She Wants It All: Book Three of the Sheridan Hall Series

by Jessica Calla

  He pulls me to his bare chest, his tongue explores mine, and we’re not just kissing. There’s intent behind it, a hidden meaning, a promise. Somehow, he’s under my spell. I gained his interest without even trying, and now after one awesome night of sex, I’m certain he’s mine. He’s not going anywhere. With this kiss, I’m finally clear.

  Not only that, but I’m falling under his spell too. Knowing that he’s in for the duration, however long that may be, I can wait to have him again. He’s right. I have to write the paper. I have to try.

  With a combination of regret and inspiration, I break the kiss. “You really think I can do this?”

  His eyes are on my lips as he catches his breath. “Huh?”

  “The paper?”

  “Oh right. The paper.” He exhales and shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. “I know that if you’re as determined as I think you are, then you will do everything you can to give yourself the best chance at making your dream come true.”

  No matter what Winston says, no matter how little time I have, I haven’t worked this hard all year to give up. I smile at Dave. “What about you?”

  He squints. “Me? I don’t think I’d be good at an animal research paper.”

  I ignore his lame joke. Whenever I ask him about his plans or his future, he fires off a joke. This time I want to make him answer. “Tell me, David Novak. What are your dreams?”

  He looks at me through long lashes. “Right now, Magdalena Patrinski, you are my only dream.”

  I sigh and leap into his arms. He swings me around in a circle. Suddenly, I feel like I can conquer the world.

  Dave

  Maggie and I grab a quick bite at her favorite takeout place, and I carry her backpack to the library. We stop so she can feed her squirrel, and I tell her about the first time I saw her and deemed her “the Squirrel Girl.”

  She smiles at my memory, and fireworks explode in my head and my heart.

  We set up camp in the library, claiming a large table near a row of windows with good natural and artificial lighting, outlets to charge her laptop, and no foot traffic. A couple of people are scattered at the other tables—hardcore college kids with stressed out looks on their faces and empty coffee cups lined up in front of them. I should probably think about finals. I shake my head to push the thought away.

  Maggie’s busy spreading out various scientific articles she’d had stashed in her dorm room on the use of antibiotics in livestock, her topic of choice for her waitlist paper. Glancing at the papers gives me a headache, so I focus on her instead.

  She leans over the table and opens her laptop. After she digs a pair of glasses out of her bag and places them on her face, she notices me looking.

  “Oh. Um, these are my reading glasses.”

  I can’t speak. Her skirt rides up her thighs as she leans over the table again and clicks around her home screen. When she shifts her weight, one leg straightens, and the curve of her thigh tightens with the movement. Mesmerized, I wonder what she has on underneath.

  Now that we’ve started something and things are rolling with us, my body aches for her. It takes an effort, but I move my gaze off her legs and upward to see her intently studying the screen. Her hair is up in a twist thing, but a few rogue strands fall around her face. I want to brush them away to feel her skin, but she’s in serious study mode.

  Even in her glasses, she’s hot as fuck. Without trying, she’s every fantasy I’ve had since I was thirteen. That hair, the skirt riding up over her tan legs, she’s brains and body, and I’m a damn mess wondering what she’s doing with a guy like me.

  Smiling, she stands straight and exhales to blow the loose strand of hair away from her eyes. It’s like she has no clue she’s the most beautiful girl in the world.

  “I think I’m all set.” She adjusts her thin, pink sweater around her shoulders and rubs her arms. “It’s cold in here.”

  The air pumps from the ceiling vent a few feet away. I pull off my hoodie and wrap it around her. It covers her skirt and I picture her wearing it with nothing underneath.

  I zip it up for her. “I’ll ask the front desk about turning down the air conditioning.”

  Her blue eyes dance under her nerdy glasses. “Thank you.” Her gaze falls to my mouth, and she bites her lower lip. She looks around the library and takes a step closer. “Hey Dave?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Let’s forget the paper and go hide and kiss.”

  She’s tempting, that’s for sure. I glance over my shoulder at the scattered students and play along. “I’ve never kissed a girl in the library. And I’ve never kissed a girl who’s wearing glasses.”

  “You’re a library virgin. In more ways than one.”

  “You’re not?” The thought of her and Winston getting it on between the shelves makes my blood boil. I can’t stand that idiot.

  She shakes her head vigorously. “That’s against the library rules, which I’ve never broken. This place is sacred to nerds like me.”

  I move my thumbs behind her ears and she tilts her head into my touch. Then, she stands on tiptoe and wraps her arms around my shoulders, leans in, and kisses me.

  My entire body hardens. I remind myself we’re in public, but my hands have a mind of their own as they move down her sides to her perfect ass. I’m tempted to wiggle my fingers lower and find the edge of that hoodie, then the skirt underneath.

  She nibbles at my lips and whispers. “Well? What do you think?”

  I pull her hips against my body. “I think I like the library.”

  “I can tell.”

  “I also think you’re procrastinating.” I take a step back, along with a deep breath.

  Maggie puts a hand on her chest and flutters her lashes. “Me? Procrastinate?”

