Chapter 1

“Everett, there’s a used ethics book over here,” Adam said, waving the book at his friend. They had finally managed to wander into the campus bookstore to pick out their books for the new semester.

Jay snorted and slapped the book out of Adam’s hands, knocking it back onto the pile of used books stacked against the wall. “Leave the used crap for the broke and destitute.”

“And those without a sense of smell,” Everett added, pointing at the stack closest to him with his expensive Park Avenue shoe. A few of the books looked almost new, but he wasn’t about to waste time digging through the piles to find out. He’d rather pay more and be assured there weren’t any missing pages or unidentified stains.

The intercom system clicked on with a loud screech, followed by an elderly sounding voice announcing the bookstore would be closing soon. Earlier in the day, this place had probably been packed enough to have a line of people streaming into the adjoining library. At this late hour, though, Everett doubted if anyone besides him and his friends were in here.

“I just don’t see the point in spending seventy-five on a new book I’ll barely open when I can spend thirty on a copy with highlighting,” Adam said, finally moving away from the stacks of used books and toward the checkout area. One of the many things Everett didn’t understand about Adam was his need to be a cheapskate all of the damn time. He’d rarely ever seen the guy pay full-price for anything, and when he did, he complained about it for hours. It wasn’t like any of them were hurting for money—they were all in college on their parents’ dime and would be joining family businesses after graduation.

Jay grabbed one of the used books Adam had in his arms and flipped it open to a highlighted section. “How do you know the person who marked these passages actually knew what they were doing?”

“Yeah, if you want the real deal, grab a new book and hire a bookworm to do your highlighting,” Brad suggested. “That’s what Everett does.”

“I don’t know,” Adam said, stopping and looking behind him. “Maybe I should.”

“I’m getting the hell out of here. You assholes can go back for more books if you want, but I’m checking out and leaving,” Everett replied, setting his books down on the edge of the counter. He wasn’t about to keep holding them and it was so late in the day that only one register was open. He’d already had to pick the damn things up and set them down numerous times while waiting for his knuckleheaded friends to hurry their asses up and pick out their books. As usual, they were more interested in giving each other shit than hurrying, like with him and the highlighting thing. He was a man who was well aware of his academic strengths and weaknesses and note taking was not something he’d ever mastered. His biggest strength was his ability to remember everything he read, so he found the smartest person in each class and paid them for a copy of their notes. To him, that was a sound business decision.

Jay said something behind him, but Everett didn’t catch it. His attention belonged to the woman behind the counter. She had on a loose pale yellow cotton dress that set off her perfectly golden skin; none of that fake tan shit most women sported these days. The dress stopped just under her knees, calling attention to her toned calves, and the dingy white sandals on her feet. She had blond hair that caught the light and shimmered a little, and it sat in loose curls, framing her face and covering her shoulders completely. Everett thought she looked like a model wearing frumpy old clothes as a disguise and nearly laughed.

She lifted her head completely as she handed a bag to the plump girl she’d been checking out, revealing the palest blue eyes he’d ever seen. He wondered if it was the black eyeglass frames making them seem so light and decided he had to get close enough to find out.

She smiled at the girl in front of him and her shimmering pink lips caught his attention, immediately filling his head with a number of ways to enjoy those lips. He was so busy with his fantasies that he didn’t notice the plump girl had left until he heard a throat being cleared.

“Are you done staring? Or do you need a few more minutes?” the woman asked. Her crossed arms and glaring eyes would have deterred other men, but Everett had always enjoyed a challenge.

“Actually, I’d like to see the total package,” he replied, using his most seductive smile and tone.

He might have had a shot at affecting her if she would’ve looked up from his books as she slid them closer to her, but she didn’t. “About as much as you actually passing all of the classes you’re taking.”

“Strike one,” Jay announced loudly. Everett wished he was close enough to kick, but Adam was in the damn way.

“When was the last time Everett had a strike?” Brad asked.

“Pre-puberty,” Adam chuckled.

“Two hundred, sixty dollars, and twelve cents,” the woman demanded, seeming as though she hadn’t heard anything.

Everett held out his credit card, but as soon as the woman reached for it, he pulled it away. “A number.”

“No.”

“How about a name?”

Her fluttering lashes and rising chest let him know she was frustrated, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—a reaction was a reaction. “How about you give me the card so these nice people behind you can get checked out?”

Everett leaned across the counter, wanting to give the impression he was confiding in her. “These aren’t people, just my friends. This skinny one here is Adam and he’s not really all that nice. And Jay back there is a complete douche. And Brad … Let’s just say I’m an angel compared to him.”

