EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Dante
The next few months passed much too quickly. My dean very reluctantly approved medical leave for me for the rest of the semester. Remington’s influence ensured Alex and Mitch were allowed to drop their classes with no penalties and take the semester off.
Alex and I spent much of the first few weeks in bed, at least when we weren’t buying more cat toys for Adenine and spoiling her rotten. Rafe cared for her while I took Alex to Boston to visit our Marchesi relatives and experience all my favorite restaurants and bakeries in the North End.
We were even able to spend a few weeks on a family friend’s private island, but there was not a day that I forgot the danger we faced from Ivanov. We’d confirmed he’d left the country. Then he’d been spotted in Greece and later in Morocco.
The only other thing we knew was that he was trying to make underworld connections but so far had been unable to establish himself anywhere. He’d lost the backing of his family, so he’d never dare go to Russia, and most US cities would be barred to him as well.
Eventually, he’d spend too much time out in the open or run out of money and be desperate enough to try coming back home, and we’d take him out. Until then, I would remain vigilant, but I managed to relax enough to enjoy every day I had with Alex.
As the end of the semester grew closer, I knew we had to figure out what would happen next. Alex said he would give up returning to school so that I could keep my career, but I wasn’t going to let that happen.
He discussed transferring to another school, but that wasn’t satisfactory either. While I was communicating with Xavier, our island-owning family friend, I asked him if he had any suggestions on how to handle our situation.
“You said Remington threatened to release evidence of misappropriation of funds in order to get them to agree to hire you and give you the research budget you deserve.”
“That’s right. But I don’t want to ask him to push harder.”
A moment passed, and then Xavier said, “What if you use the carrot at this time instead of the stick?”
“In what way?”
“Endow a chair for the department with the stipulation that you remain on the faculty as long as you’d like.”
“Would they go for that?”
He huffed. “They always go for money.”
“But would that amount of money be more important than the scandal they’ll deal with having a professor and a student together, a student whose major is in my department?”
“Would you consider marrying Alex? Marriage would lessen the scandal, especially if you return from a leave of absence as such.”
My pulse was racing. This was it. I was going to make it work. “I’d already consider proposing to him over the holidays.”
“Then I think you have your answer. If that doesn’t work, give me a call, and we’ll see what else we can figure out.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m happy to help.
“How’s Emilio?”
“Amazing as always.”
“Give him my love.”
I reached into the pocket of my jacket and touched the ring I’d already purchased for Alex. I wanted him to know that our relationship was permanent, but I’d hesitated to propose until I knew what the new year would be like for us. Now I knew.
I opened my laptop and began research on a proposal for an endowment.
Alex
Dante told me he needed to go into campus to meet with his dean, but he wouldn’t tell me any specifics.
I didn’t even know if he’d called the meeting or if the dean had.
Dante was being obnoxiously secretive. He promised that everything was going to work out, and he’d tell me all about the meeting when he got home, but all I could do was pace and fidget.
He insisted Rafe come to stay with me because no matter how far away he believed Ivanov to be and no matter how many of his associates had been killed or arrested, Dante still didn’t want me left alone, not even in the daytime.
Rafe kept encouraging me to sit down and watch something or play a video game with him. He offered to make me food. Apparently, he could cook too, though he swore he was nowhere near as good at it as Dante.
Nothing worked. I couldn’t settle. I kept thinking Dante should’ve been back already. What was taking so long?
Finally, I heard his car in the driveway. I watched from the window as he walked up the sidewalk. He smiled at me, and I felt like a meeting must have at least gone okay.
As soon as he came in, he said, “Thank you, Rafe. I appreciate your help, but we need some time alone now.”
Rafe winked at me and waved goodbye as he headed out the door.
“You didn’t have to kick him out that fast.”
Dante grinned. “Yes, I did.”
“So? How did it go?”
“Let’s sit down.” I wasn’t sure I liked his tone, but I allowed him to steer me toward the couch. I drew one leg up onto the seat so I could face him. “Don’t keep me in suspense any longer.”
“The meeting went well. I had a proposal for Dean Richard. I consulted with Xavier a few days ago, and it was his suggestion.”
That made me nervous. Xavier was scary as hell. I mean, he’d been amazing, letting us use his private island and all, but I couldn’t imagine what kind of plan he might come up with.
“Xavier suggested I endow a chair for the department. They need more teachers and more researchers if they want to be more impressive to donors and potential students. So I made the proposal.”
“And?”
“He loved it. I said I had a few stipulations, that I was allowed to keep my position, and despite our relationship, you would be allowed to remain at the university.”
I couldn’t believe it. “We can’t do that. There would be such a scandal.”
He pressed a finger to my lips. “That’s true, and it may still be a minor scandal if we go along with the plan.”
“The plan?”
Dante took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My heart hammered. What was it? What were we going to have to agree to?
“Things wouldn’t look as bad, especially with us having taken a leave of absence if we returned as a married couple.”
“Dante, you would…”
“I would never pressure you into this. I know we belong together. I know you were made for me, and I was made to be your protector, but if you’re not ready for this step—”
“Dante, I’m—”
He held up a hand. “Let me finish. I would rather resign than have you marry me only for us to keep our positions at the university.”
“Dante, I would leave with you if you asked. I would also marry you if neither of us could be there anymore and if we had to move away from everyone we care about here.”
Dante slid from the couch and went onto one knee. He took my hands in his and held my gaze. “Alexander Hebert, will you be my husband?”
“Yes! Yes, I want that so much.”
I pulled the ring out of my pocket, and his hand trembled as I slid it onto his finger. “We’ll have to make quick plans for a small ceremony, but if you want something larger, we can always do that later.”
“I don’t care at all. I just want to marry you any way that’s possible.”
“Trust me. Other people in the family are going to care.”
“Then they can throw us the biggest, wildest party they want. It doesn’t matter. I would go to the courthouse with you today and marry you. I’m so happy with you. I never imagined feeling like this.
“Me either. And if you don’t want to deal with the things people will say about us, or—”
“No. I never wanted to force you to sacrifice the career you’ve worked for. I guess I’ll just have to put up with a less-than-the-best prof for biochem.”
He laughed. “You’ll survive. I’ll help you find the best class.”
“I love you, Dante.”
“I love you too, and I can’t wait to marry you.”
Thank you for reading His Forbidden Professor.