Vengeful Shadows Read Online Free PDF

for his friend?” It was clear from her stance that she wasn’t buying. It was one of the things he admired about her—her ability to cut through the bullshit.
    “Let’s see.” She tapped her chin as if deep in thought. He could tell she tried to squelch a smile. “You tell me that you need to talk to me, and when I get here, I find you’ve prepared all of my favorite foods. Coincidence? I think not.” She snagged a piece of baklava from the table.
    “I bought that. And it’s for dessert.”
    “Not anymore.” She bit into it and closed her eyes, making a low murmur of appreciation deep in her throat.
    His breath caught at the innocently erotic sound. Damn. He needed to relax. Thinking of her as a woman he’d consider dating, rather than as his friend, had heightened his already heightened awareness of her.
    The timer on the oven sounded. Grateful for the distraction, he went to remove the garlic bread. Without that opportune interruption, he still would have been staring at her when she opened her eyes, his thoughts painfully obvious.
    He returned with the bread and a bottle of wine. “Okay, I confess. I’m trying to bribe you.”
    She glanced around the table. “It must be big,” she said as she sat.
    Wishing there was another way out of his work predicament, he sank into the chair opposite her. “I need a girlfriend.”
    She laughed. “As long as I’ve known you, you’ve never had a problem in that area. What do you need me for?”
    “I don’t need a real girlfriend.”
    “Still confused.” She took a swallow of wine he’d poured.
    As he relayed his conversation with Monique, Tessa’s eyes flashed in anger. “What about that big study you did last year on serial offenders? Doesn’t that count for anything?”
    “Not to the people that matter.”
    “So because you’re not married or involved you’re not eligible? They can’t do that. That’s discrimination!”
    “That won’t be the official reason for denial,” Zander bit out. Frustrated, he shoved a hand through his hair. “They’ll blame it on lack of viable research or poor teaching skills.”
    “That’s insane!” Tessa thunked her glass on the table. Her anger on his behalf warmed him. “Why should your personal life be their business?”
    He didn’t try to hide his disgust. “In the aftermath of the sex-for-grades scandal and the dean’s public humiliation, the whole department has come under severe scrutiny.”
    “And a girlfriend or wife changes that how?” She crossed her arms on the table and leaned forward, breathtaking in her intensity. “Sometimes the married ones are the worst.”
    “It’s all about appearances.”
    “What about Aidan?”
    “I don’t think that’s the kind of relationship the dean has in mind.”
    “Dork,” she muttered. “I mean, what about Aidan? He’s single, right?”
    What did Aidan have to do with anything? “He’s an adjunct.”
    “Meaning?” She’d raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together if trying not to smile.
    God, did he sound as jealous as he felt? He wasn’t jealous of Aidan. He just didn’t want Tessa getting mixed up with him. She deserved someone who could actually commit. If they got together she’d end up hurt and damned if he would let that happen.
    “As an adjunct prof, he’s under far less examination than the rest of us. He teaches part-time at the whim of the department chair.”
    “Does he teach somewhere else, too?”
    “Nope. He’s a crime scene photographer. He could do that fulltime if he needed to.”
    “But you don’t have that option.” It wasn’t a question. Understanding softened her expression. “Your fan club is making you look bad.”
    He shrugged. “They’re not helping.”
    “What are you going to do?” she asked. “Can you file a complaint or something?”
    Zander drained his glass, attempting to drown his futile anger. “I can appeal it but not until I’m officially passed over. Once they deny tenure, they