She didn’t exactly smile, but she wasn’t frowning anymore either. “The card?” she questioned, holding her hand out for it.

“A name. Just a name.”

Finally, her lips pulled up into a smile and he knew he’d won. “Savannah.”

He kept his word and handed over the card, making sure to keep eye contact and return her smile. Any second now, she would feel like he was “really seeing her” and he’d be able to get her to agree to anything. It was a move he’d been successfully using since high school. “Hello, Savannah. I’m Everett.”

She took his card and turned away without another glance, completely shocking him. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had disregarded him like this and it just made him more determined to get her number.

“That is definitely strike two,” Adam laughed.

“Shut the fuck up,” Everett hissed under his breath. If his douche bag friends screwed this up for him, he would kick all three of their asses. He looked up to see Savannah had put the slip and card on the counter and was busying herself with putting his books into a bag.

“So about that number?” he asked as he signed the receipt.

“Sorry, but I don’t give my number to strangers,” she said, pushing his bag toward him. She took his slip, put it in the register, and closed the drawer. She seemed to think she was done with him, but she was so far from it.

Everett shook his head as if disappointed in her. “I was hoping not to have to resort to this, but you’ve forced my hand. Savannah, I need that number or I can’t move from this spot and my friends here are going to have a very long night standing and holding their books.”

“Are you trying to get me fired?” she hissed. Her eyes were set in such a deep glare that her lashes were almost touching.

He chuckled at her attempt to be intimidating. “I’m just trying to take you out on a date. You’re the one being difficult.”

“I thought you just wanted my number.”

“That was before you made me work so hard for the information.”

“Is everything alright, Savannah?” an older gentleman asked, sounding concerned as he came up behind her. His eyes landed on the young man speaking with his cashier and his concern turned into delight. “Everett Deveraux! I was wondering when you would stop into the bookstore,” he said, holding his hand out to him.

“It’s good to see you, Mr. Kenner,” Everett replied, giving Savannah a wink as he shook the man’s hand. “How’s Mrs. Kenner doing?”

“Great. Just great,” he beamed. “And your parents?”

“The usual,” Everett shrugged. “Was it a busy week for you?” he asked. He didn’t really give a shit about the bookstore, especially since he knew his father’s library donations would keep this place up and running even if no one stepped foot in here.

“Terribly so. I’m just glad the first week is over,” Mr. Kenner said. Everett snorted at the way the old man looked around the store, searching for phantom customers. “Well, it seems you four boys are the last customers for the night. I’ll just let Savannah finishing checking you out and then we can close shop for the night.” He shook Everett’s hand again, gave Savannah a pat to the shoulder and then disappeared as quickly as he’d come.

“Will you move so that I can check out your friends?” Savannah asked, glancing at the three standing behind Everett.

“After you agree to dinner.”

“No, I can’t,” she said, her head shaking enough to bounce one large curl off her arm and over her collarbone.

“Then I can’t move.”

“I don’t even know you,” she argued, stepping back and crossing her arms.

“All the more reason for dinner,” he countered. Her eyes kept shifting from him to his friends and he was certain she was close to giving up if for no other reason than to get him out of her line. “Just a dinner,” he said. “You can even pay for yourself if that’s your kind of thing.”

Her shoulders lowered and her arms uncrossed, a clear sign of defeat for her and victory for him. “I can’t have dinner with you. Would you settle for coffee in the commons in half an hour?”

His lips pulled up into a satisfied smirk and he finally lifted his bag from the counter. “See you then, Savannah.”

She blushed and quickly turned her head from him, greeting Adam and taking his books from him as if the past few minutes hadn’t even occurred. Everett admired her poise under pressure—and the way her dress clung to her ass as he waited for his friends to check out so they could leave.

“I can’t believe you actually hung in there and got her to agree to meet you,” Adam said as they moved towards the exit.

“I don’t get why you want to see her at all,” Brad piped up. “Did you see what the hell she was wearing? That dress is straight off the clearance rack at the thrift store.”

“Maybe it’s the rack under the dress,” Jay chuckled.

“No, it’s the glasses,” Adam smirked, bumping Everett’s arm. “That whole naughty teacher fantasy.”

“Talk a little louder, assholes,” Everett said as the door closed behind them.

“Like you care what the hell anyone thinks,” Brad argued.

“I don’t,” Everett agreed. “But if she doesn’t show because of your asinine comments, you three will be on the shit list for a long time.”

