Why had she agreed to this? Harper stood on the path leading to the administration building. She was all wrong. From her hair bouncing around her shoulders to the blue floral dress and right down to the strappy too-high heels and pink-tipped toes. Just wrong. She tugged at the waist of the dress wishing for three or four more inches of fabric.

But that's what happened when you wear someone else's clothes. She glanced at her dress and smoothed a hand down the front, pressing against it to keep it from floating on the breeze. She couldn't even imagine how short this dress was on Jamie who had about three inches on her. At least the little jacket offered some coverage. Not that it did much good in warding off the chill of the fall air.

"Stop fidgeting."

She turned to find Declan strolling up the path behind her.

"I'm not fidgeting," she snapped back.

He laughed. As he reached her, he snagged the hand she was using to tug one side of the jacket more firmly over her front and kept hold of it. She huffed out a breath.

His gaze traveled down her body and his lips turned down slightly in each corner. "You look great."

She snatched her hand back from him and plunked both hands on her hips. "I look so good, you can't help but frown at me?"

His eyes jumped up to meet hers. "No! What? I mean, you do look good."

He rubbed a hand over his short hair, tousling it in a way that only made him more attractive. If she'd done that she'd look like she'd spent the afternoon wrestling grizzlies. As it was, she prayed the hair spray she'd doused over her head was strong enough to keep her hair from dancing in an unruly mess around her head. She hated wearing her hair down, especially when she was spending time outside. Even a light breeze could turn her into the runner up in a Medusa look alike contest.

"Mmmhmm." She wasn't buying his compliments. The look on his face told her all she needed to know--she was going to stand out like a sore thumb at this faculty luncheon.

"Seriously." Declan's eyes raked over her once more, coming back up to linger on the hair stirring around her shoulders before climbing all the way up to meet her gaze. "You look beautiful."

Her eyes narrowed on him.

"I swear." He held up a hand with fingers pointed up, totally ruining the scout's pledge. "You look great. You just don't look like...yourself."

"So, what? Usually I don't look great?" She tapped a toe on the cobblestone path.

"No! No. I just meant..." He gestured wordlessly at her.

If she wasn't mistaken, that was pink beginning to tinge his cheeks. She grinned. Maybe raiding Jamie's closet and parading herself around the faculty to-do was going to be well worth the effort.

"You meant...?" she prompted.

He let out a long breath and took a step closer. He stared into her eyes. "You always look good, Harper. I like the way you dress. The way you wear your hair. All of it."

Was there any air here? She'd swear on a stack of Biology textbooks that someone had sucked every molecule of it from around her.

"You look good now, too." He inched even closer to her. "I just like it best when you look like yourself."

"Oh," she managed to squeak out.

He grabbed her hand and gave it a small tug. He grinned, his usual smirkingly arrogant expression now firmly back in place. "Should we go?"

She glanced over her shoulder toward the gate in front of the admin building. Who knew the gates of hell could be so pretty? She blew out a breath and turned back to face him. "I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

He pulled her down the path, giving her hand a little squeeze. "It won't be so bad. I promise."

"And do I get to collect a forfeit if it turns out you’re lying?"

"What?" His question escaped him on a chuckle.

"A forfeit. I think you'll owe me if this turns out to be the epic fail I'm foreseeing."

He stopped them just outside the gate. "What do you want if this totally sucks?”

Several scenarios raced through her mind and her cheeks warmed. She wasn't going to share even one of those ideas with him.

Her eyes skittered up. "I can't think of anything right now. Let's just say I reserve the right to collect a favor at the time of my choosing if this bites."

His eyes warmed and she had a niggling feeling he could read every lascivious thought that slid through her mind. His lips twitched, but he didn't call her on it. "I'll agree to that."

She opened her mouth to accept but he cut her off.

"Wait. I'm not done. I'll agree to that, if and only if you agree that you'll owe me a forfeit if the luncheon goes well."

She chewed her bottom lip as she looked up at him.

