Garrett closed the door quickly, hearing something plastic hit the back of it. He wandered back into the living room wondering what they were talking about. What was Andie saying?

"This is your fault!" he told Theodora before he heard Cora's phone ring. He looked into her bag, found the phone, and checked the number, not recognizing it he answered.

"Hello?"

"Is this Cora's phone?" the female voice asked.

"Yes, she can't come to the phone, may I take a message?"

"Is this Garrett?"

"It is."

"Oh, hi. This is Jessica, we met earlier to today." Her voice sounded chipper.

"I remember Jessica, do you have a message for Cora?"

She sighed, "Even your voice is sexy." There was an uncomfortable silence that Garrett wasn't quite sure how to break.

"Sorry, I just wanted to find out how Cora's conference went with Professor Smith. He's a pretty skeezy guy, and I was worried about her meeting with him on her own. Especially since he was going to use her failing the class as an excuse to get what he wanted, if you know what I mean."

"Mmmm." Garrett made an encouraging sound, hoping the girl would continue, but he was silently simmering.

"I mean it's ridiculous that he's going to fail her, she passing with an A, it's only because she missed so many classes that he even has the option."

"Completely ridiculous. I agree."

"Oh good. I'm glad you agree. I was hoping she would get you to help. Anyway, I was worried about her, from what I understand Smith has tried to use similar situations in the past in order to take advantage of some of his female students."

"She's home and safe, I promise." Garrett managed to keep control of his voice but barely.

"Good, will you tell her I called?"

"I will."

He hit end on Cora's phone and threw it back into her bag. He wanted to hit something or someone. Preferably Professor Smith, whomever he was.

"What happened? Is Cora alright?"

"Go home Theodora." Garrett said as he turned and headed down the hallway. Cora wasn't ready or willing to talk to him and he needed to burn off some anger. The gym was probably the best place for him. Otherwise, he would probably scare Cora more than she already was, even though throwing half of her bedroom at him wasn't the act of a cowering lady.

*******

Cora knew she had to leave her room eventually. Andie had left shortly after she had attacked Garrett for daring to enter her bedroom. After she had gone Cora had taken a shower and wrapped herself in her bathrobe leaving her towel on her head as she ventured into the living room.

She was relieved when she found it empty, not stopping, she wandered into the kitchen and was stunned to find Garrett at the counter chopping vegetables. The only thing he was wearing was a pair of workout shorts that were hanging low on his hips and it appeared as if he had just taken a shower as well.

"Are you feeling better, should I hide the knives?" He popped a pepper in his mouth and she was fascinated by the way the simple action took so much muscle power to accomplish.

"I didn't want you in my bedroom," she explained as she brushed by him in order to get to the fridge. She reached in grabbing a bottle of water and gave a little squeak of surprise when s turned around and he was directly behind her.

"But I am allowed in the kitchen?" his voice sounded amused.

"Sure, as long as your making dinner, I'll allow it." She tightened the belt on her robe and he smiled as he caught the movement.

"It's a little late to be suddenly shy Cora." He motioned to a bar-stool at the counter. "Keep me company."

Not wanting to look like a scared mouse, she sat, watching as he went back to preparing a meal that looked to be a stir-fry of some sort. "I didn't know you could cook." Cora watched his strong fingers as they handled the knife and vegetables like a pro.

"When I have a mind to cook, I'm quite good at it." He picked up the vegetables and threw them in the pan next to him.

"Is there anything you're not good at?" Cora asked the question, not really expecting an answer.

"Plenty, lately I've been particularly bad at keeping sight of my priorities."

Cora didn't want to talk about his priorities, afraid of what they were, knowing that she would be at the bottom of the list. "Has the house sold?"

Garrett didn't answer right away, "No." was all he finally said before he picked up the beer that was on the counter next to him and took a swallow.

"Jessica called, she wanted to know how your meeting with Professor Smith went this afternoon, she was worried because he's...skeevy, I think was the word she used." He wasn't looking at her as he started to cut the pre-cooked meat.

"You answered my phone?"

"Yes, and you're welcome to answer mine anytime you like as retribution."

Cora shook her head, she really didn't mind that he answered her phone. The real issue was that he had found out that she was going to fail the class.

"I'm sorry Garrett."

"For what?"

"I won't be able to pass the class, it was a waste of your money."

"It wasn't a waste of money Cora, I would have given everything I have if it meant that those two weeks we had in the Bahamas would have never ended. The price of a class was well worth the extra week of having you in my arms."

Cora stared at him stunned, that was not what she was expecting. She swallowed hard unsure of what to say. She was too frightened to tell him that she felt the same way.

"What happened with Smith?" He threw the meat in the pan and the sizzle was the only sound that filled the room. Cora barely heard the question, she was still trying to absorb his previous comment.

"Cora?"

"I went to see him, as he requested." She took a sip of her water. "You won't do anything will you, you'll let it go?"

"Tell me Cora."

"It's not worth the trouble. Really, I'll just retake the class, it's no big deal."

"Cora."

She cleared her throat. "He asked me to close the door and sit down. I had started to ask him if there was anything that I could do; put a request in with the dean or makeup the class by attending one of his other classes." She had started to peel the label off of her water bottle. "He...he undid his pants and showed...he told me there was only one way to pass the class."

Garrett turned off the heat under the pan and started to pace the kitchen. He reminded Cora once again of a jungle cat, this time caged, as he clinched and unclinched his hands.

"What did you do after that?" His voice sounded remarkably calm even though he wasn't.

"I started throwing stuff at him then I ran." She was crying again. "I think the paper weight caught him in the side of the head. I hope he's not dead."

Garrett walked over to her and took her in his arms. "Good." He pulled her close and she wrapped her arms around him burying her face in his chest. "You told all of this to Andie?"

"No, we didn't talk about it. Did you really kick Teddy out of your life?"

"Yes, Cora. I did. I did it for us. Your seeing me with Teddy hurts you, and I don't want that."

"Why were you at the school today?"

"We were working on a deal, the university is thinking about setting up an interior design program and they've asked Theodora to head the department, but a new program needs money and I need a tax write off."

"And now?"

"I've called it off, there are plenty of other worthy causes."

"Please don't call it off, it will hurt Teddy if you do."

She could feel the tension in Garrett. "Please?"

"I'll think about it. What else did you and Andie talk about it?"

"Nothing much."

Garrett looked down at her, considering her for a moment, but thankfully he didn't push the issue.

"You won't do anything about Professor Smith, will you? You'll leave it alone?" She looked up at him and watched as his jaw hardened.

"You're my wife Cora. I will not leave it alone." Something dark passed behind his eyes.

"What will you do?"

"I'm not sure." He sat her back on the stool and moved to finish cooking.

"But let's talk about something more important." He looked thoughtful as he taste-tested the food.

"Garrett!" she insisted at his continued silence, suddenly nervous.

"The company has a softball team and we're looking for a pitcher."

"Shut-up!" she threw her water bottle at him and he easily caught it.

"Did I tell you I play catcher?" His grin was so sexy she almost sighed.