  I point at her. “You’re teasing me. You admitted you won’t violate your library rules. You have to get this paper started.”

  She groans and pouts, wrapping her arms around me. “But I don’t want to.”

  I peel her arms off of me and escape her grasp. “Yes, you do. You’ve been working hard all year for that internship.”

  Finally, she lets out a big sigh, her shoulders sag, and she plops into the chair. “You’re right. As much as I want to hide and kiss you, I should at least try. You’re smart for someone who’s never set foot in a library.”

  I squat next to her, take her hand, and kiss it. “You be the smart one. I’ll be the wind beneath your wings.”

  She giggles as I sing the tune, and someone shushes us. I turn around and give the guy with the coffee cups the finger.

  “I’ll be your wind too.” She blows a kiss and waves her hands, fanning the air at me. “Once you figure out what you’re meant to be.”

  What I’m meant to be. I don’t know what I’m meant to be, but I’m going to try to be that guy for Maggie. “Alright, Squirrel Girl. I’m going.” I pull out my new-ish phone and check the time. “Maybe I’ll ask Tuck if he wants to go to Happy Hour. But—” I hold my phone up. “If you need anything. Anything. If you need me to bring you something, or even if you want me to scratch an itch, you text me and I’ll be here in a flash. Got it?”

  She smiles and salutes. “Yes, sir.”

  I bend down to kiss her cheek. “Write a kick-ass paper, beautiful.”

  When I try to stand, she grabs my shirt and pulls me back down. She puts her hands on my neck and whispers in my ear. “We can still leave and go kiss, you know.” Then her tongue traces my earlobe.

  Her mouth causes chills to run from my neck, down my spine, and right to my groin. I shift away. “Procrastinator.”

  She smiles and leans close. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  Her fingers trace my cheek so lightly, and her eyes water. It’s like she can’t believe I would want to help her. I hate that she’s never been taken care of. I kiss her nose. “You’re welcome.”

  Then I stand and leave before I change my mind and drag her into the stacks.

  Chapter 15


  Maggie

  As Dave walks away, I admire how his shoulders pull his T-shirt tight over his back, and how cute his butt looks in his long shorts. I text him:

  How many pairs of cargo shorts DO you have?

  He pulls out his phone just as he disappears from my sight. I wait. He’s still a slow texter.

  Get to work.

  I sigh and blow the strand of hair that escaped my ponytail off my face. The first article I pick up looks the most complicated. I put it back down and look for a more user-friendly start to my research.

  Luckily, my phone rings.

  Unluckily, it’s my mother’s ringtone.

  Ugh.

  I decline the call and send her a text.

  At the library. Can’t talk.

  Within seconds—she’s not a slow texter—she texts me back a rant that she got my message about the waitlist. She knows it’s been a rough year for me, but I need to buckle down and concentrate on my work. She adds that I better be doing that extra paper. She wants a first draft in three days, and she’ll tell me what needs to be revised. Better yet, why don’t I come home for the weekend so I can concentrate?

  I groan and text her back.

  No way. I need the library. I’m fine. Talk soon. Love you.

  Hopefully that will hold her off for a bit. The last thing I want is to go home. Even though I miss my sister, Martha will annoy me. And I appreciate my mother and her passion for my well-being, but I put enough pressure on myself without her lingering and judging.

  I switch my phone to Do Not Disturb and try to get back to my article on antibiotics. The more I think about a veterinary career, the more I’m pulled to the field of animal nutrition and livestock—the research end of things. Originally, I imagined myself a city vet, helping apartment dwellers with their cats and dogs. But while I love NJU, if there’s one thing being close to a city has taught me, it’s that I don’t want to live close to a city. I miss the farm, the air, and the open space. I’d take a big, green field over a million trendy shops and restaurants any day.

  With all my heart, I wish I loved the city. When I came to NJU, I hoped to get away from farm life, to get away from the life my mother chose for herself. I wanted to become one of the cool, independent, trendy city women like I see on television to weaken the bond between mom and me. I thought if I loved the city, she’d let me go a little. We’d have nothing in common. She’d be forced to cut the umbilical cord.

  I love my mother. More than anything. But I don’t want to turn into her. I never want to be a man-hating, asexual, crazy-ass farm lady—even one with as big a heart as hers. The longer I stay wrapped in her world, the more fearful I become that I’m heading down that path. She doesn’t tolerate opinions from my sister and me that don’t mesh with hers.

  Still, while I’ve enjoyed exploring New York City, meeting new people, and learning the city from natives like Meg and Chase, it doesn’t call to me as much as the farm. Which means I’ll have to deal with my mother. Can’t I follow her path without becoming her?

  After an hour of checking emails, texting with my sister, and checking my high school friends’ social media, I’m ready to get started. Just as I’m about to actually read an article and start a rough outline, someone sits down next to me.

  Juliet yanks my ponytail. “Hey, nerdy lady. Pack up, we’re going shopping.”

  I twist and reclaim my hair. “What? Now? I have to work.”

  “You can work later. Ben’s driving us to the mall for dresses, and then we’re going to The Study.”

  “Dresses?” I turn back to the laptop, hoping she’ll get the hint I’m serious.

