Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I spread my arms and do a full circle. “Just wanna be perfect for any fans I might see.”
“Uh-huh.” Her gaze slides over me like silk, lingering on the hint of abs.
Mission accomplished. “Were you watching me, city girl?”
Now it’s her turn to blush. “The extra effort was worth it. That one inch you lowered your pants makes all the difference.” Her gaze drops and she clears her throat. “We better find a table and get started.”
I walk toward her, taking her in, the black heels, tight jeans, and a black sweater that fits tight across her tits. Damn, no one wears heels better than her. I’m not saying I have a shoe fetish, but I have a shoe something when it comes to her. Her lips are a deep red tonight, her lashes thick and fluttery, and her dark hair flows down the center of her back. I hide my grin. Whatever she says, she took some care before she met me.
We walk next to each other up the staircase to the upper level where the study carrels and tables are. I tower over her, her head just below the top of my shoulder. She’s small next to me, and it brings out all my protective instincts. My hand brushes against hers, and she moves it away, curling it up to tuck her textbooks against her chest.
She picks out a large table near the back. I whip off my backpack and set it on the surface as she takes the seat across from me.
“You think we’ll be able to hear each other? You know, since you’re a mile away from me?” I point at the chair next to me. “Wouldn’t this seat work better?”
A shrug comes from her. “This one’s just fine.”
I mutter under my breath.
“What did you say?”
I look up, grin, and cup my mouth. “I said, SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT TWO TIN CANS AND A PIECE OF STRING!”
Everyone around us stares, giving us dirty looks.
“Now look what you’ve done,” she hisses. “Next thing you know, the librarian will be up our asses.”
“Dead Zone’s always free. It’s dark up there and no one’s around. Remember?”
She throws a pen at me and I dodge it, laughing.
“Blaze Townsend, you better shut your mouth, get those notes out, and start studying. Focus.”
Damn. “I like you bossy, as long as you know I’m really in charge.”
“Weren’t you always?” she grumbles.
I curve my hand around my ear. “What was that? Did you say I was always in charge?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, you’re the alpha male. Everyone knows it. Girls beg to be with you, and men adore you.”
“You trying to hurt my feelings? It won’t work,” I say with a grin. “Know why? Cause this place has memories—good ones. I had you begging for it, right upstairs.” I’m teasing, of course, but her face stills, and I backtrack and clear my throat. “Hey, I didn’t mean to say it like that. I don’t want to make you feel weird—”
She blinks, as if clearing her mind. “Fine. We had sex here and it was awesome. Whatever. Friends, right? We can joke around.”
I lean back. “Awesome? Good to know. Of course, I thought it was—”
She holds her hand up and smirks. “You want to pass your classes, right?”
That knot of worry settles in my chest again, and I sigh. “Yeah.”
I tap my pen against my notebooks and stare down at the notes. Regardless of what happens with the NFL, I want my degree more than just to get by and have a fallback. I want it because no one in my family has ever had one.
“Tell you what—I can hunker down for a good stretch if I know I get a prize at the end.”
Her brow arches and my hands twitch, wondering what it would feel like to have her face close to mine, to trace the lines of her features—
“A prize? What are you, a toddler?”
“Just my personality.” I dart my eyes around the room, thinking. “How about once I get my notes copied, you come sit next to me? No funny stuff.” I lean in over the table. “Truth is, it’s cold over here, and I could use the warmth.” I’m on a total roll, and I can’t stop the stupid shit from coming out of my mouth. But, it’s like she’s here, and I…
“Fine, but…”
My lips part. I can’t believe she agreed. “Yes?”
“You have to walk me to my car after we’re done. It’s late already and it creeps me out.”
My eyes widen. “Of course. You don’t even have to ask. I’d have done that anyway. Isn’t there something else you’d rather me do? Rub your shoulders, maybe? You know, to work out the tension from all that studying?”
“Nope.” She pops the P and looks back at her notes.
An hour in and I’m done rewriting notes and reading. My mind is jumping, and I know why. She’s just a few feet away from me, and I’m in Charisma overload. I went three months without a glimpse, and now I can’t stop staring at her. She’s got a little pucker on her lips, and she keeps bouncing her legs under the table like she’s jittery. She’s never jittery. She’s cool and controlled, the exact opposite of me.