he had delivered a healthy blow to her ego tonight.

      “After my mom left us, my dad married Allison’s mom and Allison was born a couple of years later.” Cal traced his thumb over the little girl’s smiling face before snapping the leather billfold closed. “We were pretty close, even after I left Tennessee, but when Dad and Allison’s mother died in that crash this spring…”

      Madeline squeezed his hand, unsure what other comfort to give. “I know that hit you hard.”

      Cal shrugged. “My dad and I had worked out our differences before then, but I know Allison is still pretty torn up. She stayed with her aunt for a few weeks and then called me to come get her. She moved in with me over the summer, and I’m trying to gain legal custody.”

      “I bet that’s a project.” Madeline recalled her father’s headaches when he’d made a motion to obtain sole custody of his only daughter. Cal’s battle would no doubt be twice as hard.

      “Especially when Allison’s aunt Delia is convinced I’m a bad influence.” Cal shook his head. “The woman has never forgiven me for riding around the neighborhood on a motorcycle when I was a teenager. You know those people who see a motorcycle and right away assume you’re a Hell’s Angel, ready to spirit away their daughters?”

      Madeline had never seen a Hell’s Angel or been worried about anyone spiriting her off, but the idea sounded sort of exciting. She nodded, eager to hear the rest of the story.

      “Anyway, Aunt Delia is contesting the motion and trying to prevent me from winning guardianship. Not that Delia wants to take care of Allison herself—she just can’t bear to see me win this suit.”

      “What a nightmare.” Madeline couldn’t have felt like more of a heel for worrying about her problems when Cal’s seemed so much bigger. It also deflated her to realize that Cal hadn’t considered her a close enough friend to share this part of his personal life.

      “And there are other hoops to jump through,” Cal continued. “Mostly because Allison’s a certifiable genius. She started classes here this semester.”

      “Here? At U of L?”

      Cal grinned, brotherly pride lighting his features. “She graduated high school early and now she’s tackling college.”

      “A sixteen-year-old in college.” Madeline shook her head. “You have your hands full.”

      “I don’t know, Maddy. Sometimes I think she’s more mature than me.”

      Madeline knew a thing or two about gifted students, and she doubted that was the case. Highly intelligent people often hid social uncertainty behind a screen of erudite conversation. She didn’t share her insights with Cal, though. He had enough on his mind.

      “But I wanted you to know what I’m trying to do so you’ll understand why I can’t take you up on a very tempting offer.” He lifted her hands to his lips and graced the back of each one with a chaste kiss. “I’ve got to mend a reputation that’s been a lifetime in the making, so I can’t take any chances making a splash on campus now. Especially with you being a grad student.”

      Madeline nodded and pulled back her hands. She hadn’t given much thought to that particular issue. She’d known Cal before he’d even started teaching. “It’s okay. I mean, it would have been great