Chapter 1
“The final team will be Leigh Rice and Dean Harper,” Professor Kennedy announced.
Leigh sighed. She’d started to be afraid of that about halfway through the team assignments. She fixed her eyes on the professor, trying her best to make it clear that she didn’t appreciate this turn of events. The woman only shrugged in response and then glanced over to the other side of the room.
“Mr. Harper?” Professor Kennedy said sharply.
“Yeah?” he asked, sounding distracted.
Leigh rested her chin on her hand and watched Dean Harper. He’d barely looked up from his phone, which was how he spent most of his class time. It was a pet peeve of hers when people walked around with their phones practically glued to their faces. It was just her luck to end up with the king of phone addicts for six weeks.
“My eyes are up here,” Professor Kennedy said dryly.
Dean slid his phone into his jacket pocket and sat up. With his back now totally straight and a look of avid interest on his face, he managed to make it look sarcastic instead of respectful. Leigh rolled her eyes.
For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why everyone fell all over him. Girls had actually transferred into the class after finding out that he was going to be there. Sure, those green eyes were nice and no one could argue that he was tall and built...but come on. If he wasn’t on the football team, he’d never get away with half of this.
“Did you hear me announce your partner?” Before he could answer, she pressed the subject. “For the project that will form forty percent of your grade? The project that, for some students more than others, could actually make or break whether they pass this class?”
“Yeah, of course I did,” he answered, sounding shocked that she’d thought he wasn’t listening. “Leigh Rice.”
“Point to her.” the professor challenged.
Dean turned around and pointed unerringly at Leigh. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. She honestly hadn’t thought he’d ever looked at her.
“She’s the only one in here who ever talks,” he said with a grin that lit his eyes up and showed a slash of a dimple in his right cheek. “How could I miss her?”
Leigh held back a twitch of a smile. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. It was pretty much true though. No one else seemed to care as much about this class as she did. Especially since fully half of it was only there to fall into Dean Harper’s green eyes.
“As I said,” Professor Kennedy went on, turning away from the football player and addressing all of them now. “This project comprises forty percent of your grade and it’s very important that you actually take the time to do it correctly.” She fixed her eyes on them, a stern gaze that stilled all rustling and chatter. “And together. Do not allow one partner to do all the work. I know most of you think that I won’t know. I will. And I will not hesitate to fail the partner who hasn’t participated.”
Leigh nodded to herself. That wouldn’t be so bad then. If he didn’t do the work, he’d just receive a failing grade. He wasn’t going to let that happen. And if he did, it wasn’t a big deal to her. Let him flunk out if he wanted.
“And I will give only half credit to the other partner,” the professor finished smoothly.
Okay, that was a different story. Leigh bit her lip, twirling a long strand of her hair around her index finger. But still...surely he wouldn’t take the chance.
“Now I’ll give you some time to meet up with your partners and begin planning. I strongly suggest that you use the rest of the class period to figure out when you’re going to meet up and work. Getting started on your ideas wouldn’t hurt either.”
Leigh tapped her pen on her notebook as she waited for the rest of the class to swirl around, meeting their partners. Some people seemed happy with their partnerships, but others cast her looks ranging from slight jealousy to pure green eyed monster. She ignored them all. She’d had nothing to do with it, after all.
“You are so lucky,” Kat Sullivan whispered as she walked past.
Leigh barely held back a derisive snort. She would have cheerfully killed for the chance to work with anyone but Dean Harper. He was playing with his phone again, clearly expecting her to come to him. It was enough to make her want to stay exactly where she was, but that wouldn’t get anything done.
Her classmates had settled into their new arrangements by now, so she stood and walked down.
She put her books down and took a breath. They could work together. It didn’t matter how different they were. For forty percent of a grade, she could be nice to Satan himself for a few weeks.
