Chapter Four
Nick
“Hey, I’ll catch up with you later, okay?” I said to Noah as I headed toward the T.A.’s desk. Correction, not just any T.A. but the most beautiful teaching assistant, hell the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
“Sure thing, I’ll save your seat in Keller’s class.”
I nodded and took a second to gather my wits. Jeannie had a way of making me feel like a stuttering idiot. She’d glare at me in study group, gorgeous golden eyes blazing with life and fire and I’d go all mush-mouthed. It was hard to think around her.
I’d been pining over Jeannie Kingston since the beginning of the semester. The first moment I saw her I knew I’d had to talk to her. But with my parents taking up the bulk of my energy those first few weeks of class, and then the funeral and all those arrangements, it never felt right. Today was the last end to tie up as far as my parents’ estate was concerned. Couple that with being able to focus on my schoolwork enough to finally turn in a half decent paper, and I felt like I could finally talk to her.
Where Noah was broody and bitter about our admittedly tragic situation, I preferred to move forward. I’d like to think our parents would have wanted it that way.
Head bowed at her desk as she flipped through an essay, she didn’t look up when I cleared my throat. “I don’t mean to bother you but I wanted you to know my brother and I are very sorry we were consistently late to this class. It won’t be happening anymore.”
Her shoulders sank at the sound of my voice. Hm. That wasn’t good.
She looked up, glancing at my jaw. “Nick?”
I nodded, stroking the stubble I maintained. It was the easiest way for people who didn’t know us to tell me and my brother apart.
She crossed her arms, leveling a scorching look at me. I fought not to take a step back. Seemed a little extreme for being late. Even perpetually late.
“I just got done with your essay,” she said, pausing as if waiting for a confession.
“Okay?”
She lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Um, is there a problem with it?” I asked. “I worked hard on it. Knowing how strict you and Webb are, I gave it my full attention.”
Her expression softened, arms uncrossing slowly and brows settling into their neutral position. “It’s a lot better than the crap you’ve turned in before.”
“Thanks?” I ran a hand through my hair, not sure if she was complimenting me or angry at me.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Mercer?” Her words were cool, icy even but her eyes were filled with golden fire.
Goddamn, this woman was a beautiful box of contradictions.
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us as much as possible with a desk in the way, and before I knew it the words were out. “Have dinner with me, “ I said, surprising the hell out of myself.
Where had that come from? I’d wanted to talk to her. Hell, I wanted to see if I could talk to her.
Even more surprising was the flush appearing at her neckline, blooming up her throat and across her chest. I couldn’t help but smile as her lashes fluttered, hiding her downcast eyes.
She was flattered.
Well, she might be embarrassed but I was hoping for the former.
Her silence hung in the air, squelching my new found confidence along with any hope of hearing a yes come from her perfectly heart-shaped pout.
She took a breath, smoothed her hands down her pant legs and looked up at me with wildfire in her eyes. “You’re on.” She leaned forward giving me a clear view down her shirt to the wonderfully rounded tops of her breasts. “But I get to pick,” she said.
I grinned at her, unable to contain it. “Anywhere,” I said, voice low and gravely. Hell, I’d buy her a restaurant if she asked. Not that she would. Jeannie wasn’t the type.
“Great,” she said, smiling with her eyes. “Meet me in front of the building at seven.”
“Deal,” I said and got out of there before she changed her mind or I turned into mush-mouth again.
I’m not sure how I got to Keller’s class, I remember none of the walk over there—a side effect of Jeannie Kingston. That woman was magic. I’d never been so enthralled by anyone before, and there’d been plenty. Grandma warned us both from very early on that we’d have to beat the ladies off with a stick and it was true. Neither of us wanted for female companionship, ever.
But Grandma also taught us never to use our good genes for “evil” as she called it. She’d taught us how to treat a lady and neither of us had turned into man-whores like some of our peers with money and nice bone structure had.
All that aside, Jeannie was a puzzle who, despite my experience, I couldn’t figure out. And that fascinated me.
“What’s wrong with you?” Noah asked as I sat down next to him.
“Huh? Nothing,” I said, taking out my notes.
“You look weird.” He eyed my profile as I avoided eye contact.
“Well, if I do you do.”
That shut him up. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t want to share the news with my twin. Normally he’d be the first and person I’d tell. This felt different and I couldn’t put my finger on why.