Julia chewed on the edge of her thumbnail but said nothing.
He hugged her more closely.
“Has my book been helpful?”
“Yes, but I’m taking a different tack,” she hedged.
“That can be a double-edged sword, Julianne. Originality is admired, but sometimes established methods are established for a reason.”
“I’ll let you read it tomorrow, if you have time.”
“Of course I’ll have time.” He began rubbing her back, up and down. “In fact, I’m looking forward to it. My goal is to help you, not hurt you. You know that, right?”
“Of course.” She kissed him again before burrowing against his chest. “I just worry about what you’ll think.”
“I’ll be honest, but supportive. I promise.”
“That’s the best I can hope for.” She smiled up at him. “Now I need you to take me to bed and cheer me up.”
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “What would cheering you up entail?”
“Taking my mind off my troubles by tantalizing me with your naked body.”
“What if I’m not ready for bed?”
“Then I guess I’ll have to go to bed by myself. And maybe cheer myself up.” She stood and stretched, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
In a flash he was behind her, scooping her into his arms and racing for the stairs.
Chapter Three
You can’t present this.” Gabriel strode into the study the following afternoon, clutching a printout of Julia’s lecture.
She looked up from her laptop in horror. “Why not?”
“You’re wrong.” He set the pages down and pulled off his glasses, tossing them on top of her desk. “St. Francis comes for the soul of Guido da Montefeltro after he dies. We discussed this. You agreed with me.”
Julia crossed her arms defensively.
“I changed my mind.”
“But it’s the only interpretation that makes sense!”
She swallowed hard, shaking her head.
He began to pace in front of her desk.
“We talked about this in Belize. I sent you an illustration of the scene while we were separated, for God’s sake! Now you’re going to stand in front of a room full of people and say that it never happened?”
“If you’d read my footnotes, you’d—”
He stopped pacing and turned to face her.
“I read the footnotes. None of those sources go as far as you. You’re merely speculating.”
“Merely?” Julia pushed back from her desk. “I found several reputable sources that agree with most of what I say. Professor Marinelli liked my paper.”
“She’s too easy on you.”
Julia’s mouth dropped open. “Too easy? And I suppose you think that Professor Picton invited me to the conference merely out of charity?”
Gabriel’s expression softened. “Of course not. She thinks well of you. But I don’t want you to get up in front of a crowd of senior professors and offer a naïve interpretation. If you’d read my book, you’d—”
“I read your book, Professor Emerson. You only mention the text I’m analyzing in passing. And you naïvely adopt the standard interpretation, without reflecting on whether you should.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed.
“I accept the interpretation that makes sense.” His tone was glacial. “I never naïvely adopt anything.”
Julia stood, huffing in frustration.
“Don’t you want me to have my own ideas? Or do you think I have to repeat what everyone else has already said just because I’m a lowly grad student?”
Gabriel’s face reddened. “I never said that. I was a grad student once, too, if you’ll recall. But I’m not anymore. You could benefit from my experience.”
“Oh, here we go.” Julia threw up her hands in disgust and walked out of the study.
Gabriel followed.
“What do you mean, here we go?”
She didn’t bother turning around.
“You’re just upset that I’m going to disagree with you in public.”
“Bullshit.”
“Bullshit?” She turned around. “Then why are you telling me to change my paper so I fall in line with your book?”
He placed a hand on her arm. “I’m not trying to get you to fall in line. I’m trying to help so that you won’t make a fool—” He stopped abruptly.
“What was that?” She shook off his hand.
“Nothing.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
When he opened his eyes, he appeared calmer. “If you start now, you should be able to rewrite your paper in time for the conference. I can help.”
“I don’t want your help. And I can’t change my thesis. They’ve already published the abstract on the conference website.”
“I’ll call Katherine.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “She’ll understand.”
“No, you won’t. I’m not changing it.”
Gabriel’s lips pressed together into a thin line.
“This is not the time to be stubborn.”
“Oh, yes, it is. It’s my paper!”
“Julianne, listen—”
“You’re worried I’ll make a fool of myself. And embarrass you.”
“I didn’t say that.”
She gave him a look that was wounded if not betrayed. “You just did.”
She stalked into the bedroom, attempting to close the door behind her. His hand shot out, stopping the door.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get away from you.”
“Julianne, stop.” He gazed around helplessly. “We can talk about this.”
“No, we can’t.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “I’m not your student anymore. I’m allowed to have my own ideas.”
“That isn’t what I was saying at all.”
She ignored him and walked toward the bathroom.
“Julianne, damn it. Stop!” he bellowed from the doorway.
She whirled around.
“Don’t yell at me!”
He held his hands up in an expression of surrender and drew a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. Let’s sit down and talk.”
“I can’t talk to you right now without saying something I’ll regret. And you obviously need to cool down.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the bathroom. I’m locking the door and I’m going to avoid you for the rest of the day. If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to my dad’s.”