The next day, her mind was still foggy when he pressed a paper into her bruised hand, when she signed over to him power of attorney for her trust fund. Soon, she’d stopped thinking for herself, stopped making all but the simplest of decisions. Nathan had become her world. His thoughts were hers, his desires all that mattered. Soon, she believed this was as it had always been.

Would always be.

Chapter 12

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

The intercom’s summons dragged her to the door. “Hello?”

“I’m here, Erin!” Genevieve’s lilting voice greeted her.

“Why?” she asked baldly. “Did we have an appointment?”

“No. I’m your ride for today, compliments of my brother.”

“Gabriel.” Erin ground out the name, torn between exasperation and gratitude. Genevieve thought she was being helpful. “I appreciate the offer, but I have a way to the university.”

“The bus? Oh, come on down, Erin. Gabriel will be angry if I don’t do this; plus, I’m double-parked.”

Drumming her fingers on the wall, Erin tried for a better excuse. Before she could give one, she heard Genevieve speaking faintly: “Yes, Officer, I see that I’m not actually in a parking space.” The voice grew louder and more insistent, designed for Erin’s hearing. “I’ll move my car in a twinkling, sir. As soon as my teacher friend comes downstairs. Why, yes, sir, I am a teacher, too.” The soft sounds of Creole made the officer stammer out his admiration of Gen’s dedication to her students.

Erin couldn’t let her Good Samaritan get a ticket, regardless of Gabriel’s role in the matter. Resigned, she crossed back to the sofa to retrieve her briefcase. She slid the album into her bag, flicked off the lights, secured the door, and headed downstairs.

Outside, in the warm morning already edging toward sultry, Genevieve leaned against a silver two-seater, one finger tracing the officer’s shield. Seeing Erin, he tucked a scrap of paper, which she guessed contained Gen’s phone number, into his pocket. A deep flush crept up his cheeks, and he stepped away reluctantly.

“Morning, ma’am,” he offered politely.

“Good morning, Officer,” Erin replied, barely repressing a laugh at the young man’s chagrin. “Thanks for watching over my friend.”

“My absolute pleasure, ma’am.” The officer tipped his hat and gallantly opened the door for her. He escorted Genevieve to her side of the car and whispered something Erin couldn’t hear. Smitten, the officer watched as they pulled off and made their way toward the school.

Genevieve zipped along Esplanade, taking side streets at a terrifying speed. Erin clutched the door handle tightly, praying for a traffic light or a cop. “We’re not that late. And we are the professors.”

“I haven’t had a single accident in three years,” Genevieve protested. “My insurance rates are starting to go down again.”

“Oh, God,” Erin moaned.