He reached up and smoothed a finger over her lips, stopping her gnawing before she did any damage. "Seems only fair to me."

"What..” She paused to clear her throat. "What kind of forfeit?"

His grin turned devilish. "Let's just say I reserve the same right as you--to collect a...favor...at another time of my choosing."

She managed to nod her agreement. Now she didn't know if she should hope the luncheon totally sucked or totally rocked.

She stumbled a little as he tugged her forward. Her gaze dropped to her feet.

Hey, look at that. Turns out the road to hell is paved in cobblestone.

So would this be a draw?

Harper stood in a corner of the large room, a small china plate in her hands. After the first fifteen minutes, she'd have sworn Declan was going to win their little bet. They'd walked into the luncheon together, her hand clasped in his. That left her with only one free hand to tug at her dress, but she'd stopped that when he gave her a sharp look along with a firm squeeze of her hand. He'd pulled her right over to a group just inside the entrance.

Nerves had twisted her stomach in knots, but with his usual relaxed manner, Declan had introduced her to one of the professors from the English department. He'd made a joke and had the other man laughing in under a minute, and then they stood there making small talk. Declan lead the way, but he made sure to include Harper in the conversation. Before she knew it, her nerves had slipped away, and she found herself chuckling at one of Declan's quick-witted quips.

The next fifteen minutes brought more of the same. Declan tugged her from one small group of chatting faculty to another, keeping her involved in the conversation, but never putting her on the spot. It helped that he didn't immediately approach any of the faculty from the science department, but as she got more comfortable, she even felt ready to face Professor Costa.

But her comfort level quickly changed when she and Declan were approached by the Dean of Students. Or she should say, Declan was approached. It was obvious within seconds that the man had no interest in her or her presence at the party. He'd been strictly interested in kissing Declan's ass.

He'd fawned over Declan, mentioning at least half a dozen times how sorry they were his dad hadn't been able to make it to the party. The dean assured him they completely understood and were happy Declan could make it. Then the dean asked him to step over to a small gazebo-like structure set up in the corner, gesturing to a photographer waiting with camera in hand.

The butterflies had started flapping again in her stomach at the thought of posing for pictures at Declan's side. That was sure to do wonders for her gold-digger reputation if it showed up in the student paper.

But apparently, her fears were unfounded. Declan's gaze had followed the direction the dean was pointing and his lips twisted into a grimace. He glanced down at Harper, and for a second or two he looked uncomfortable. She couldn't put her finger on exactly what had changed in his expression, but he definitely wasn't wearing his usual snarky smirk.

She cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows as her mind scrambled for an excuse to step away while he had his picture taken. But before she could latch onto anything, Declan gave her one.

"This should only take a few minutes. Why don't you go check out the food? I'll meet you back over there." He gestured vaguely in the direction opposite the gazebo where two tables with long white table clothes had been set with china plates, silverware, linen napkins and what looked to be an impressive buffet.

A second ago she'd been dying for an excuse, but Declan's obvious desire to get rid of her before, God forbid, he get caught with her in a photo made her change her mind. She'd wanted to drag her feet and suddenly scrambled for a reason to stay right by his side.

"Don't worry," he'd leaned down and whispered in her ear. "You'll be fine. I promise." He gave her hand one last squeeze and before she could protest, he'd turned and moved towards the photographer.

That was just about fifteen minutes ago, and things had gone downhill from there. Well, except for the food. She dipped a chilled shrimp into the cocktail sauce on her plate and crunched it between her front teeth. Her eyes closed and she repressed a small moan. Might be worth attending more of these just for the food.

Although, the company left a lot to be desired.

Her gaze slid around the room. Since Declan stepped away from her she hadn't exchanged more than two words with anyone. The only person she’d spoken to was the man behind the buffet table slicing roast beef who asked her if she preferred rare or well done. With her plate full of delicious nibbles, she'd strolled around a bit, determined not to let Declan's absence prevent her from chatting up a the professors she was hoping to impress.