Determined to put her best foot forward, Leigh smiled as she sat down next to him. “I’m Leigh Rice. Good to--”
“Hey,” he interrupted, stuffing his notebook into his backpack quickly. “Glad you finally got here. I’ve gotta get out of here a little early today.”
She blinked. “What?” What did he mean by finally? It had taken less than a minute.
Dean turned up the charm with a smile that she’d seen nearly melt other girls. Unlike the one he’d given her earlier, this one was slightly crooked, showing that dimple off in full force. “If I’m going to get us to the championship, I’ve got to practice.”
“And if you want to pass this class, you need to work with me here,” she retorted. Macho jerk.
For just a second, his green eyes went wide with surprise which made her feel better. Then the smile returned. This one was more of a smirk, actually. She hated it when guys smirked.
“Look, why don’t you just write down your number and I’ll call you when I have time? We’ve got six weeks on this thing.”
“Yeah, but it might be complicated and--”
He pulled his phone out. “Here.”
She sighed and put her number in his contacts. As she typed, a message popped up.
“Here,” she said, handing it back quickly. “That’s my number. And somebody named Jacie can’t wait to see you in a few minutes.”
Dean cleared his throat. “Well...”
“Does she play football too?” Leigh asked innocently. “Since you’re headed to a super important practice?”
He narrowed his eyes as he stood up. “I’ll call you later.”
“Actually, I’ll meet you tomorrow at the coffee shop,” Leigh cut in. “I’ve got a class break at 4. See you there.”
She smacked her notebook closed and walked away, leaving him standing where he was. He looked a little shocked, but he still walked out of the door. Off to meet Jacie, whoever the hell that was. Leigh walked to the professor's desk.
“I’m not changing anything,” Professor Kennedy said before she could even open her mouth.
“I thought you liked me,” Leigh said anyway. If she didn’t let some of the frustration out, she might just track Dean down and smack him upside the head. “I seem to remember being referred to as one of your best students.”
Professor Kennedy looked up from the paper that she was currently making bleed red ink and smiled. “You are.”
“So why are you saddling me with tall, dark, and dim witted?”
The professor looked away for a moment, but Leigh had seen her struggle not to grin. “For one thing, because I don’t believe he’s as dumb as he acts,” she said honestly. “For another, you’re the least likely person in this room to be star struck just because he’s the best running back the Tigers have had in twenty years.”
“I thought he was a the quarterback,” Leigh said with a slight frown.
“See?” Professor Kennedy didn’t bother to hold that laugh back. “Everyone else in this room would have been able to tell me not only which position he plays but why he’s God’s gift to the game. And he wouldn’t have had to do a damn thing. Which means that he wouldn’t learn anything. Which means that I wouldn’t be doing my job. Do you follow me, Ms. Rice?”
Leigh sighed. “Yes.” She did, actually. Which ticked her off. She would have preferred to think that the professor was just being unreasonable or that it was pure bad luck that had put her with Dean. Knowing that there was a good reason was a bummer.
“It won’t be so bad,” her professor said, going back to eviscerating the paper in front of her. “And it’ll be a good challenge for you. You’ve certainly breezed through everything else in this class.”
Leigh leaned over the desk. “What’s my grade right now?”
“Higher than anyone else’s and that’s all I’ll tell you,” the professor replied cooly. “Don’t you have a project to work on?”
Leigh left the class feeling rejuvenated. She could handle this. She’d make it as easy on him as possible by coming up with several ideas tonight. Then, when they met tomorrow, she’d simply let him take his pick. She’d end up with something she was interested in no matter what he picked and by letting him choose, he’d feel more in control. The more invested he felt in the project the better. And the more work he had to do, the fewer chances he’d have to be a smug asshole.
She straightened her shoulders. They could do this. And with her taking the lead, they’d do it better than anyone else. There was no way some football player was going to take away her 4.0. With a spring in her step, she headed to her next class. Ideas were already beginning to stir and stretch in her mind and she looked forward to being able to write them down.