"Okay, thank you all for the updates. Hopefully we can get more leads in the next couple of weeks to really start making some traction with finding the perp," Jason said after they went around the living room at their home, each providing a status report.

"Um, Dad, one other thing. I was wondering if I could join Cole and Mindy to plant the computer bugs tonight instead of going to the Dean's dinner?" Lexi had been thinking all day about how to bring up the topic with her parents.

"Lex, is everything okay? I thought you were excited to tag along with us on that one?" Scarlett raised her brows.

"I think you should go, Lex! Cole and I can handle everything just fine. He'll be training me anyway." Mindy gave Lexi a knowing smirk while Lexi gave her ex-best friend a pout and squint.

"I mean I can't say I'm looking forward to training Mindy by myself. It seems like a weeklong task just to show her how to turn on a computer," Cole said as he crossed his arms. Mindy glared at Cole and muttered something unintelligible before he continued. "But, Lexi, you really should go. You may meet other students or faculty members, that could be good leads."

Lexi gave Cole a 'don't test me' look and he curled his lips in, stifling a smile. She had decided not to share any details about Cole's name prank with her parents and instead gave him an earful after class. He reluctantly apologized and agreed to do some of Lexi's chores at home for a week.

Lexi sighed. She knew she couldn't push anymore without raising suspicion. At least she tried. "Fine. Whatever. I need to go get ready. Mind, can you come upstairs and help me?"

"Of course!" Mindy clapped her hands and followed Lexi to her old room. As soon as the door closed, Mindy gave Lexi a big hug. "You still love me!"

"I'm questioning it!" Lexi laughed and playfully rolled her eyes.

"You need to face him at some point! Might as well do it while giving off 'Ariana Grande after she broke up with Pete Davidson' vibes!"

"They broke up?"

"Oh my gosh, where have you even been? Pete Davidson's had like two thousand girlfriends since and Ariana's married now. Girl, keep up!"

Lexi laughed and the girls got to work. They spent the next forty-five minutes straightening Lexi's hair, creating a smokey eye look (which took about half the time), and scouring through Scarlett's closet before settling on a semi-low cut red dress that hugged Lexi's figure.

"Once Tommy boy sees you in this, he's going to wish you were back at the hot tub!"

"Oh, please, I'm not trying to seduce him again! I just need to, I don't know, not feel like an idiot." Lexi smoothed out the scrunched fabric on the sides.

"Trust me, once he sees you in this, he won't be able to stay upset for even a millisecond."

"Well, let's hope so. I'll need to somehow pull him aside and deflate the situation. My parents can't see him or else they'll know, and I need to get on his good side so I don't have to drop the class."

"If you need me, I'll be one text or call away!" Mindy gave her a hug before the girls headed back downstairs.

"My beautiful daughter! You look just like your mother!" Jason said as Lexi made her way down the stairs.

Cole stood up from the couch and set his Nintendo Switch down. "Took you guys long enough! Mindy, are you ready?"

Mindy squeezed Lexi's hand before leaving with Cole. Lexi and her parents made their way out and Jason began discussing the directions to the Dean's house.

"Honey, just use the GPS for once," Scarlett said when they were all in the car.

"No! Those things are never accurate. I know the traffic patterns better than any Woze."

"Dad, it's Waze, not Woze."

"Now, that's just an even sillier name." Discussion of the road conditions continued between her parents, but Lexi's attention simmered on her own thoughts. She rubbed her slightly sweaty palms together before pressing them against the fabric of her dress. Like when she was solving a case, she played through the strategy, focusing on every scenario that could come up once she was face to face with Tom. In each one the outcome didn't look too good.

They pulled up to a large modern house with a long, wide driveway leading up to it. Valet attendants were scurrying around attending to the incoming cars. Lexi took in a deep breath as she strolled behind her parents into the house, where it seemed like hundreds of people were already enjoying the festivities. Here goes nothing.

Servers were handing out hors d'oeuvres to the mingling guests and it was so crowded in the large living room space that Lexi still hadn't spotted Tom. Her gaze swept the vicinity. She recognized her History of Computer Science professor who she had met that afternoon. "Mom, Dad, come meet one of my professors."

"Oh, sure sweetie, that sounds great," Scarlett said as she followed Lexi, with Jason in tow.

"Hi, Professor Magnolia. Good to see you again. I wanted to introduce you to my parents, Joe and Judy."

"It's so nice to meet one of our daughter's educators! I'm new to the faculty this year," Scarlett said before shaking the older woman's hand.

