The Best Professor (The Best Series Book 1) Read online

  THE Best PROFESSOR

  THE BEST SERIES – BOOK ONE

  BEE DANIELS

  The Best Professor – Book One: Bee Daniels

  Copyright © 2019 by Bee Daniels

  Published by Bee Daniels

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means, including electronic or mechanical means, without the written permission of the author and publisher, except for the use of reviews or brief quotations.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  CONTENT

  The Best Professor – Book One: Bee Daniels

  CONTENT

  PROLOGUE

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  33

  34

  35

  36

  37

  38

  39

  40

  41

  42

  43

  44

  45

  46

  47

  48

  49

  50

  51

  52

  53

  54

  AUTHOR NOTES

  ALSO BY BEE DANIELS

  PROLOGUE

  NOAH

  D

  RUMS AND HARD-HITTING SNARES BLASTED INTO NOAH’S EARS AS HE WALKED ACROSS THE BUSY quad that was occupied by other college students like him on their way to and from class. He bobbed his head to the heavy, braggadocio lyrics that gave him the strength and motivation to wake up at 7:30 am on a Monday and entered the David Douglas Student Center where his next class would take place. Though it was the third week of school, with routines already set, for Noah, it was the first time he entered the building to attend the Intro to Psychology course he signed up for.

  For anyone who didn’t know Noah Walker, they would assume he was a slacker. But he wasn’t. Not at all. To his father, he was strong and brave, and if he stayed focused, in his father’s words, could will a strength that would take him and anyone else who followed him far in life. To his teammates, he was as hardworking as a player could get and the player they looked up to. But when it came down to things outside of hockey, like requisite courses he didn’t want to take that had nothing to do with his major, Noah could admit that a different side of himself came out—one less motivated and willing.

  The class being a requisite wasn't the only reason he was two weeks late. Originally, the course had been taught by Doug Dobbleman, a professor known for his laid-back approach to teaching, which simply meant, he didn't teach at all. For years, he had been passing out easy A's to students for doing nothing, and after reading the reviews for him on RateMyProfessor, it was a no brainer for Noah to pick him. Even some of the people Noah knew who took Dobbleman's class before told him they never stepped foot inside the class after the first week and had passed. Noah was positive that when he signed up for that 8 am class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, that he would never have to step foot inside either, so much so, that he never even bothered going the first day.

  That was the first mistake.

  Every student knew that you had to come on the first day to get the syllabus and get a feel of what the class would be like. And had he gone that day, Noah would have realized that the old man Dobbleman had passed in his sleep a few days prior and was replaced by another professor. May the old man rest in peace, but he had completely messed up Noah's plans for an easy passing grade this semester that would give him the time to focus on what really mattered to him right now— hockey.

  Noah walked down the hall, dodging the students hovering outside the classrooms, who waited to be one of the first in class so they could get the seats they had claimed since the first day.

  “Noah!”

  Even with his earphones in, Noah heard his name called and tugged out one earplug as he looked back to see who called him. Searching through the crowd, his eyes landed on Jackson Rover, a guy he roomed with during freshman year. Jackson walked out of a classroom, maneuvering around the students who were simultaneously stepping in as he and other students stepped out. He wore a silly grin on his face as he looked at Noah.

  "Hey, man," Noah greeted with a short nod. He would go over there to talk to Jackson, but his time was limited when he only had five minutes left before his class started. He didn't want to be late, though, technically, he was already two weeks late.

  “You ready for the ice?” Jackson asked.

  “Always,” Noah said. "Always."

  Noah had been born ready, and it wasn't arrogance, but fact. He was the son of Allen Walker, one of the best hockey players there ever was, and Alice Griffin, a two-time gold medalist for ice skating. Ice was in his veins.

  This year would be the year he would enter the draft, proving to everyone that he would be able to dominate the big leagues with his own skillset, and not with the help of his parent's name.

  “I’ll hit you up later, Jack.”

  Jackson nodded before disappearing into the crowd, and Noah continued on. He weaved around the halls of the complex, winding building that usually made freshmen frustrated, annoyed, and late their first week of school before they got a hang of the classroom order, which was complicated. Fortunately enough for Noah, he wasn't a freshman anymore and had already taken a few courses inside of this building last year, so he weaved around the building without problems, knowing where his class would be.

  When he turned the next corner, Noah noticed a girl picking up papers that were strewn across the floor. Noah nearly passed her, not particularly wanting to be a good Samaritan when he knew there was a possibility of him being late. But he also knew that though this hall didn't have many people there now, in a few minutes, with most classes ending soon, all of her papers would be lost, stuck under people's shoes, and kicked across the floor. Biting down his exasperation, Noah bent down and helped pick up as many papers as he could.

