Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I glance across the room only to find the guy we’re discussing attempting to put the moves on a girl. She’s pretty, but not someone I recognize.
I jerk my chin toward Garret as he steps closer, crowding her personal space. “Looks like Akeman is trying to get laid tonight. Twenty bucks says he gets kneed for his efforts.”
“Who the fuck would be stupid enough to take that bet?” Hayes shoots back.
I shrug. “Hey, I was just hoping to make an easy twenty.”
Hayes snorts as Maverick narrows his eyes.
I glance at the girl in question. “Do you know her?”
Mav flicks his gaze at me before it zeroes in on the girl again. “Yeah. She’s in one of my classes.”
Sensing a tender spot, I shift as a smile slides across my face. “Great. Then you wouldn’t mind introducing us? She’s exactly my type.”
Can’t say that the muscle ticking a mad rhythm in the younger player’s jaw isn’t satisfying. “Fuck off, Hamilton. Go find your stepsister.” He smacks his forehead. “Oh, that’s right. She brought another dude with her tonight. Ouch. That’s gotta sting.”
The smile falls clean off my face.
Motherfucker.
Before I can say anything else, Mav cuts a path straight to Akeman and the girl he’s intent on bagging.
“Looks like you just got your ass handed to you,” Hayes says with a laugh.
I give him the finger.
Although, he’s not wrong. I must be seriously off my game if I allowed Maverick McKinnon to get the best of me.
My gaze reluctantly slides to Carina and our eyes collide. Awareness sizzles through every fiber of my being.
Yup…definitely off my game.
And it has everything to do with the hot blonde.
The one who burrowed deep under my skin years ago.
Chapter Three
Carina
I slide into my seat for my nine o’clock class near the center of the room and unzip my backpack before pulling out my computer. A romance novel falls out and I quickly stuff it back inside. Just as I’m firing it up, a guy settles next to me. I glance over and find Cameron Lee.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. We’ve had a couple of classes together throughout the years and I’ve always enjoyed them. Our professor will be partnering people up today for a project, so I’m glad he decided to sit next to me. The guy is hilarious, and I could use a little levity.
“Hey, Carina. How’s it going?”
I swivel on my chair and scan his face before snorting. He looks like he’s been put through the wringer. “Better than it is for you, apparently.”
A slow grin spreads across his lips. “Yeah, I might have knocked back one too many last night.”
I jerk a brow. “On a Tuesday? That’s pretty hardcore. Even for you.”
Just as he’s about to respond, a deep voice cuts him off. “Up, Lee.”
Cameron flicks an annoyed glance at Ford. “Seriously, dude?”
“Yup. Move it or lose it.”
Cameron drags a hand through his messy hair before scooping up his books and vacating the area. “Catch you later, Carina.”
“Yeah.” I glare at Ford as he drops down onto the newly vacated chair. “What’s your issue?”
“No issue,” he says easily, as if he didn’t just chase another guy off. One side of his mouth hitches.
Grrr.
Before I can tell him to get lost, Dr. Betsworth clears her throat and smiles from the podium at the front of the room. Her gaze skims the small lecture hall before landing on Ford.
When her face brightens, I roll my eyes. I don’t care if she sees me do it. This is exactly the effect Ford has on the fairer sex. Even the professors who should be above this kind of ridiculous behavior. I remember several teachers at our old high school making googly eyes at him. Or sidling up to him in the hallway and laying a hand on his bicep.
Trust me, it was vomit-inducing.
And Dr. Bets is just as bad. Maybe even a little more brazen with her attention. She can be downright flirty in front of the entire class. It’s like she doesn’t give a damn how unprofessional she appears.
From the corner of my eye, I watch Ford, wanting to see his reaction. I need to reconfirm that he’s nothing more than an attention-seeking manwhore who eats this shit up like sugary cereal in the morning. He’ll probably flash her a high-wattage smile and use it to his advantage. He’s in it for the high mark she’ll reward him with.
Instead of doing the expected, he gives her a polite smile in return.
Hmmm.
Interesting.
When she realizes he isn’t going to flirt back, she says in a chipper voice, “Good morning! At the end of last week, we discussed the new project we’ll be delving into. Today, I’ll assign partners and you’ll have the remainder of class to discuss the rubric and generate ideas.”
Before the last word leaves her lips, Ford wraps his larger hand around mine and jerks them both into the air.