I could feel the heat emanating off of him. I had to resist the urge to move closer to him, because first, he was my teacher, and second, that would only serve to make him somehow more pompous. And I wasn't that girl. Faith was kidding when she said I should shag my professor. I wasn't here for that. And I didn't think he'd appreciate it.

Oh crap, he was talking to me. I tried to focus on his words, but the fear had my heart hammering too loud.

"Abbie? Did you hear me?"

I winced. "Sorry. I just—I thought someone was following me. I guess I overreacted."

His brows snapped down. "What do you mean someone was following you?"

"I was trying to find the tube station after taking some pictures and I just, you know, I had a feeling. I'm in a strange city, it's dark, and I'm running around taking pictures. And then I got the feeling someone was following me. I know. It sounds crazy. I'm sorry. I'm going to go. I just need to breathe a minute."

He shook his head. "No, you're coming with me."

I blinked at him. "What?"

"You're coming with me. I'm not going to let you run off to the tube by yourself in the dark after you've already fallen and thought someone was following you."

I tried to shake him off. "No, I'm fine. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

He watched me, looking as though he wanted to reach out, but I deftly avoided his touch.

"I promise I'm fine."

He shook his head slowly. "No, I'm saying you're not fine. Chivalry isn't dead, and besides, my mother would kill me if I didn't at least see to it that you're okay. Why don't we step into this pub, and I'll call you a cab or an Uber?"

I didn’t want to pay for the Uber, but I didn’t want to tell him that. "Um, right. Okay."

"You're fine. You're perfectly safe in my hands."

I laughed at that. "I don't think a female student has been safe in your hands since you started teaching."

As soon as the words were out, I wanted to bite them back. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I just got flipped and basically what you said before, and oh my God, I just—I’m not feeling well, and I can't control my mouth."

He chuckled softly. "Hey, you know what? That's fair. I already opened that door. And you're probably right. I may have dated a student or two, once or twice."

I raised a brow. "Once or twice?"

He laughed as he led me to a booth in the corner and waved at the bartender. When the waitress came over and asked for drink orders, I shook my head. Xander ignored me. "I'd actually like tea for her. And one of your pastries, or anything you have."

"I'm not hungry."