But as she moved around, she hadn't been able to make eye contact with anyone. At least not anyone she wanted to make eye contact with. She had noticed a couple of the sorority girls huddled in one spot giving her the stink eye.

But no matter how many pep talks she gave herself, she couldn't quite push her way into a circle of professors to make small talk. What on earth would she even talk to them about?

So now she found herself stuck in a corner, feeling like the outsider looking in at all the pretty people. She'd watched Declan have his picture taken with a few members of the faculty. He'd glanced around a few times, but he didn't seem to be in any hurry to come find her. She sighed as she popped her last shrimp into her mouth, and stepped forward to drop her plate on the tray of a passing waiter.

The first fifteen minutes of the party had gone just as Declan predicted. The last fifteen minutes, while not quite the horror show she'd been expecting, had not been at all helpful.

She sighed and gave one long last look around. When had Professor Costa arrived? He stood over by Declan, and as she watched, she saw Declan close the distance between himself and the professor. They shook hands and talked, and after about a minute, Declan threw his head back and laughed. Not once did he scan the party for her.

Guess the old saying is true--out of sight, out of mind. She'd have thought talking to Professor Costa would jiggle his memory and remind him of her presence here. But apparently it would take more than that.

Two women approached the men. She'd seen them around campus before. They were sorority girls, a year or two behind her. Her eyes narrowed as the little group stood chatting, comfortable as old friends. A fist seized her stomach. Why did she think for even a second she'd ever be more than an outsider on this campus? If one of those blondes had stood by Declan's side when the dean approached, would he have pushed them out of the way or tugged them to join him in the pictures?

Damn. That's not why she came. How could she keep forgetting the point of all this? Who gave a shit if Declan included her in a photo op or not? But he damn well should have called her over once he started talking to Professor Costa.

Should she go insert herself into their conversation? The contents of her stomach roiled and coiled at the thought of how Declan and the sorority chicks would react to her presence. What if he turned on her, not wanting those girls to think he was in any way connected to Harper? He could make her look like an ass in front of Professor Costa. And then where would she be?

With a huff, she turned toward the door, more than ready to be done with this party. Her heel caught in the rug under her feet and once again she was stumbling. This time Declan didn't save her. But someone's hand reached out and held her steady.

"That's why I never wear heels to these things. They're hard enough to walk on in the best of circumstances. Put them on these old, snaggy rugs and it’s a wonder everyone isn’t ass over teacup.”

Harper looked up. Her rescuer turned out to be Professor Flaherty. Harper had taken Organic Chemistry with her.

Harper got her balance. "Th-thanks."

"No problem."

Once Harper was steady on her feet, her professor let go of her arm. Harper wracked her brain for something to say. Here was the perfect chance to make small talk with someone in her field. Professor Flaherty had a stellar reputation on campus and in the academic community. A recommendation could go a long way in getting Professor Costa to give her the time of day.

Harper was once again tongue-tied. She couldn't think of a single, solitary thing to say.

But apparently Professor Flaherty wasn't done coming to her rescue. "You took Chemistry with me, didn't you?"

Harper nodded, her chest flooding with warm gratitude that this woman had kept her from her second almost-header of the day and was now throwing her a lifeline. "Yes, I took Intro with you in my freshman year and Organic Chem last semester."

"I thought you looked familiar. You're the one who aced my final, aren't you?"

Yes! Finally someone who noticed her hard work. "Yes, I ended up with an A on that one."

"I think that's the first A I've given in the class in a couple of years."

Harper grinned, thrilled to her toes. Now why couldn't Professor Flaherty be in charge of the mentor program. She seemed to think Harper was a standout. "I really enjoyed that class."

Professor Flaherty had been checking out the rest of the party, but at Harper's words, her gaze flew to Harper's face. "Seriously? Now no need to kiss up. You already aced the class."

"No, I swear." She held her hands out in front of her and gave a self-depricating shrug. "I guess I'm a science nerd. All the classes people complain about the most seem to be the ones I like the best."

