Page 60 of Safe Place

My head snaps toward him. “What? Are you insane? No, Micah.” I gape at him, completely thrown. “And I don’t care how much money your family has. That’s not happening.”

His mouth curves into a laugh. I love how his eyes crinkle just slightly. “Okay, that’s what I thought.”

I blink at him, still confused. “Then why would you even ask?”

Instead of answering, he types something and swivels the laptop toward me. “Because I want you to apply for this.”

On the screen is a website for something called the Evergreen Initiative.

“What is this?”

“A scholarship,” he says, watching my reaction like it matters to him more than anything. “I’ve been looking into a few for you, and this one seems perfect. They’ve helped a lot of people get through law school, med school, grad programs. And it’s need-based, so you’d qualify.”

I shake my head slowly, still staring at the page. “Micah…”

“And,” he adds with that disarming smirk that always makes my chest tighten, “If you quit one of your three jobs, I get to see you more. Win-win.”

I roll my eyes, though I can’t fight the warmth creeping into my cheeks. “It sounds too good to be true. There’s no way I’d get it.”

He shrugs, like it’s the simplest thing in the world. “Worth a try, isn’t it?” His voice is softer now, and when I glance up, his gray eyes are fixed on me, steady and unflinching.

Something about the way he’s looking at me makes my heart stumble, and I have to break the moment by focusing back on the screen. “Fine,” I mutter. “But if this blows up in my face, I’m blaming you.”

He grins. “Deal.”

Later, we’re sitting shoulder to shoulder, filling out the application together. Micah is leaning so close that every time he moves, his arm brushes mine, sending little sparks up my skin.

He’s helping me with the essay now, and I’m watching him more than the words. He thinks out loud as he types, his brow furrowed in concentration, and I realize just how sharp he is.

“I’d have spent days rewriting this to sound perfect,” I admit, biting my lip as I read what he’s written. “But this is better than anything I could’ve done.”

He glances at me, one corner of his mouth lifting. “Told you I’m a genius. It’d be great if you would believe me for once.”

I give him a look, trying not to smile. “You really don’t do modesty, do you?”

“Not when I’m right.”

“And…submit.” I click the button and exhale, leaning back. “Done,” I say, trying to sound casual, but my chest is tight with adrenaline.

Micah grins and pulls me into a hug, his arm strong and warm around me. My heart stumbles, and I sink into him without thinking. God, I want to kiss him again. I want to feel his mouth on mine, to pick up where we left off on his sofa that night—only slower, deeper, more.

But before I can say anything, his breath brushes my ear. “Sophie,” he says, voice low and rough, like he’s been holding this in all night, “Just so we’re clear—I want to kiss you so badly right now.”

Is he reading my mind?

I glance up at him, my pulse racing, but he doesn’t stop there. His gray eyes deepen, and his mouth curves into something that’s almost a smirk, almost a warning.

“But if I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop. Not with you looking at me like that. And I don’t want our first time to be rushed—or to have those idiots in the living room as an audience.” He tilts his head toward the door, voice dropping even lower. “When I finally get you to myself, I’m going to spread you out on my bed—no interruptions, no holding back. But unfortunately, for now, I need to be a gentleman.”

My breath catches. Words completely fail me, so I just nod, my face hot, my whole body thrumming with anticipation.

“Come on, let’s go,” he says, as he holds my hand and leads me out the door.

MICAH

“Well that took fucking forever,” Grant yells from the sofa. “And what the hell, Micah. I thought nobody was allowed in your sanctuary. I can’t believe this.”

I flip him off again with one hand, the other still holding onto Sophie’s hand.