  By the time the familiar sounds of doors opening and shoes squeaking against the marble floors filled the hall, Noah picked up the last piece of paper with a relieved sigh. More than likely, if he had not helped, most of these papers wouldn't have survived.

  "Thank you," the girl said as she stood up. She held her hand out, waiting for him to pass the papers he had picked up for her, but Noah found himself stuck, startled by her beauty. When he stopped to help her, he hadn't been thinking about whether she was going to be beautiful or not, but now as he looked at her, he was glad he did. Possibly being late to his class was worth it now, meeting someone as beautiful as her. Big brown eyes, the color of hazel, were hidden behind thick, long lashes and round clear-pink frames that hung a little low on her nose. To be frank, it was incredibly sexy, and suddenly every fantasy he ever had came to mind as his eyes lowered to her full, plump lips that were coated with a red lipstick that he wouldn't mind staining his own with. Her ski
n was a deep brown, and the soft curls of her dark brown hair went a little past her shoulders.

  This year, with him entering the draft, Noah had come up with a plan to strictly focus on hockey; that meant he couldn't let anything distract him, especially girls. He wouldn't call himself a playboy, though some of the girls on campus would disagree. But last year, he spent far too much time splitting his energy between the ice and girls, and though it was always fun to hook up with some girl at a party, after some of the drama he went through last semester with the girls who didn't understand what a casual relationship was, and the girls who bordered on stalkerish, Noah knew he couldn't let himself be distracted by those things again this year.

  He didn't need those types of distractions, or to get saddled up with the wrong girls again, but this girl could be the exception.

  “Can I have my papers back?” the girl asked. A hint of impatience was in her tone.

  Noah blinked, realizing that he had been staring before he flashed her his signature smile, one the girls usually loved to see.

  "Here, beautiful," Noah said, passing her papers back to her. The girl paused, a crease forming on her forehead as she looked at him surprised, and he grinned more. He was only calling her what she was. Beautiful.

  "Okay," she said slowly before she turned on her heels.

  "Thanks again," she tossed over her shoulder as she walked away from him, heading down the hall. Once again, Noah found himself stumped by being so easily dismissed. It wasn't something he was used to, with most girls trying to talk to him either because of his looks or his status as a hockey player, but he didn't let it discourage him before he jogged to catch up to her.

  "That's it?" Noah asked as he fell in step with her. Luckily, it seemed that they were both headed in the same direction as they both walked through the same double doors and headed up the stairwell.

  "What do you expect from me other than a thank you?" the girl replied as she continued up the steps, not bothering to even look at him. It's only then that Noah took the time to notice something other than her face and looked at her body. Her heels clicked with each step she took, and as Noah's eyes took in her attire, he wondered why she was so dressed up.

  She wore long black dress pants that surprisingly looked great on her ass. Usually, when girls wore stuff like that, it hid everything, but with the size of her hips and ass, there was nothing she could hide. She wore a soft pink blouse, complementing her glasses and cream-colored heels. Make no mistake. She looked damn good, professional, and yet sexy all the same. But this was college. It wasn't necessary to dress so professionally when most people were walking around with sweats or even their pajamas. Or maybe she was some fashion major, and that's why she was dressed that way. But then again, Noah had dated a few girls with that major, and usually, their clothes were all fashion statements, which meant everything they wore was over the top.

  She could be a freshman. They usually wore their best clothes until they realized no one cared what they wore. But from the vibe she gave off, she wasn't that either. She walked and carried herself with a confidence that freshmen usually didn't have.

  When she reached the door to the third floor, she finally looked at him, an exasperated expression on her face. "I didn't ask for your help, by the way."

  Noah realized that with this girl shock would be a constant feeling in her presence. He chuckled as he followed her through the double doors of the third floor where his class would be. If anyone else told him that, he would have been annoyed at their lack of gratefulness, but right now, he didn't mind the slight attitude she gave him. It was cute and made him want to get to know her more.

  “If I didn’t help you, you would still be stuck down there picking up trampled, ripped paper. Wouldn’t you say I did you a favor?”

  “And I already thanked you for your kindness, but since I did not ask for your help, I owe you nothing.”

  “Not even a number?”

  It was the right thing to ask because it finally got him her attention as she really looked at him this time, not in a manner of exasperation or as if she were speaking to an annoying fly she wanted to swat, but really looked at him as if it were her first time seeing him.

  “A number?” she repeated.