“Seriously, man. Why her?” Jay asked.

Everett turned his head, looking back at the store even though he knew he wouldn’t be able to see her. “She’s a challenge.”

The four friends returned to the commons and even managed to get the same table they’d had earlier. They’d spent nearly the whole day there playing pool and cards, having decided they wouldn’t miss anything on the first Friday of a new semester.

“One last game of pool for the day?” Adam suggested, jerking a thumb toward the game room.

“Not enough time,” Everett replied, adjusting the Rolex on his wrist. The white gold watch with black ceramic bezel and black face was a high school graduation gift from his Uncle Calvin. His uncle was one of the few people he could really count on and as soon as he graduated college he would be working side-by-side with him. He couldn’t wait to get started with real work and leave all this classroom shit behind.

“Do you even have enough time for coffee with this girl?” Jay questioned. “I thought you had a date with Alexis tonight.”

“This girl’s not even going to show. She just said she would to make Everett leave the store,” Brad said.

“First of all, the girl will show,” Everett replied, sounding and looking as confident as he felt. “And secondly, what I have planned with Alexis is about as far from a date as you can get.”

Adam shook his head a little, staring at Everett with a mixture of reverence and jealousy. “How the hell do you keep all these girls straight?”

“With rules,” Everett said, setting his arms on the table. “There are five of them and they’re very simple and easy to remember. The first rule is that I don’t belong to anyone. I am not a boyfriend. I am not boyfriend material. I cannot be changed through patience and compassion. I am a man in it for sex and that shit does not change. If rule number one cannot be followed, then we go our separate ways.”

“You actually say that to these women?” Jay asked, disbelief written all over his face.

“I say it and I mean it,” Everett assured him. “See, what you guys don’t get is that there are women out there who like sex as much as we do. They enjoy it and don’t need the trappings of a relationship wrapped around it. These are the women I take under my wing. I show them how to embrace their sexuality, teach them how to satisfy a man, and help them learn what their bodies need to reach maximum pleasure.”

“And give costume advice,” Brad snorted.

Everett smiled and leaned back in his chair, hooking his arms behind his head. “You mock me because you envy me. You don’t have the ability to say this shit to women and completely mean it, and they see that right away.”

“Fucking Yoda of sex,” Jay sighed, shaking his head.

Everett started laughing at his friend’s comment but was interrupted by Adam hitting him in the leg and nodding his head to the left. He turned his eyes that way and found Savannah standing at the edge of the seating area, looking uncomfortable in her surroundings. She had her bag clenched in her hands and seemed to be trying to look everywhere at once.

“Told you bastards she would show,” he said as he got up from the table.

“Wait, I want to know the other rules,” Adam said.

“Yeah, just invite her over and she can listen with the rest of us,” Brad suggested.

“You’re fucking delusional if you think I’m that stupid,” Everett replied. “You never mention the rules on the first day. You have to build up trust first.”

“You can trust us, Everett. Bring her over,” Jay said, laughing too much for anyone to believe him.

Everett ignored Jay, along with Adam and Brad’s promises to behave, and made his way over to Savannah. “I’m glad you came.”

She shrugged as they sat down at a small table in the corner. “It’s not as if I had a choice. From your earlier display, it’s a safe bet that you would have shown up at the bookstore again and I need that job.”

“Kenner’s not going to fire you. Not if he knows you’re a friend of mine.”

She leaned back in her chair, adjusting her glasses and then folding her arms in front of her. Her body language was clearly letting him know she was uncomfortable and on guard around him. “I’m not a friend. I’m just someone you happened to have harassed while purchasing your school books.”

He framed his face into the appropriate look of innocence and apology. “Is that really what you think? That I harassed you?”

The look had its desired effect and Savannah relaxed, her arms uncrossing and her body unconsciously moving toward him. Everett noticed every change in her posture and had to keep from smirking at how easy it was to play with her.

“Well, what would you call your behavior?” she asked.

He shrugged and gave a friendly smile. “Flirting.”

Savannah snorted and looked away, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of her bag. She turned her head back, but didn’t quite lift her eyes to his—already he could tell that was a nervous habit of hers. “So can we get some coffee now?”

“Sure,” he chuckled, standing and then offering her his hand.

She waved him off and got up on her own, heading toward the concession area and not bothering to see if he was following. He chuckled, pleased to see that bold side of her again.

“So, Savannah. What are you studying?” he asked, making sure to brush his arm against hers. Flirting was as much in the small touches as it was in the smooth words and he believed he was a master at it.

