Woman of Substance Read Online Free PDF Page A

black loafers that shortened a natural stride over to Nadine’s desk.
    With their backs to her, Robbie put down her pen and glanced at the black leather jacket and dark blond hair curling on the collar of the man who shook Nadine’s hand and caused her boss to be breathless and all a twitter. When he turned slightly, Robbie saw his profile; five o’clock shadow, relaxed brow, and one deep-set brown eye. Robbie hid her face behind her notebook and sat still.
    Professor Clifton, flicking her white-blond hair from her angular face, said, “Dr. Proctor’s taking over Janet’s office and seminars while she’s on her emergency maternity leave. Nadine, I know you’ll give him all the help he needs.”
    “Of course.” Nadine leaned forward and nodded.
    Robbie’s heart sank. He was the same Jake Proctor whom she’d met in the park earlier today. She couldn’t afford having him ask her why she was dressed in a costume this morning. He could ruin her research. Dr. Clifton had so many reservations even miniscule criticism would ruin her chance to continue with the FLM project.
    Dr. Clifton looked up at Jake and smiled. “Both Nadine and I are only a phone call away. It’ll be great having you around again. Come with me. The office you’ll be using is right next door.”
    “I don’t want to delay you. You must have appointments,” he said.
    OMG, he respects students. He can’t be all bad. Robbie slid further into the chair.
    “No trouble, Robbie can wait,” Dr. Clifton said while the door leading into the hallway closed behind her.
    “Wow,” Nadine said, “Dr. Clifton is gleaming.”
    “She sure is,” Robbie whispered across the room.
    “She usually keeps her personal feelings locked up. But he’s a bright light in this office. His tan really sets off his brown eyes.” Nadine’s laughter bubbled. “I told you it would be interesting around here.”
    The telephone rang again.
    Maybe he was only visiting. No, Clifton said he had an office. Surely she was talking about next semester. Robbie’s thesis would be defended by then. Until she knew more, she’d be careful and make sure Jake Proctor wasn’t around when she went to the park in her disguise.
    While she waited, she tried focusing on her possible responses to Dr. Clifton’s questions, but Nadine’s fingernails clicking on the keyboard seemingly in rhythm to a song on the radio combined with Dr. Clifton’s laughter echoing in the hall kept disrupting her concentration. Focus, focus. Robbie, you have to focus.
    Nadine’s keyboarding stopped. She put her chin in her palm and said, “I sure hope he has a lot of questions tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow. You’re kidding, right?” Robbie groaned.
    “What’s with you? A new face is always a pleasure, especially one with that rugged shadow. Yum.” Nadine winked. Her white teeth contrasted against her coffee-toned lip gloss.
    “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just surprised. Do you suppose he shaves like that or does his beard really grow that quickly?”
    “I don’t care, just so long as I see it often,” Nadine said, plucking the phone from its cradle.
    Until Robbie came up with a better solution, she would fly under his radar at the university, too.
    The outer door swung open. Dr. Clifton leaned on Nadine’s desk. “Jake will check in tomorrow. If there’s anything he needs, I’ve told him I’m available.” From behind her notebook, Robbie watched Dr. Clifton scan the room. “You can come in now.”
    Robbie closed her notebook and picked up her backpack. She knew Clifton’s previous laughter wasn’t going to change her professor’s attitude toward their interview.
    In the office, Clifton sat in her chair rolled up to the desk, which held an aquarium with a bright blue-patterned Betta fish and a box of tissue ready for any tearful, stressed student. Robbie felt as if a starting-pistol fired when her advisor picked up the top file from a stack of a half dozen, then opened the buff folder.
    From her