“How could I have been so stupid?” I mumbled, walking in the direction of Lucas’ dorm. He’d had my car now for a week, and each time I asked him about it, he put me off, telling me the mechanic was taking care of it. He’d taken to dropping me off at work and picking me up. It had felt strange that first day he’d taken me to Lulu’s. On my break, I realized I had a message from him, asking me what time I would leave work and he would swing by to drop me back at my dorm. I’d not had any other option so I’d said yes.

I’d assumed he was being nice to me because he wanted to burst my cherry or something, although he had no way of knowing I was a virgin. He hadn’t flirted or said anything inappropriate, though, so I dismissed the thought from my mind. Maybe he thought of me as his charity case, one last attempt at doing something good to make up for all his misdeeds this year. What was he hoping to do? Make it off Santa’s naughty list this year? I could have told him that wasn’t likely to happen. Not with his killer looks and amazing breaking hearts across campus.

Focused on my academics for as long as I could remember, I didn’t have time for guys. When girls in high school were giving up their V-card left, right and center, I’d been a late bloomer and didn’t have any interest in guys. All my concern had been knowing that if I didn’t do well enough on my SATs, I wouldn’t be able to get out of Pagosa Springs. Then I’d received my scholarship and it wasn’t an option to get good grades anymore. I had to in order to maintain that scholarship. Boys had seemed less important.

And still weren’t important, I told myself. It didn’t matter that Lucas seemed less self-absorbed as he assisted me. For all I knew, this was a prank while he did something abhorrent to my car. One would have thought being in college meant a little more maturity, but you could easily find yourself the butt end of a cruel joke. And I’d been so gullible. I’d made it easy for him to dupe me by going along with everything he said.

Thinking he was being nice to me because he liked me. Fifteen minutes ago, I’d texted him, where’s my car? to which he’d only responded. I’ll tell you about it. Meet me at my dorm. Maria Hall, Room 31.

Tomorrow, I had a five-hour drive ahead of me to Pagosa Springs and still no car. He’d promised it would be ready yesterday.

My residence hall was unisex but his wasn’t. I had never been in this hall before but I wasn’t surprised to see the facilities were far better than what I enjoyed. I entered a lounge which consisted of pool and foosball tables, entertainment centers, and vending machines. Few students were left in the dorm this time of the year. As soon as exams were finished, almost everyone headed for some destination for vacation or home. Aspen was the place to be for the wealthier kids during winter break. I couldn’t think of any other place I would want to be over the holidays than with my Dad. We rarely saw each other, and he was old-fashioned and didn’t want to visit the big city, so I went to him.

I walked along the hall, noticing the signs that pointed out directions to a 24/7 fitness center and a dance/yoga studio. Damn, they lived the life. I took the stairs and continued along the corridor, checking the numbers on the door. These dorms were designed as studios and weren’t shared.

Hesitating outside his door, I wondered if I should have called him and hashed out the car issue without dropping by. But I wasn’t getting anywhere with him over the phone. At least now, he’d have to tell me exactly what was going on and why I couldn’t get my car back.

I rapped sharply on the door.

“Coming.”

His deep baritone was muffled by the door. A couple seconds later, the door was wrenched open and he filled the doorway. He smiled and almost stopped my heart. As if to make up for the skipped beat, my heart raced. He pushed the door even wider, and he wore nothing but basketball shorts and a pair of socks. His chest was bare. Warm tingles spread throughout my body, although I knew what he looked like without a shirt. It never got old, seeing his bare chest. Muscled. Ripped.

I stared, my mouth hanging open a little. My mouth went dry.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, seeing my astonished look.

Shaking my head, I dragged my eyes away from his chest. “I…um, no—well, yes,” I replied shakily. “My car. I need it.”

“Oh, yes, the car. Come in.”

“I don’t want to come in, Lucas,” I protested but he reached for my arm and pulled me inside nevertheless. A queen-sized bed, a table with two chairs, his own kitchen and full-sized fridge, his individual microwave, toaster oven, a flat screen TV opposite his bed, and a gaming console. Was this a dorm room? Someone needed to give this guy the memo that dorm life was supposed to be barely tolerable, not this kind of luxury.

He patted the edge of the bed for me to sit. “You can sit here.”

“No, I’d rather stand. Where’s my car?”

He sighed. “It’s taking a little longer than usual for me to get it back. But you saw the condition of the vehicle. It required a lot of work.”