"Great! I'm going to use the restroom. I'll be back," Lexi said before she even heard Professor Magnolia's response. She quickly turned and her eyes continued to scan her surroundings. Maybe he's not here yet.

Yet, in an instant, tingles shot through her fingers and toes when her eyes landed on him. He was in one of the less crowded hallways near the stairs, holding a glass filled halfway with amber liquid and talking animatedly to an older man who had a full head of white hair. Tom had on a white button down shirt that hugged his torso. The first two buttons were undone and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his tan forearms. Lexi's eyes traveled down and took in the navy slacks that also seemed to fit him just right. She drew closer to the stairs and patiently waited for him to finish his conversation. It didn't seem like he noticed her yet as he laughed at something the other man said. The lines in his cheeks were prominent when he smiled, and Lexi couldn't look away even if she wanted to.

After about a moment of her staring, it seemed that Tom sensed her presence. His eyes shot up and met hers. Instantly, his smile faltered. Lexi began to fidget with the silver necklace dangling on her chest before scratching the back of her neck with her other hand. She could hear Tom's deep voice more clearly when his gaze traveled back to the man in front of him. "Anyways, I should let you get back to the party, Dean Kovsky. Again, thanks for throwing it together. It's a fun way to kick off the new school year."

The men shook hands and Lexi took in a deep breath waiting for the inevitable. He marched up to her with nostrils flared. "Are you trying to get me fired?"

"I-uh," Lexi began but couldn't find any words to continue.

"What the hell, Hannah?" Tom's jaw clenched before he continued whispering. "Did you come on to me last month knowing I was going to be your professor? What did you think was going to happen? That you could just seduce me, and you'd automatically get an A in my class?"

Straight into we go. Lexi tightened her hands into fists. "Excuse me? How dare you insinuate that?"

"Then what was it? Why did you kiss me with your tits practically out only to disappear two seconds later and never come back again?" A vein bulged from Tom's smooth, tan forehead.

"Oh my God, keep your voice down!" Lexi said in a sharp whisper. She looked around and the few people that were close by seemed engrossed in their own conversations.

Tom sighed and grabbed onto Lexi's arm, prompting her to follow him down the hallway. The contact sent a jolt of heat along the limb.

They made their way into what seemed like a spare bedroom with... What the hell is this room? A giant poster of a bright yellow Looney Tunes Tweety bird was framed and displayed prominently over a queen-sized bed, with smaller Tweety birds printed across the duvet. Looney Tunes figurines decorated the space and for a moment, Lexi wondered if she stepped into a kid's playhouse. Yet, as soon as Tom closed the door and silence fell over the room, Lexi's attention was directed back to him, and her heart rate sped up. "Oh God, this was not a good idea! How would it look if someone found us here together?"

"Oh, now you're concerned about appearances?" Tom crossed his arms and his biceps strained against his shirt, practically begging to be looked at. "We need to talk this through in private. I was going to discuss it with you after class this morning, but like every single damn time, you ran away. Are you trying to be a pain in the ass on purpose? I honestly can't tell."

"Look! I didn't know you were going to be my professor, okay? And I genuinely did enjoy our time at the pool!" Lexi ran her hands through her hair and Tom stole a quick glance at the action.

"Then why did you leave so abruptly? I went back every night for weeks to find you!" Tom's eyes grew wide at his confession and Lexi's expression quickly mirrored his own. "I mean it doesn't really matter now anyway, I guess. You're my student and whatever this is," he said waving his hand between them, "needs to be strictly professional." He uncrossed his arms and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh God, how old are you?"

"Okay calm down with the dramatics. I'm twenty-one." Lexi crossed her arms and was glad she didn't add 'and a quarter' that was on the tip of her tongue.

Tom took a deep breath in and shook his head. "You need to drop out of my class. I can't have you sabotaging my career."

"Your career? What about my education? I need this class to fulfill my pre-requisites." Well, not really that, but I do need the class.

"Well, who's to say I won't fail you? You know, I'm the person in authority here."

Lexi scowled at him. You idiot. "If you do that, then you know you'll be in as much trouble as I-"

Before Lexi could finish, Tom's eyes grew wide, and he placed a hand over her mouth. "Shh, I think someone's coming!" he said in a low voice. The warm sensation of his hand seemed to freeze her on the spot. "Quick, get in the closet."

"Wh-" Lexi was gently pushed into the small closet that had a couple of hanging coats beside them before Tom made his way in and quickly shut the door. Lexi's breathing hitched when his broad frame brushed against hers. Being this close to him again was like the start of nearly every dream she'd had over the past month. Yet, her stomach dropped as soon as she heard the main door to the room open.

***

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