"You should take Genetics with Professor Costa."

Harper laughed. "Actually, I'm taking that one now."

Professor Flaherty lifted a single eyebrow. "And? How's that going?"

She shrugged again. "About the same as Organic Chemistry. It's tough, but I'm managing to maintain an A."

"Impressive. Tell me, what are your plans after you graduate?"

"I'm going to medical school." Harper bit her lip and waited. She always dreaded the reaction she'd get when she announced that.

"Good choice with those grades. Is it safe to assume you're doing Professor Costa's med school track program?"

"Um, that's actually why..well." Harper twisted her hands in front of her. She wasn't ready to tell the woman standing in front of her she wasn't being considered for the program. But she didn't want to outright lie and tell her she was planning on doing it.

"Ah," Professor Flaherty said after a minute. The woman's gaze searched the party and zeroed in on Professor Costa and Declan. "Is it safe to assume Frank hasn't chosen you for the program yet?"

Harper let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "That would definitely be safe to assume."

Professor Flaherty's eyes came back to Harper and the woman's sharp gaze pinned her to her spot. "If you want my advice....?

Harper nodded, her hands grasping each other tightly. She clenched her teeth together to keep from begging her professor for any scrap of advice or anything else that might help her get into the program.

"Don't give up."

Harper's shoulders sagged. That was the advice? Not that she wasn't grateful, but once again she'd been hoping for explicit instructions on how to get herself into Professor Costa's good graces. "Thanks. That's pretty much my plan right now."

"Good." Professor Flaherty's narrow-eyed gaze landed once again on Declan and Professor Costa. "And in the meantime, maybe a little birdy can whisper in Frank's ear."

Harper looked away from the men on the other side of the room, her gaze flying to meet Professor Flaherty's. "Are you saying...?"

Professor Flaherty shrugged. "You're an excellent student. I don't mind helping if I can."

"Thank you." Her hand went to her chest. "Thank you so much."

"Don't thank me," Professor Flaherty said. "You earned it."

Harper could feel the grin tilt her lips up and hoped she didn't look as silly as she felt. For the first time in over two years, someone recognized just how hard she worked. She felt like turning cartwheels. "You may not want my thanks, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."

Professor Flaherty offered a warm smile and then gestured to the people spread around the room. "Well, I better go mingle. If we don't raise enough funds, I won't keep my tenure."

Harper laughed and waved as the woman strolled off. She raised her eyes, the smile still tipping up her lips, only to meet Declan's stare. He still stood with Professor Costa, but a glance told her the two sorority girls had moved on. He smiled at her and inclined his head in invitation.

The smile slipped from her face. Now he was ready for her? That's not the way this was going to work. She narrowed her eyes at him and then twisted around, managing to keep both feet under her this time. She headed straight for the door. At least she ended things on a positive note. Professor Flaherty was going to recommend her to Professor Costa. And now all she had to do was remember that she and Declan weren't friends. Or anything else for that matter. If he wanted to ditch her for photo ops and other women, he was free to. As long as he kept up his end of the bargain.

Her heels clattered on the cobblestone as she stomped down the path. Her anger propelled her forward this time without mishap.

"Harper!"

Declan's voice fueled her anger even more. Now he remembered her? Now that she’d had enough of being ignored and found her own way to get on Professor Costa's radar? Tough. She wasn't ready to talk to him yet.

"Harper, wait up!"

She continued her forward march out into the quad, stopping only when Declan's hand landed on her arm and yanked her around to face him. She fell into him, her body pressed against his.

For a brief moment all she could register was the heat of his body seeping into hers, his long length touching every inch of her from chest to knees. He gave her his smirky grin and that was enough to snap her out of the spell getting too close to him seemed to put her under. She stomped backwards, pushing hard against his chest.

He took two steps back. "What the hell, Harper?"

She plunked her hands on her hips. "That's what I want to know. What the hell, Declan? You're supposed to be helping me and you ditch me the first chance you get."