“What?” I exploded. “I wanted it up and running so I could get home to Pagosa Springs for Christmas. You promised you’d get it fixed. If you couldn’t, why didn’t you say so? I could have had my mechanic look at it.”

“For favors?” he spat out on a scowl. Why was he looking at me like that? It dawned on me that the way he said it, with innuendo…did he think I was talking about sexual favors?

Heat crept up my chest and into my cheeks. “I don’t know what the hell you think I mean by favors, but I can assure you it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“What am I supposed to think when you drop a remark like that?” he demanded. “I know women and I know men. And girls don’t mind letting off to get something they want. And men don’t mind taking.”

“Maybe in your twisted little world, but not mine!” I snapped at him. “That you’d even think I did such a thing. I babysit for him and his wife sometimes. That’s what I meant by favors. I’m done talking to you. Just give me my car keys and tell me where I can find the car.”

The hardness of his face mellowed and he turned apologetic on me. “I’m sorry. I just…I don’t really have a very high opinion of women sometimes, but if you’d been in my shoes, you’d understand why.”

“You’re cocky and egoistical, that’s why! Now, my car keys.”

“I’ll drive you to Pagosa Springs.”

His response stunned me so I forgot his earlier insult. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said on a shrug. “I’ve been trying to decide what to do this Christmas anyway. My family bailed on me. We were supposed to meet up in Aspen but I don’t feel like going anymore.”

“Are you serious?” I questioned.

“Very.” He did look sincere. “I’ll not only take you there, but I’ll stay at a hotel and can bring you back. You said you were only spending two days, right? Tomorrow and Christmas day?”

I nodded, still not convinced he was aware what he was saying. “You do know it’s a five-hour drive to Pagosa Springs, don’t you?”

“Five hours?” He gave a mock shudder. “Why don’t you go by air?”

“Where we live, it’s an hour from the airport,” I hedged. He had no need to know I feared flying. “So the hassle at the airport, plus still having to drive from the airport, is basically the same thing.”

“I doubt that,” he argued. “Five hours’ drive for one person is too much!”

“It’s not like I’ve not done it before.”

“And you’re telling me you never almost fell asleep at the wheel?”

I couldn’t. I almost had one time but I started traveling early after a good night’s sleep and that usually did the trick.

“There’s no way I’m going to get that car back today?” I asked in despair.

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Deb. I did try, but the guy says a part he’s waiting for hasn’t arrived yet. Your car is a very old model.”

Deb. He’d shortened my name, getting me all flustered. I felt so much better arguing with him because it distracted me from what the sight of him standing there did to me. And from his bed looking so inviting. How would it feel to be topped by a guy who every woman desired? How would it feel to be loved by such a man? Love? I scoffed mentally. Something told me Lucas had one-night stands and other such similar sexual encounters. I’d never seen him with one steady girlfriend before.

My shoulders slumped in defeat. “Okay. You can drive me down. But it’s better to leave early. Like at eight. We will get there about one-ish.”

“Good, I’ll be there at your dorm to pick you up.”

Before I could say anything else, there was a sharp rap on the door and it was pushed open before he could say enter. A blonde with an enviable set of boobs stepped into the room, her face registering surprise to see me there. The way she was dressed—a very short denim skirt and a knotted top which bared her tummy, displaying her navel piercing—left very little doubt about what she was there for. Was she the reason Lucas was half-dressed?

Jealous shards stabbed at my heart and I made for the door. One of the two of us women had to go and I wouldn’t wait to be told it had to be me.

“Oops, I didn’t know you already had company,” the girl announced but didn’t make any move towards the door.

So I did.

“Debra, wait,” Lucas called to me. I turned and forced a smile I hoped was good enough for him to believe him being with the blonde wasn’t perturbing. I was at fault for thinking a few minutes back and forth from Lulu’s for a week had started to create something special between us.

“I’ll see you tomorrow! Enjoy the rest of your day.”

My glance between him and the blonde made it evident what I referred to. I strolled out the room before he could say anything and slammed the door behind me.

The image of the blonde was fixed in my mind. I saw her as she stood there, hot, beautiful, and sultry, all ready to be fucked. Then there I was, the opposite, somewhat attractive but not enough to hold the attention of a guy like Lucas.

What was I thinking in agreeing to let him drive me home tomorrow? But I had no way out of it now. If I called to tell him I changed my plans, he would figure out I’d been hurt seeing him with that girl. And that could never happen. Lucas didn’t need to know how much he affected me. How much I wanted to be the girl under him.