The Admirer's Secret Read Online Free PDF

doesn’t it?” he exclaimed with eyes concentrated on his new favorite student. “Let’s outline the details of the first assignment…” and as he resumed talking, his attention never left the green-eyed beauty in the front row.
    She was exactly what he had been looking for. And if she didn’t yet know it, she’d know it soon enough.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    “H aley, wait up! You forgot—”
    She spun around toward the sound of her name, but the wind drowned out the rest of his sentence. The familiar lanky outline of Allen Michaels came running across the parking lot toward her, his long overcoat flapping wildly in the wind and a heavy computer case bumping against his leg. He held out something to her. A bag. Haley glanced down at her side. Sure enough, she must have left her purse at her chair. It wasn’t the first time she’d forgotten it somewhere. 
    “I think this is yours,” he said between gasps once he was within earshot.
    His run slowed to a jog, then to a walk until he paused in front of Haley and her salt-covered car. White snowflakes danced around them as she waited for him to pass the purse over. Yet the purse rested firmly near his thigh, as if he had forgotten why he chased her down in the first place. When her hand finally reached out, Allen sputtered a laughing apology and returned the bag to its owner.
    “Thanks so much,” Haley said. “I guess I couldn’t have gotten too far without it.” She pulled her keys from the purse with a chuckle and dangled them as she turned toward her car door. She waited for Allen to start his retreat, but he didn’t. He was still standing there, and still out of breath. Shifting a step or two, he hauled his sliding briefcase strap back to his shoulder where it fit perfectly in the nook of his jutting collarbone.
    “That reminds me, I wanted to talk to you before you took off.”
    “Oh sure, Professor… uh… Mr. Michaels.”
    “Please call me Allen.”
    “I’m sorry. I forgot, Allen.” Hoping he would take the conversation from there, she waited as the wind howled around them. She had never personally talked to someone of his… well, caliber before, and that was enough intimidation to leave her speechless.
    Once the wind died down, Allen continued between labored breaths. “I just wanted to say I truly appreciated your input in class today. I can see you’re pretty enthusiastic about this screenplay class.”
    Was that a compliment? She had, after all, actively—maybe over-actively—participated in the class discussions today, but she had no idea Professor Michaels, rather Allen , would even notice. Even the bitter wind couldn’t suppress her smile.
    “You have no idea how honored I am to learn from you. I mean, this is my dream, so to be able t o have you as a teacher is just… well, I am really excited about this opportunity. You have such an impressive background, it’s humbling to be your student.” Due to nerves and a bothersome case of temporary amnesia, she couldn’t name a single film of his by heart, but blowing a little smoke never hurt.
    “Well, that’s what I am all about: opportunity, Haley. I bring opportunity where there is none. Because, and I hate to say this, you aspiring writers need more exposure outside of this old-fashioned town’s walls if you want to make it.”
    Unsure of whether she should agree with him or be offended by his belittlement of her home, she conceded to brush off the remark.
    “We are certainly glad you decided to come here.”
    She noticed him scratch his chin before replying. “Hmm… well, it’s refreshing for me to step down from my pedestal and guide young minds like yourself.”
    There was nothing much Haley could say to that. Did he want her to praise him or stand there stiff like she was? Guessing none of the above, she offered a bland “thanks” in re turn. Yet Allen had more to say… about himself, of course.
    “I like to think of it as me giving back something to the