Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
When I scoot from the row, Levi glances at me with a frown. “Hey, aren’t you going to wait?”
Instead of packing up, he’s talking with a couple of teammates.
I shake my head. “Sorry, I need to get moving. But I’ll catch you later, okay?”
Not bothering to wait for a response, I shimmy past into the aisle. My gaze darts to the desk Mason had been parked at, only to find it empty. I catch a flash of dark hair and brawny arms near the exit before he disappears into the corridor.
I huff out a breath. Unfortunately for me, the aisle is overflowing with people all moving in the same direction.
At this rate, I’ll never catch up to him.
I almost falter as that thought flits through my head. Until this moment, I hadn’t realized my intentions. Now that I have, I shove my way to the exit with purpose. A few students grumble as I cut them off. When I finally make it to the long stretch of hallway, I glance one way and then the other, but I don’t see Mason anywhere.
Damn.
The disappointment that surges through me is almost shocking.
I race toward the main exit and push through the glass door into the sultry North Carolina heat. Even though it’s only ten in the morning, I can already tell the day will be a scorcher.
I squint against the bright sunlight as my gaze scans the sea of students coming and going from the social science building. My heart stutters when I finally catch sight of Mason. Even though the walkway is congested, he sticks out with the broad set of his shoulders and thickly corded arms. Another round of arousal detonates in my core as I take off down the wide stone stairs and then the pathway to catch up with him. I hasten my steps, slipping through the pedestrian traffic.
A handful of seconds later, I pull alongside him. “Hey.”
When he doesn’t give me the time of day, I reach out and touch his bare forearm. “Mason.”
Surprised by the contact, his gaze cuts to mine and goosebumps break out across my flesh. I’m just as bowled over by him now as I was the first time we ran into each other.
When he doesn’t acknowledge the greeting, nerves explode inside me, and my heartbeat picks up tempo, pounding uncomfortably in my chest.
“Poppy,” I whisper, attempting to jog his memory. “We met at my dad’s office.”
His gaze jerks away as he stares straight ahead. “I remember.”
His voice is low and growly. It strums something deep inside me. It’s as if there’s an invisible thread tugging me in his direction. Pulling me closer. Reeling me in. The physical attraction coursing through me is almost too much for the confines of my own skin. Any moment, I’ll burst at the seams.
“Oh.” My mouth dries as I scramble for something to say. “I saw you in Psych class.”
I glance away when his attention flicks to me for a second time, piercing the very heart of me. I’ve never had a problem talking to anyone before. But Mason is a different kind of animal than I’m used to. His penetrating stare makes me feel uncomfortable. Unsure of myself. Strangely enough, I have no desire to shy away or avoid him. If anything, I want to get closer and explore my reaction in more depth.
When we ran into each other last week and he wrapped his large hands around me, it felt as if the world fell away. The only thing I’d been cognizant of was the deep espresso hue of his eyes. Attraction and desire roared through my veins, filling all the dark spaces within. Ones I never knew existed.
It doesn’t escape me that I’m like an idiotic schoolgirl with a crush. By the cool look in his eyes, my guess is that he agrees with the sentiment.
Ugh.
Heat slams into my cheeks. I was so intent on reaching him that it never occurred to me to come up with something to talk about. Maybe I should have, because the silence is brutal.
“I didn’t realize you were a student here,” I blurt.
“I’m part-time,” he admits with a grunt.
“If you need any help with Psychology, just let me know.” As soon as the comment shoots out of my mouth, I wish it were possible to shove it back inside. By the look on his face, the offer only seems to piss him off more.
This conversation is turning into a disaster.
“Poppy!”
Relief surges through me when my name is called over the din of students. We both turn to find Levi jogging toward us with a wide smile on his face. Just as he reaches my side, a thickly muscled arm is thrown around my shoulders. He hauls me close before glancing at Mason.
He blinks, his expression morphing into one of surprise. “Coach?”