Professor Astor (Off-Limits)

I stand in the doorway of my grandfather’s office, taking in the room that looks identical to my memories of it. I always found Grandpa’s office intimidating, and I still do. I watch him as he works behind his desk, jabbing at his keys instead of typing the way he should. I wonder who pissed him off. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of whatever email I’m sure he’s typing.

I smile when he looks up, surprise lighting up his eyes. He rises from his seat, speechless for a moment.

“Never thought I’d see you at a loss for words, Gramps.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Adrian, you’re home.”

Home. Yeah, I guess that’s what this place has always been to me. Home. I’ve been away for far too long.

Grandpa gestures toward the seat opposite him, and I push away from the wall, taking a seat in front of his desk.

“It’s good to have you back, son,” Grandpa says, and I smile. He looks older, and my mood drops at the thought of everything I’ve missed here. I didn’t get to see my little cousin, Amara, grow up. She’s the closest thing to a sister I have, and the distance has made us grow further apart than I’d like. I wasn’t here to support my grandfather with the company, either.

“It’s good to be home,” I tell him, and it is. I’ve been away for years, and it feels good to be back. If things go to plan, I’ll be back here permanently.

I glance around my grandfather’s office, appreciating the years he spent building this business. “I’ve never told you this, Grandpa, but you are the most inspiring man I’ve ever met.”

Grandpa looks away, like I expected him to. He’s never been good with compliments. Neither am I, to be fair, but my daughter is a sensitive one, so I’ve learned to voice compliments whenever I can.

“What brings you home, Adrian?” Grandpa asks, making me chuckle. He never beats around the bush. His directness is in stark contrast with what I’ve grown accustomed to in London.

“Alice and I are getting a divorce,” I say simply. The words no longer hurt, not even in the slightest. It came as a shock to me. I thought we were happy, that our family was thriving. I never even realized that my wife was miserable, and she reminds me of it every time I ask her to stay.

Grandpa sits back, his eyes widening. He falls silent for a moment, and it doesn’t surprise me. Everyone always thought Alice and I were perfect together — and so did I. We met when I was at university in London, and we’ve been together ever since. I always thought we were on the same page about what we wanted out of life, that she was as happy as I was.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Son.”

I nod. “The kids don’t know yet. We haven’t told them yet, but we’ve formally separated. I’ve been sleeping in the guest room for months now, and the paperwork has been signed. It’s all being handled right now.”

“I take it you’re finally ready to come home?”

“Yes,” I tell him. “I’d like to come home, and I’ll take the kids with me. Alice and I are discussing custody, but it looks like I’ll get the kids, and she gets visitation. She says she wants to focus on her own career after sacrificing years being a stay-at-home parent, and that’s fine by me.”

I try my hardest to suppress the ache I feel at those words. I have no idea how the kids are going to take the news, and while I don’t want to take them away from all they know, I think a fresh start surrounded by my family is exactly what they’ll need.

“Will you at last be joining the company, or are you going to continue to teach?”

“If I can, I’ll do both. I’m not ready to step away from teaching, Grandpa. I know you’d rather have me join the company full-time, but I can’t at this time.”

He nods. “You have your mother’s and your grandmother’s heart, that’s why. Your grandmother was always a teacher at heart, too. If I’d allowed her to follow her dreams, she’d be a tenured professor now, but I never wanted her to work.” The regret in his voice grabs my attention, and I frown. My grandfather is a proud man, and he isn’t known to admit his faults.

“Tenure,” I murmur. It doesn’t exist in England, but it’s something I’ve always wanted. If nothing else, it’ll give me something to aim for, something to focus on.

“Adrian,” Grandpa says, his voice weary. “Amara isn’t ready to take over the company. I know you’ve always said that you weren’t interested, and I’ve always allowed you to chase your own dreams because you weren’t here, and I was certain Amara would be the perfect heir for my role. It looks like she’s changed her mind about what she wants out of her future. You understand what that means, right?”

I nod. “I’ll be there, Grandpa. I’ll need to be trained, but I can support Amara. She and I can do this together, if that’s what she wishes.”

Grandpa looks relieved, and I smile. He’s always been strict and no-nonsense, his mannerisms rough. When I was a child, I was certain he didn’t even like me, and I know Amara felt the same way. With age comes understanding, though. I see the worry in his eyes, his need for us to land on our feet. I see in him the parent I’ve now become.

“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “I’ll be home soon, and I’ll do all I can to support the company.”

Grandpa nods. “If you agree to come work for me, I’ll ensure you and the kids have everything you need.”

“Very well,” I tell him, knowing full well that he’d do so even if I declined. My grandfather loves making us feel like we earned the things he’d give us regardless. “Then I’ll have to ask you to contact your property manager to select a suitable home for the kids and me. I expect us to move back before the year is over, but it depends on how they respond to the news. I want to make sure that I put their needs first.”

“As you should,” Grandpa, says, rising to his feet.

He walks me to the door and claps me on the back. “Don’t forget to go see your cousin and aunt, if you haven’t yet,” he reminds me, and I nod.

“As if I’d ever forget. Amara would never forgive me.”

Grandpa smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I suspect something might be going on with Amara, but I’ll have to ask her myself.

I’m absentminded as I walk to the truck I borrowed from Silas, my best friend — perhaps my only friend. Instead of unlocking it, I lean against it, taking a moment to ground myself. I can’t believe how much my life has changed in a matter of months, how much it’ll change further still. I can’t believe I’m getting a divorce at thirty-nine.

I push away from the truck and pull a hand through my hair, my eyes dropping to the bar opposite me. I walk in, intending to call Silas to meet me here, but my every thought fades away when my gaze falls to the woman sitting on the barstool by the entrance.

She’s alone, her eyes filled with sorrow as she sips her cosmopolitan. She’s wearing a yellow sundress that looks stunning against her caramel skin, with a pair of yellow heels that have a large sunflower on the back. My mind instantly drifts to me grabbing her ankles and pushing those sexy legs of hers up over her shoulder, those shoes of hers still on. Long dark hair cascades down her back, and when she lifts her dark eyes to mine, my heart skips a beat.

Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m taking the seat next to hers. The last thing I need right now is further complications in my life, but something about that look in her eyes keeps me enthralled. She looks the way I feel, sadness coated in sheer stubbornness.

“Tough day, huh?” I murmur.

She looks up from her glass, and I’m instantly nervous. When is the last time a woman made me nervous? Something about her simultaneously puts me on edge and eases my soul.

“You have no idea.”

“What’s your name?”

She smiles. “You can call me Ley.”

Not sharing her name, huh? “I guess you can call me Thor.” No one other than Silas calls me that. It’s a stupid play on my last name, but if we aren’t sharing names, then I guess this’ll do.

Ley smiles at me, and I suck in a breath. Fucking hell. I didn’t think she could get more beautiful, but she did.

“Now tell me, Layla, what’s got you frowning like that?”

She chuckles. “It’s not Layla, but it’s a good guess.”

“Lorelei?”

She shakes her head again.

“I’ll figure this out eventually, Ley. But first, I’m going to buy you a drink.”