  Her eyebrows rose to the tip of her hairline as she faltered in her steps, multitasking between looking at him with disbelief and frowning, so much so, that she nearly bumped into someone else walking past them. Noah grabbed her arm, pulling her forward to him so she wouldn't hit the guy behind her. Like a snake, she recoiled instantly, removing her arm from his hold. Her mouth opened, and Noah prepared himself for the venom she would spit at him until she noticed the guy she nearly bumped. Her anger died just as quick as it was lit.

  "Thank you," she said meekly, with a hint of reluctance as if it were killing her, and Noah bit down his laugh, having a feeling she wouldn't appreciate it. She gave him a curt nod before she continued down the hall again.

  The sound of her heels against the marble floor beneath them created a melody, and Noah followed her symphony, hooked on every note. His eyes roved over her body, appreciating her shape with a desire to curl himself behind her. But something told him that unlike the other girls he hooked up with before, it wouldn't be easy to get in bed with her. Hell, it was barely easy to talk to her when it was clear that she had her guard up, ready to lash out at any second.

  Noah couldn't tell if she was one of those girls who liked to play hard to get, or if she simply wasn't interested. Noah wouldn't consider himself arrogant, though some of his teammates would disagree. He could admit that his ego was bigger compared to most, but then again, when you were born with good looks and athleticism, it was hard not to be, especially when most of the girls on campus wanted a piece of you.

  He was used to girls throwing themselves at him and had been since he was a young boy in elementary school with a desk full of loves notes asking him if he wanted to be someone's boyfriend. It was the perks he had for being over six-feet tall with an athletic, muscular build that even Dwayne Johnson would be proud of.

  But either she wasn't taking the bait easily, or she just simply didn't want him. Noah wanted to find the answer because if it was the former, he would continue to pursue, but if it was the latter, he would respect her wishes. Harassing girls had never been his thing and never would be.

  "Yes, a number," Noah said. "Maybe even a name would be nice."

  She tossed him an unimpressed look.

  “Hey Walker, you’re taking us to the finals this year, right?” A guy walking past him asked.

  "Yeah, you know it," Noah said, bumping the guy's fist in passing as he continued to watch the girl in front of him who had captured his interest. When she stopped in front of Room 316, the same room his class would be taking place in, Noah grinned. That was good. She didn't like him now, but if they spent time together, he could get her to like him. Though he was used to girls throwing themselves at him, he didn't mind the chase at all. This would be fun.

  The girl grabbed the door handle, ready to step inside before she paused and looked back at him curiously, leaving Noah left to wonder what he had done to capture her interest. Whatever it was, he was glad it happened. Maybe she was surprised that they were both taking the same course too.

  “I’ve never seen you in this class before,” she said.

  “Yeah, you probably haven’t since this is my first time coming.”

  “First time,” she said, her cute nose wrinkling with confusion. “Did you suddenly pick up this course?”

  “Nah, I’ve been enrolled in this class since the beginning,” he said, and further explained himself when he realized she wanted an explanation. “You know how this class was originally supposed to be taught by Dobbleman, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, everyone told me this course would be easy, and that I wouldn’t have to attend to pass it. The guy didn’t even take attendance. He was just passing out As f
or free. But since I didn’t come that first week, I didn’t know he had passed and that someone else took over the course. Some professor name Ryan—”

  “Bryant,” the girl corrected, and Noah nodded, suddenly remembering the name he saw on his schedule.

  “Yeah, that’s the name. My friend Dale told me about how hard she is, and that she definitely wasn’t Dobbleman, and that if I didn’t come, I would fail. It sucks too because I picked this class because I thought it was going to be easy and take some of the pressure off on my course load, but now we’re being saddled with some hard-ass who is probably making this class more harder than it has to be. I hate those types of professors.”

  “A hard-ass, huh?” she repeated with a smile. He guessed this professor had already been rubbing people the wrong way if she agreed with him. It made sense. From the way Dale had spoken about her, she sounded like a nightmare, and with the drop period over, he wouldn't be able to drop the course like he wanted to.

  “Yeah, you know, like one of those professors who take their job too seriously.” Noah sighed, just thinking about how annoying this course was going to be from what Dale had told him. "I thought I lucked out, and I was going to have an easy course to pass without me even being here. But, some things just don't work out. When I see Professor Bryant, I'm just going to have to lay on the charm, so she can give me a pass on the weeks I missed."

  He already had the whole spiel planned out about working two jobs and playing hockey. Hopefully, she was a fan of hockey, and she would give him make-up work instead of Fs.

  “The charm, huh? I’m not sure if that’s going to work,” the girl said with a knowing smile.