AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He leaned forward. “Because it’s fun.”
I shook my head, my skin tingling. The other students disappeared down the sidewalk. His eyes moved over my face while the green and black scarf around his neck fluttered in the wind. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
His eyebrows went up. “Drove in around noon, with my little trailer. Dropped it off at the cabin then realized I might be able to catch you leaving class, if I hustled.”
“You’ve moved here?” I shivered a little.
He took off his scarf and wrapped it around me as the campus bell started ringing. I put my nose into the woodsy cedar scent that clung to it.
“I missed you,” he said, holding on to the ends of the scarf.
My breath caught and I blinked hard. Then I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around his back and buriedmy face against his chest. His arms enveloped me and he gasped, holding me tight.
“You’re really here?”
He kissed me, his mouth firm and real against mine. “I am. Will you have dinner with me?”
I cocked my head, lowering my lashes. “What makes you think I don’t have any plans?”
He tucked a hunk of my hair behind an ear. “A man can hope.”
With a sigh, I slid my hands into his back pockets. “Fine. I’ll take you home with me tonight and we’ll see how it goes.”
He shivered and kissed me again. My knees were loose and weak, my back about as rigid as a boiled piece of pasta. When his mouth left mine, I rubbed my cheek against his short beard. His arms lifted me off the ground, pinning me against his chest.
“Did you miss me?” he asked.
I leaned my forehead against his. “Yes. Painfully.”
“But not enough to call?”
“That’s not it. I was a little angry, at first.” I ran my fingers through his dark tousled hair, grown out enough to start to curl. “But then I realized I don’t deserve you. I broke down a few minutes ago and texted.”
He let my body slide down his then hugged me in tight. “I was hoping you’d miss me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Still want to punish me?”
His eyes crinkled up. “No.” His thumb smoothed over my bottom lip. “Lure you closer.”
“You know what, you’re a lot more devious than I ever gave you credit for. What if you’d come all the way out here and I’d been out with someone else?”
He shrugged, his eyes merry. “I made my play. And here I am with your hands on my ass. I still have access to thesecurity feed of your yard—I may have been checking up on you whenever I felt lonely.”
My eyes widened. “You’ve been watching me through the security cameras?” I wasn’t sure if that was creepy or romantic.
“You and Charley on your walks. Your routine runs like clockwork. I like knowing you’re safe. I’ve been too busy to check on you more than once or twice a day.”
I huffed. “Those damn cameras. Well, come on home with me so I can teach you a lesson.”
We walked to where he’d parked his truck, holding hands. I was lightheaded and flooded with warmth. His long straight nose, the dark slash of his eyebrows, the firm chin a little pointed from his goatee. When he glanced at me, a dimple peeked out on one of his cheeks.
“You’re not driving onto campus?” he asked, as we buckled in and he started up his truck.
“I’m not. Paying for rides has been working out. I turned my rental in when I hired the security company. I’ll probably lease something soon.”
He nodded. “There’s a lot to see up here in the Northwest. I’m ready to explore.”
I studied him. “Was it hard to leave Austin?”