She didn’t pull her arm away, but she also didn’t look toward him. Either she was purposefully ignoring him, or she believed it had been an innocent touch. From what he’d seen of her so far, he was pretty sure it was the latter.

“Accounting with a minor in business administration,” she answered, handing him an empty Styrofoam cup.

“Accounting? That sounds … Well, actually that sounds boring as all hell,” Everett chuckled. But as he looked at the woman standing next to him, he started to see some definite possibilities. “Although, picturing you with your hair twisted up in a bun, a pencil sticking out of it, and your body clothed in a button down shirt and pencil skirt is a very tantalizing little image. I’d spend hours going over numbers with you any day.”

Savannah shook her head, probably trying to pretend she didn’t care what he said, but the red blooming in her cheeks told a different story. “What about you?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“Oh, no. If you want information about me, then you have to agree to a date. A real one that doesn’t take place on the college campus.”

“Eighty-three cents,” the redhead behind the counter said to Savannah. Everett had seen the woman checking him out, but he’d purposefully ignored her. He’d also seen the way she’d sneered at Savannah and he hated that petty, jealous bullshit.

Savannah reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of change, sorting the coins on her palm and getting an annoyed huff from the cashier. Savannah’s cheeks turned a darker shade of red and Everett found himself feeling pissed someone had made her feel embarrassed like that. He’d never had patience for people being shitty for no damn reason; it was on the many reasons why he couldn’t stand his older brother, Christian. He was always treating people like shit just because he could.

Everett pulled a twenty out of his pocket and handed it to the tart behind the register. “For both of the coffees. And keep the change. Maybe you can buy some fucking customer service skills with it.”

“No, I’ve got the money,” Savannah argued.

“Keep it,” he replied, folding her hand over the coins. “You can pay next time.” He grabbed both cups of coffee and started walking away, confident she would follow.

And he was right—she walked right up behind him and started berating him for paying for her coffee. “I had the money on my own. I didn’t need you to pay for it. Heck, you overpaid for it. And what was that all about? Why were you so rude?”

Everett chuckled as he set the coffees down and waited for Savannah to take her seat again. “You think I was rude? I’m not the one who did that fucking huffing shit to you.”

“I was taking too long.”

“No, she was being a bitch.”

“Even if she was doing … well, that, you still shouldn’t have been rude. She could have just been having a really awful day and didn’t mean it. Or maybe she really is that rude. But that doesn’t mean you should lower yourself to her level. Treat her with respect even if she doesn’t seem like she deserves it.”

“Why the fuck would I do that shit?”

Savannah winced and looked all around them, seeming to Everett like she was waiting for someone to scold them, her cheeks once again flaming red. “Could you possibly find some other adjectives to use?”

“Seriously? You’re embarrassed over curse words?” he asked, not able to completely stop from laughing.

“Not embarrassed exactly,” she said, sitting up a little straighter. He could tell she wasn’t being completely honest from the way her eyes never looked right at him.

“I think you’re lying.”

She smiled at being caught. “Okay, maybe a little embarrassed, but mostly not used to hearing it.”

“Then I am truly sorry for offending you. I’d hate to think those little ears of yours were bothered.”

“Right,” she snorted.

“What? You don’t believe me?” he asked, doing his best to sound offended.

“No, I don’t. I think you’re trying to be charming and failing miserably.”

“Ouch,” he chuckled. He grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart, causing her to give out a little squeak. “Feel that? You broke my heart, Savannah.”

Her eyes moved from the hand he was holding to his face, meeting his gaze fully for the first time. “I doubt that.”

“Why?”

She shrugged and took her hand back, wrapping it around her coffee cup. “You don’t seem the type to really use your heart. Well, not unless saying you do will impress a woman.”

Everett stared at her for a long time, trying to figure out if she was only guessing or if she actually knew him. She did look familiar, but he couldn’t place her at all. Jay was always giving him shit about girls from his past coming back to haunt him, but he’d always just blown that shit off. Now, though …

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” she said, interrupting his attempt to place her. The funny thing was she really did look sorry to him. She hadn’t said anything that wasn’t the truth, but the idea of hurting his feelings bothered her. She wasn’t anything like he’d expected; she was equal parts bold and shy, with a mix of innocence. Not in the biblical since because there was no way a woman as beautiful as Savannah was completely innocent, but definitely in her personality. She had assumed his silence meant his feelings were hurt, so she’d apologized.

