THE LONE PROFESSOR

chapter three

"Professor Carlton" Kelly called as she entered his book room he was again arranging books as he been doing everyday for the past three weeks since she has been here, "how was your day?"
"Same old, no one is interested in hiring I'll have to go again tomorrow"
Sheldon had applied online for a few jobs for Kelly he had a few old colleague and email them but who didn't know of anyone would look in to something, he felt now he was letting her down, that he was letting professor Richardson down he wish he was still working in order to employ her for now he awaits someone to call with a job offering,
Maybe you'll have better luck tomorrow" He said his back still to her,
Kelly wonder why after three weeks he was still hiding from her, he spend more time in the dark book room than he  in anywhere else it seems the room in which he sleep is the same as his book room,
"Is Carlton your first name or is it your last name?" Kelly ask
"Sheldon is my name"
"Is it OK if I call you Sheldon?" Kelly ask he turned slightly but didn't respond, Kelly figure he didn't approve on a first name basis she had told him before that he could call her Kelly but he still say miss Richardson, she didn't get an answer "any way I got these for you" she has a few beers and a burger for him, "just something for you to snack on until dinner time" she rest them on the table and went back down the hall when the door closes Sheldon got off the ladder walking to the table he opened first a beer drink from it before rumbling through the bags to get to the burger taking big bites, closing his eyes as he work to swallow,
Kelly was a bit confused she wasn't sure what to prepare for dinner she went through the cupboard almost a million times, finally she open a tin of corn beef with bake beans and spaghetti it was quick and easy and it seems the professor enjoyed it for his plate was much cleaner than other evening, she clean up and retired early for tomorrow she was going job hunting again, she knew her dad said Mr Carlton would help her with the job she could tell he has regrets for he felt he was letting her father down she can understand that a man that once had such beautiful face would not want anyone to see him with a scratch or a scar Kelly think he didn't have to take so seriously,
Because she didn't see him and she was going out she left something for him to eat on the table, he came out later to find it he ate and leave the things on the table knowing well Kelly always came and get them to clean up, through out the day she didn't come and he for got she was going out, near evening he push the door to the passage hall way the once dark room was bright and he saw the door to the washroom open from where he was he saw that the windows were also open Sheldon could smell detergent coming from the wash room the sent of new York strong as the breeze blew about the city,he couldn't help but notice the pictures hanging on the wall they were his pictures from before the attack he wonder why she dug up the store room  and hang his pictures here, the one of Kelly and her dad, he saw her laptop and some books that pulls his attention, he haven't read a romance novel in a while but he had read a few Daniel steel, he had enjoyed under covered that he recently read, secret, magic, country and some others, those books were just keep in his room and from her collection she didn't have a lot of the Danielle steel that he had read, or Sandra Bullock, he even watch a few of their movies,  he was still admiring the book collection when he heard foot steps, Kelly was frightened to have found him there, wondering if he was upset for she took out his belonging and hang them, when she came he turned to leave,
"Professor" Kelly called he pause but didn't answer or turn,he was much clearer to her now and she could see where his skin had lost the bright shade he once have his hair dark and curly as it hand down the back of his neck, in the picture he was trimmed  low and clean shaved it was obvious he couldn't grew his beard for his face was still with out hair, he  wore a small nob in his earlobes on the pictures she notice that he still does, he was walking away again when Kelly called after him again, professor I'm sorry if I had upset you going through your private things" he heard her but didn't respond he close the door behind him but she followed him down he stood with his back to the door facing the door that she first entered through, but went in to the other room when she was getting closer,
"I'm sorry professor Carlton I can put all the things back"
The door close and she didn't know if he had heard her, she found the empty things and brought them to the kitchen, a little later she bring him food, food that gets tastier each time he has it, he was in the room later on when he heard Kelly came down to get the things, he heard the door click  and could tell she left, Kelly wish to talk to the professor and truly apologize but it didn't seem he was up to seeing her now thinking maybe tomorrow he will be in a better mode,
After doing the dishes Kelly decided on a walk in the yard she came out around front and found her way around the back to the pool she wasn't up for a swim so she soak her feet in the Jacuzzi, for a while she sat gazing on the house in her mind she picture that research center up and running, she and professor Carlton running it together and after each day of work they would have dinner together later snuggle up on the big sofa to watch some television and plan on something to teach the following day, the though of her and the professor getting close make her shake, Kelly knew her mind was pushing her to think all that, there was no way it was happening, the professor wasn't into relationship, and he was older than she he didn't want to call her Kelly obviously he makes no plans to get any closer for he still didn't want her to see his face, and he was a little upset with her now, and  as for her instead  of harboring thoughts about the professor she need to get out find a job something to  occupied her mind, than thoughts of a man that would never be a part of her life, maybe she should find a date and go out sometimes,
But after another few days of searching and nothing came up, the professor still hasn't gotten any replies from any of the sources he tried, only one institution reply and that was in new Jersey, Kelly told him she wasn't interested in moving again apart of Sheldon wish she take it so he can get back to his life with no one to disturb him, and still he hope she wouldn't since she got here a little part of his life change he was starting to like having her around, the one thing he didn't want was to harbor any feeling for her but so far couldn't help it she was young and beautiful so attractive, as her father had said in his letter she will someday make a happy man but he was sure that her father wold be disappointed if he wines up sleeping with her, he wouldn't be much of a use to her he was sure she didn't want to have a scar face man in her life,
