When the bell rang, she was the first to get to her feet. Maybe she could tell him that she suddenly remembered she had a meeting. Maybe she could---
Long hard fingers curled around her wrist.
Oh, damn.
Keanne looked down.
He looked up at her. He was still seated, his long denim-encased legs stretched before him. His dark green eyes mocked her, and she flushed.
“My name is Gabriel, by the way.”
The color in her cheeks deepened. Merde. She had asked him out but had forgotten to get his name.
“I can take a rain check on the date, too.” He slowly released her. “I don’t think you are ready for me yet.”
“I’m---”
He raised a brow. “You’ve changed your mind?”
Had she?
“You’re confusing me,” she accused him.
“Good.” Satisfaction purred in his voice. “If I date a woman, I want her to be thinking only of me…and not Jason Christakos.”
And then he was walking away, leaving her gawking at him.
When she realized he was about to leave the room and go God knew where, she grabbed her bag and hurried after him as quickly as she could. “Wait!” It was hard running in heels, but she did her best.
He didn’t turn around, and any moment now he would be lost in the crowd of first-year students milling the hallway.
“Wait!”
He still didn’t turn.
Merde.
“Gabriel, wait!”
He stopped then slowly turned, a smirk on his lips once more. He did not make any move to meet her halfway, and as Keanne closed the distance between them, she felt like a slave running to her master.
Most of the students were looking at them now. She repressed a sigh. There went her plan to play it low key and exist under the radar. Now, everyone would know that Keanne Summers was enrolled in this university. It was only a matter of time before people would start talking about her again.
When she reached Gabriel, she suddenly realized how much taller he was – like Jason. Even in her high heels, she was still dwarfed by his powerful form, not even reaching his shoulders.
“What do you know about Jason Christakos?” she demanded.
“You and Christakos get photographed together all the time,” was all that he said. It was a plausible answer, but somehow she felt there was more to it.
“So you know who I am?”
“Yes. I know who you are.” The sober way he said it made her take a step back.
Oh.
He knew her that way.
“You know me,” she said dully. To think she actually thought---
“Keanne, stop.” He grasped her wrist and made her face him again just as she was about to turn away.
The fact that he knew her name made her flinch.
“You misunderstood. I know what happened. I can’t help it. We lived in the same town once. But I went to a different school.”
“It doesn’t matter. You probably think I’m a slut---”
“I never thought that. And now that I’ve officially met you, I know you won’t ever be that.”
“Stop lying,” she hissed.
“I’m not. Look at me, Keanne. Look at me.”
She slowly raised her gaze to his.
The truth in his eyes was undeniable.
Her lips parted in shock. He really didn’t think she was a slut. He had not judged her for what happened between her and…him.
“Do you still want to go out today?”
She didn’t know what to say.
His lips twisted. “I had a feeling there was something to it when you asked me out so suddenly. May I at least ask why you asked me out?”
“It’s h-hard to explain.”
A short pause and then he asked, “Then how about what you want to achieve by asking me out?”
“I…” Keanne looked away. “Nothing.”
“Please. Tell me.”
A plea and a command.
She heard herself saying, “I needed to find someone I was attracted to – someone who could rival Jason Christakos.”
“Ah.” Fingers cupped her chin and she looked up at him questioningly. Before she knew what he was planning, his head had already lowered to hers, his lips brushing against her lips.
She stumbled back. “Wh---”
“I think you’ve found what you’re looking for.”
“Y-you---”
“Until tomorrow, Keanne.”
And again, he left her gaping behind him.
She touched her lips, a part of her wanting to rub it clean. It had not been an unpleasant kiss, and that was mostly the problem. She did not need this kind of complication in her life. Life was already more complicated than it should be, thank you very much.
Her phone buzzed.
Jason: Have you found him?
Keanne: No. He found me instead. And he kissed me.
Chapter Eight