As he continued to look at her, he once again had the feeling that they’d met before. He decided to just go ahead and ask about it. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

Savannah’s eyes widened for just a second and then she was laughing. It was a real laugh, one where it was easy for Everett to see she didn’t care who heard her. She even clapped her hands as she rocked in the chair, her curls bouncing all around her.

He waited for her to calm some before trying to speak. “At least I amuse you.”

“Very much,” she giggled, lifting her glasses and wiping away a few tears her laughter had created. “I guess those rumors about you having a superb memory were exaggerated.”

“So we do know each other?”

“No, I wouldn’t say we know each other. But we did go to the same high school.”

“Bullshit,” he said, shaking his head. “I would remember you if we’d gone to school together.”

He watched her lips pull up into a smirk and rolled his eyes at how much she was enjoying knowing something he didn’t. “Maybe this will jog your memory,” she chuckled. “During your senior year of high school, your parents threw a party to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Deveraux Scholarship fund, inviting both high school and college recipients to attend with their families.”

Everett thought back to that occasion, trying to remember every detail of it. He remembered hating that he was forced to attend. He recalled his mother hanging from his arm and forcing him to walk the room with her to greet the guests. And then he remembered dancing with a very quiet and pretty girl, the daughter of his father’s friend.

“That was you?” he asked, wanting to be certain.

She nodded her head, her bottom lip wedged firmly between her teeth.

“You wouldn’t give me your number that night either,” he chuckled.

She just shrugged, finally letting go of her lip to smile a little.

“You’re father was the guy who owned the real estate firm, right?” he asked.

“No,” she replied, her smile faltering again. “I was a scholarship receiver. Actually, I still am.”

He didn’t really know what to say to that, so he didn’t say anything at all. He noticed her staring at her watch, a piece that was both cheap and old—and that was when it finally clicked … She was poor.

“Don’t look so stricken,” she said, refocusing his attention to her face. “It’s not as though I just told you I have something terminal like cancer.”

“Sorry, I ...” But he didn’t really know what he was. The coins, the old watch, the dirty shoes … they all took on a new meaning.

“I realize I may be misreading things, since I’m notoriously bad at this sort of thing, but if you’re worried I’m here for a shot at your money, you can stop right now. I came here because you practically forced me to. And I pay my own way. As soon as I get my first paycheck from the bookstore, you’ll get your twenty dollars back.”

“I wasn’t thinking that, and I don’t want the money back.” The first part wasn’t totally true but the second was meant completely. He did wonder why she’d come after seeming so against it in the bookstore. Then again, he had gotten her to agree and she certainly gave the impression she honored her obligations with the way she kept insisting on repaying him the damn twenty bucks.

Once again, her voice interrupted his train of thought. “Well, I didn’t want you to pay for my coffee.”

He couldn’t help but smile at her stubbornness which just made her eyes narrow into slits, letting him know she was not amused. “Look, Savy—”

“Savannah,” she corrected. “We don’t know each other well enough for nicknames.”

“Fine. Savannah, the coffee is a gift with no strings of any kind attached.”

“You really don’t have to do that.”

“I know. I want to do it. Unless you have some weird ass reason you don’t accept gifts. And I still don’t understand the being nice to someone who’s rude to you thing.”

“It’s called being the bigger person,” she said. He had just enough time to catch her smile before she hid it behind the rim of her coffee cup. “And I do accept some gifts, so thank you for the coffee.”

“If you’re this thankful for coffee, what are you going to be like after dinner?”

She shook her head, quickly swallowing and setting her cup onto the table. “I never said I would go to dinner with you. I don’t even know you.”

“Would you like that to change?” he asked, paying close attention to her facial expression and body language. He wanted to make sure she gave an honest answer.

She didn’t answer him; she dropped her eyes from his, staring down at the finger tracing the rim of her cup.

After letting pass what he considered to be a fair amount of time, he prodded her for an answer. “Savannah, would you like to go on a real date with me?”

She only shrugged her shoulders.

“Look, I’m sorry I upset you by getting the coffee for you. Let me make it up to you. Let me take you to dinner.”

She laughed a little and lifted her head just enough for him to see her eyes shining behind her glasses. “You want to make up for spending money on me by spending more money on me. How does that actually make sense to you?”

“It just does,” he said, returning her smile. “So how about it? Dinner and a movie? It’s a classic that rarely goes wrong.”

“Possibly,” she said, staring at her decrepit watch again. “Right now, I have to go. I have a lab starting soon.” She stood and he did the same, taking her bag before she could.