A few more days with no job offer, no date nothing to do and no friends, Kelly was growing tired of going out and coming back the same way eventually she started staying back, took a swim walk the lawn, and clean, she was wiping the windows in the living room and discover that the thick double glass was a door and it leads to the porch from there a step that went right to the garage she look up and  finally seeing where the front of the house was and the beauty of it, for a few minutes she look on the house thinking professor must use to made a lot of money back then wondering how he survive now, she went back in side leaving the door open for a while, as she continue her cleaning, she was contemplating on if she should leave the big mirror  although it has some dust she was afraid of turning it over but hate to have all the other parts clean and that was still dusty, Kelly got in front it with her window spray and wax cloth looking at the mirror, and her reflection so  now you are scared?" She said to her self, she didn't want to get in to any trouble with the professor for already she believe he was mad at her for taking his things out from where he had left them, She said she would put them back but he had told her no need she haven't seen him down that way since that day when ever she came he was always at his shelf's,
Kelly hope not to get on his bad side for much as her dad said that he was a good man doesn't mean he doesn't have a bad side, she wasn't leaving the mirror dirty no matter what the circumstances if it broke she would replace it before the professor finds out, Kelly spray and wipe slightly, the more she wipes the mirror kept going back each time she moved away it came back , she look closely and saw the inches realizing now that it was an adjustable mirror she ease it further and found the space to be empty
she step inside and found two  smaller doors make from wick one was with a coat and umbrella a water boot and a snow shovel, the other door has towels and sheet spreads and drapes she hasn't change nothing since she came only wash them and put them back, now that she knew she has more the next time she'll use new ones, it didn't end there another door leads down and she wanted to know where, she turn the nob push the door and a bed room appears it was much bigger and more luxurious than the one she use the drapes were drawn and only a small bedside lamp lit the room, like in the book room she have the feeling this was the professor room for many times he disappear through a small door from the book room, if this was is room no way did she want to be caught sneaking around, she turn to leave quickly,
Sheldon took a shower and came from the bathroom as Kelly was turning to get out they stumbled on each other Kelly heart almost came out her chest as she stood facing the professor finally she got the full view of his face the not so big scar that went down in a line near his nose she couldn't believe that it was such a small scar that kept him lock up in  a dark hole what for she asked herself he was so handsome that may be no one bother to notice he has a scar, she left his face and followed his figure down his hard naked body in admiration of his masculine body, apart from the starch on his face his entire body seems clean, or it was because she was so nervous she was seeing what was not there, like the size of his manhood in her eyes it was overgrown with a look of power as it hang down his tight. Make her urge to put her hands on him and caress every inch of it, to feel the power of him inside of her,
Sheldon set her free going around her to grab his towel off the bed, wrapping it around him his back was to her when she turned,
"I, I ,I ,am, am so, so sorry professor I didn't know where I was going I just push open the door, I'll go I promise not to come back" Kelly said nervously still frighten and shaking, he said nothing or did he turn around Kelly back away until she feels herself leaning on the door she open it and quickly walk out she was in the living room when she sat down and take a deep breath,
Sheldon got dress and went to the book room some how he didn't feel like working so he sat at the table looking over some pictures in a fashion magazine, Kelly finish cooking in the evening she dish food for the professor and take it down, but the feeling of act ward ness take over making her afraid to see the professor,
For another week she bring the food down went back for the plate but said nothing to him she went out one afternoon and when she came back she found some extra romance book on her shelf some author she haven't heard of before and Danielle Steel with Sandra Bullock the two most in which she was familiar with, she had read the partner written by john Grisham she didn't like the ending if she was the author she would make the ending a bit different for the woman would would be waiting for Patrick where they would share the money and live a happy life together, but everyone sees differently and it was how he wanted it to be, she read acknowledgment, and the back of the book before she read through any book she like happy ending she like epilogue, the books were fairly new and plenty at lease now she'll have something to keep her she pick one special one and decide to read later while she lay in bed, she went down the hall passage push the door to the book room the professor wasn't inside after calling he came out of a door Kelly wonder what was inside that room, when he saw her he pause he still wasn't looking straight at her she wasn't sure if it was still to hide the scar or because she had seen him naked, a image of him came to mind and her head raised,
"I want to thank you for the books you had loan on to me"
"They weren't a loan you see I'm done with them they're yours"
"Well thank you" Kelly said then left leaving the professor wondering for how much longer will he be able to fight his feelings its been many years since he share companionship and need eats at him he didn't want to be carried away by what he was feeling and take advantage of the man that trusted him enough to send his daughter to him he was suppose to get her a job until now he hasn't he did try but felt he could do so much more,
Kelly with in two weeks had gone through a couple of the books some she enjoyed some she didn't but yet find interest in them, professor got an email Sunday  a woman who did tutoring session was going on maternity leave for two months was looking for someone to fill her space until she got back, Sheldon told Kelly of it neither of them see the sense of her taking a tutoring job a highly trained scientist like her but she decided to give it a try and Sheldon nod her the OK and gave her the address,
Kelly didn't find it so bad after the end of each day she came home cook and take for the professor and tell him about her day, at nights after doing the dishes she watch a little television but after her shower she settle with her  book and soft music that she listen from her bedroom, Sheldon lay in his bed been smooth  by her music that touch him deeply, thinking he probably be over reacting,
By tutoring Kelly eventually began to get to know a few people some that believe that she and the professor were along, and start asking how he was sending their regards, she would tell him each time some one said to say hello but didn't bother to mentioned that they were saying that she was along with him,
On Monday as she was about to enter class she ran in to the guidance counselor doctor Davis
"Miss Richardson" he greet and Kelly smile at him, "are you busy later?"
"No" Kelly answer for the truth was she didn't have anything to do
"Can I invite you for a drink?"
She wasn't sure she wanted that she did like him but not to date she was sure she likes the professor better but accept the invitation, he told her that he would pick her up at eight, she think on the first date since she got here what it was going to be like where will they go she thought on it a while but was soon to put it from her mind and carry on with her day.