"What...? No, no, that's not what that was about at all."

"Oh really, because last I looked, I was standing in a corner by myself while you flirted with two blondes and chatted up the professor you brought me there to talk to."

He shook his head and took a step forward. "That's not what I did."

She put a hand up in front of her to keep him from moving any closer. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I read you ditching me all wrong?"

"Yeah," he said quietly, "you did." He took another step closer. "If you just give me a minute to explain, I promise, that back there had nothing to do with me ditching you."

Harper crossed her arms over her chest. Her voice came softer, but with no less anger. "No, you just couldn't stand the thought of having a picture with me, out where anyone and everyone could see it."

A sharp, hard knot lodged in her chest and it took all her strength to keep from hugging her arms around herself. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he hurt her.

"Well, yeah, I didn't want you to have your picture taken with me."

A crushing weight pushed down on her. She wanted nothing more than to crumple to the ground. This moment, his words. They hurt more than all the taunts and barbs she'd had thrown at her in high school combined. Hurt more than the moment he'd left her standing in that dank basement and turned away from her.

"Not for the reason you're thinking." He closed the space between them and snatched up her hands in his.

She tried to pull them away, furious and fighting off the tears stinging the back of her eyes. "Let. Me. Go."

"No." He tucked her hands under his arms and released them so he could move his arms up and around her, pulling her closer. "I'm not letting you go until you hear what I have to say."

She looked down and then glanced around the quad. Thank goodness it was fairly quiet, but it didn't mean the people around weren't all staring at them, speculating about why Declan Cooper had his arms wrapped around that little nobody.

She faced him with a glare and stopped struggling to get away. "Fine. Explain."

"I didn't want you in the picture."

She struggled against him, but he just held her closer.

"It wasn't because I didn't want to be seen with you, Harper. I-I didn't want you to be seen with me."

She shook her head and tried yet again to wiggle out of his arms. "That just clears it right up. Thanks. You can let me go now."

He gave her a small shake and huffed out a breath. "No. Really listen. I didn't want you to be seen with me."

Something about the way he enunciated each word made her still. She tilted her face toward him and allowed her eyes to rake over his face. What was he trying to tell her? His words repeated in her head. The conclusion she drew made her wrinkle her nose. "You think I wouldn't want to be in a picture with you."

He loosened his hold on her but didn't let go. His gaze moved to a point over her shoulder. "You shouldn't want to be in a picture with me, Harper. Sometimes even the photos from the school paper get picked up by the larger newspapers and media outlets."

She shook her head, completely baffled. "I'm missing something. Help me out here, Declan."

His eyes came back to meet hers. "I know you don't. I'm glad you don't understand."

"Now you're just talking in riddles. Are you trying to buy some time while you come up with an excuse?" She pushed against his arms, this time breaking his hold on her. "Don't worry about it. Consider yourself off the hook. You can keep helping me with my project. I'll help you with your experiment. And you don't owe me any explanations."

He stared at her for a long moment before sighing and rubbing a hand over his short hair. She didn't notice for even a second how adorably rumpled he looked with his hair sticking out in wayward spikes like a small boy just waking from a nap. Nope, not for a minute.

"I want to explain. Please just let's talk." He pointed to a coffee cart in the corner. "Let me buy you a cup of coffee. We can sit down and talk. Just give me a few more minutes. I swear I can explain."

She was so afraid to believe him. To give him the benefit of the doubt. She'd never admit it out loud, and the thought just about crushed her, but for some reason the guy standing in front of her had the power to crush her in a way nobody ever had before. Not Caitlin with her catty comments and rumors. Not her aunt with her hate-spewing rants. Just this one guy.

But the same thing that made her want to run in the opposite direction to avoid the high potential for pain, also made her want with everything inside her to stay. To listen to what he had to say.

She narrowed her eyes on him. "Make it a mocha latte and I'll give you ten minutes."

A slow, sincere smile, no smirk in sight, formed on his too-handsome face. "Deal."