“I thought I’d walk you,” he said, putting her bag on his shoulder.

She looked like she was going to argue for a second, but then started walking toward the doors. “Why are you so interested in me?”

“Because I find you interesting,” he joked, winking at her.

“Yes, bookstore cashiers are the epitome of interesting,” she chuckled. “If you’re going to lie, or flirt, or whatever guys like you call it, then at least make it believable.”

“Guys like me? I’m starting to think you have a very poor opinion of me, Savy.”

“You sound concerned, Ev.”

“Ev?” he snorted. “That shit sounds like you’re hacking up a hairball.” They both laughed at his comment as they walked down the mostly empty sidewalk toward her final class of the day. It was late August so the sun was still out and brightly shining even at this late hour, and the small breeze blowing kept it from being stifling hot. Everett found Savannah to be even more stunning out in the natural sunlight with her blond hair shimmering and looking like spun silk. And having her dress practically glued to the front of her by the wind was definitely helping to improve the view.

“I’ll make you a deal,” she said, still chuckling a little at the hairball comment. “If you don’t call me Savy, I won’t call you Ev.”

“I’ll agree to your deal if you agree to my date,” he countered.

“I’d prefer to have more than a half hour to think about it.”

He eyed her for a moment before saying anything in return. “You’re very guarded.”

“I prefer to consider myself focused. I don’t have time to waste so I have to make sure whatever I’m doing is worth the time.”

“You sound like every second of your day is booked.”

“Almost,” she said. He could feel her watching him and he glanced at her, finding her smirking. “You think because I don’t have money I shouldn’t have a full schedule.”

“No, I just can’t imagine anyone having a schedule too full for a date.”

“I have school, work at the bookstore, a nephew to baby-sit, dinners to fix, an apartment to keep clean, a sister to update, and my volunteer work.”

“So don’t update your sister. That should free a few hours,” he chuckled.

“What a perfectly chauvinist thing to say,” she cried, playfully punching his shoulder.

He just laughed at her and grabbed her hand, making sure she hadn’t hurt it. After verifying there was no bruising, he started to wonder what her long, slender fingers would feel like wrapped around him. Of course, he could already tell he wouldn’t be finding that out anytime soon; she had priorities and guys were not high on the list. That should have had him ready to move on to the next woman, but it didn’t. There was something about her, something he couldn’t put a name to or even really explain; he wouldn’t be leaving her alone until he figured it out.

“Besides, that’s my favorite part,” Savannah continued. “We curl up on the sofa and tell each other about our day.”

“You live with her?”

“Yes. Her name’s Dakota, and I live with her and her four year old son, Brent. And this is my class. So thanks for the coffee and the walk,” she said, holding her hand out for her bag.

“I’ve got more questions, though. Why not just blow off the class and we can keep walking?”

“I don’t skip classes.”

“It’s the first Friday of the semester. They’re not going to give you any real assignments.”

She shook her head as she pulled her bag from his shoulder and put it on her own. “I’m here on a scholarship and skipping classes is not the way to keep it.”

“Hey, I know the committee for that scholarship. I’m sure they’ll ignore a few skipped classes for me,” he said, half-joking and half-hoping to convince her.

He could tell right away he’d screwed up because her posture turned rigid and her eyes narrowed at him. “No, thank you. If you want to use your name to skate by, go right ahead. I actually want to earn my degree. Thank you again for the coffee, but I really have to go now.”

She turned away from him and entered her class, leaving him feeling like she only saw him as a privileged brat. He fucking hated it when he people pegged him as one thing or another just because of his last name. Yes, he was wealthy, but he damn sure wasn’t some lazy asshole. He was just as determined as she was to graduate—he just didn’t think his entire life had to be centered on school. And he’d only been joking—mostly joking.

He started to walk back toward the commons, but with each step, his anger and annoyance grew. She’d given him that damn speech about rudeness over someone who had been a bitch to her, but didn’t seem to have a problem with fucking stereotyping him.

“Fucking hypocrite,” he mumbled under his breath. He stopped and blew a breath out of his nose, rolling his hands into fists and making his forearms strain against the fabric of his button down shirt. “Fuck it,” he growled, turning around and heading back toward her class. He couldn’t just let it go and that pissed him off almost as much as her words had. He wasn’t used to giving a damn what anyone thought of him, and to be giving a shit over someone he’d just fucking met … It was infuriating. He would just put little miss know-it-all in her fucking place and then he’d forget all about this shit. No fucking woman was worth this aggravation, no matter how nice her ass looked.