He stepped nearer. “Thank you for coming.”
Her eyes lifted and found his gaze, dark and intense, staring into her as though he could read her soul. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
He lifted his hand and ran a finger along her forehead. “I have to go back up. I’ll see you soon?”
She nodded without thinking, completely caught up in the intensity of his brilliant green eyes.
Once the door shut, she realized she’d agreed to join them, and she began to panic about her outfit. But when she opened the closet door, she found several tasteful, gorgeous gowns and dresses, and a row of shoes with at least one that was her size.
She slipped on a dress, grateful for her previous nine months of running. Then turned to the mirror. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright, but she didn’t look too terrible.
When she exited the room, her hair was up, tendrils lining her face, and she walked with a new confidence. She could fit in with them, but if not, at least she’d be with Dex.
Chapter 15
Dex turned to check the entrance to the main cabin thirty-five times before Shawna appeared in it. And when she did, he stopped in his steps to go escort her in. She was stunning. The dress looked like it was made for her. She held her head high, her confidence oozing, and her smile was warm.
How could he not be drawn to such a woman, no matter how he’d met her? The men in the room had all certainly noticed her. But only he knew what paraded about in her mind, which is what had drawn him to her to begin with.
Brett stood. “Convinced the professor to let you come play?” He rested a hand up against the wood above her head.
But Dex reached out his hand. “Glad you could come.”
Shawna placed her fingers in his palm, and their coolness felt refreshing. As he led her away, he murmured. “Are you itching to get back to the books?”
“Honestly?”
He chuckled. “Me too.” They walked to the couch on the opposite side of the room. He grabbed her a drink from the table. “I just have to convince that guy over there to work with my dad’s company, and then we’re free.” He indicated an older man opposite them.
“No problem. I got this.”
“You do?”
“Mm-hmm.” She headed over and held out her hand to the man. “I’m Shawna Worthington.”
Dex watched her, dying to know what they talked about, but he left her to it until he noticed her looking for him. He approached. “I see you’ve met each other.”
Dalling raised his glass. “She’s a real gem, this one. I’ll be calling your father to work out the details this week.”
“I’m pleased to hear it. And happy we could connect.”
“Thank your star, right here. She makes a whole lotta sense.”
“I think so too.”
They mingled, talking with everyone present, laughing at things that weren’t funny, and pretending interest in boring things, until at last everyone had left. Shawna stood across the room, watching him.
“Do I want to know what you said to Dalling to convince him? We’ve been working on that guy for years.”
“I’m sure it’s an accumulation of all those interactions.” She shrugged. “He’s a nice man.”
Dex shook his head. “I’m not going to tell my dad about this surprise skill. He’d hire you on the spot, and I’d never see you again.”
She moved closer to him, and his heart started pounding. “I don’t want to work for your father.”
“I don’t blame you. I don’t want to work for him either.”
“You’re famous.”
He stopped and tipped his head. “Is that a problem?”
“And wealthy.”
He nodded, knowing she didn’t care about such things.
“And my professor.” She stopped in front of him, close, but not close enough.
He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. When the softness of her skin touched his lips, he yearned for more. He wanted to pull her up against him and explore her cheek, her neck, her mouth. But he waited. Something about her was different tonight. A fiery confidence flared from her, and he was as much scared as he was fascinated.
“I am your professor, true.” He pressed his lips to her hand again, then he placed her hand on his shoulder. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her back, and he held her other hand out to the side. They swayed together. He rested his chin on her hair. Her hands shifted and pulled him closer. Every nerve seemed on fire in awareness of her, the shift of her body, the fall of her breath. He paused.
She looked up into his face, her eyes full of yearning and a hint of disquiet. He must rid her of that hesitation before he did anything even close to what his body was calling out to do.
“Would you like to start seeing me?”
“Right now? This semester?”
He nodded. “I’d like to.” He cleared his throat, trying not to sound like a fifteen-year-old. “Along the lines of what we started…and maybe more.”
Her eyes widened and travelled to his mouth. Then she ran her hands up his chest. “Yes, I would like that. I thought that if you were ever interested in me that way, we’d have to wait until the end of the semester at least. I don’t know how this would be okay—will it be okay?”
“Margie suggested it. And since she’s the boss, and one of my oldest friends, she’d back us up. If you’re comfortable with it…”
Her confidence returned. “Will you give me an A?”
“No way.”
She stepped closer. “What if I deserve it?”
“You’ll have to prove it.”
Their lips were so close he felt her soft breath on his mouth, tickling, teasing, urging. Then she stepped up on her toes, and he pressed his mouth to hers. Her arms wrapped around his back, and he pulled her against him.
He pressed again and again, pulling on her bottom lip and nibbling the top, covering her soft lips until he wanted nothing more than to fall back on the couch with her and see where things went.
But he stopped, grinning. “You’ll still have to prove it.”
She laughed.
And then he kissed her again, but this time the urgency was gone. He was light, playful, laughing, and just so incredibly happy that he and Shawna would see where things would go. He was so happy he had a woman like her in his life. “I think I love you.”
“I love you too.”
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