  Megan weaves her way through the tables, followed by Chase and Ben. “For Juliet’s charity gala. Hurry up. The mall closes soon.”

  I groan. “The gala, right.” I’d forgotten about her black tie, fancy pants fundraiser. I was going to beg out until she told me it benefits the charity set up in Frank’s name.

  Chase stands behind me and looks over my shoulder at the blank screen. “Looks like you’re doing great.”

  I smirk. “Ha, ha. I’m trying to get started. How did you guys find me?”

  Meg shrugs. “You’re always here.”

  “I’m in a new spot. I’m trying to hide.”

  “From us?” Ben grabs an article from the table, reads the title, and grimaces. I pull it out of his grubby hands. “You can never hide from us. We’re everywhere.”

  I wave my hands at them. “Go away. I need to get this paper done and then study for finals. I have a ton of stuff to do. I’ll wear something I have.”

  Juliet snaps my laptop closed.

  “Hey!” I fling it back open.

  We stare each other down. I can’t help but admire how perfectly she made up her dark eyes. I make a mental note to ask her to teach me how she uses her liner. When she pouts at me, her face changes. “Please? We need you to help us. You’re the best one with dresses, and you’re such a good shopper.”

  “That’s true. Sadly, I have to focus. This is about Olympia.” As I tell them about the waitlist, I notice Dave walking toward us. He’s holding plastic shopping bags from the campus bookstore and a cardboard tray of beverages. I give him my best “save me” look, widening my eyes, shrugging, and jerking my head in Juliet’s direction.

  He scowls behind my friends’ backs. They notice me looking past them and turn.

  “Prince Charming has arrived,” Ben murmurs to the table. He holds his hands about a foot apart. I roll my eyes, and Meg slaps him.

  “Hey, Dave.” Meg’s face lights up. Since the girls witnessed our hallway scene, they’ve been fawning over Dave.

  “Coffee? For me?” Chase says, grabbing for the cardboard cupholder in Dave’s hands. “Why thanks.” He tries to pull a cup out, but Dave twists out of his reach.

  He drops his bags on the table and looks around at the group. “What are you all doing here? Maggie needs to write her paper.”

  I sit up straight and push my glasses up, peeking at him over my laptop. “Thank you. I’m glad at least one of you is interested in my future well-being.”

  Ben opens a bag. “Whatcha got in here?”

  Dave grabs the bag back. “Nothing for you, tough guy. Now go.”

  Juliet pulls an NJU seat cushion from one of the bags. “Going to a football game?”

  “It’s for Maggie.” He snatches it from Juliet and walks around the table to me. “Stand up for a second.” His gaze meets mine, and his grimace turns to a grin.

  I stand, and he slides the cushion onto my chair. When I sit again, I let out a little moan as my butt sinks into the foam. “That’s so much better. You’re so sweet.”

  Faces stare at us from around the table. The girls look smitten, the boys aggravated. I lift my chin. “You heard the man. Go away.”

  “Bye,” Dave says, wiggling his fingers at them in a dismissive wave.

  Meg turns to me. “But what about the charity gala? We have to get dresses. I need you.”

  I let out an audible, aggravated sigh. “You’ll be fine on your own. Juliet, wear something long and red. You’ll look perfect with your dark hair and your tan. Meg, I’d go greenish-blue for you to match your eyes. Short but formal if you can find it. And heels.”

  “Should I wear heels, Mags?” Ben asks flatly, then he and Chase laugh.

  I huff and shake my head. Dave rubs my shoulders.

  Juliet pokes around the bags on the table. “What else did you get her?”

  “Just some essentials,” he says, in his musical voice.

  Meg tilts her head, swooning at Dave, as Juliet pulls out a bag of licorice and a small, fleecy NJU blanket. “That’s so thoughtful,” Juliet says.

  “Aw,” I can’t help saying. “For me?”

  Dave kisses the top of my head. “You were cold.”

  “Aw,” the girls say, this time in unison.

  Yep. He’s mine and he’s dreamy. Eat your heart out, ladies.

  Chase taps Juliet o
n the shoulder. “Hey. Remember me?”

  She twists away from him. “You’re not as nice as Dave.”

  Chase rolls his eyes. “I’m nice. I bought you coffee this morning.”

  She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “We better go,” Ben says to Chase, grabbing Meg’s hand. “Before we lose them.”

  The girls say goodbye, the guys grunt something, and soon they’re all gone.

  I turn to Dave. “You didn’t have to get me all this stuff.” I pull a coffee from the cardboard holder. “I’m so glad you did though. Weren’t you going out with your cousin?”

  Dave puts the blanket over my lap. “I was, but then I got distracted with thoughts of you. I didn’t want to find you here shivering with icicles hanging from your nose. I wanted to help.”

  “It does. You’re amazing.”

  I feel warm and fuzzy inside. Loved. His long arms move around, organizing my papers and picking up the empty bags. Even though it’s not fair, I can’t help comparing him to Winston. In the months we were together, Win never worried about my status. We sat across from each other at a library table for a whole semester, and not once did he ask me if my butt hurt or if I was cold. Dave’s so into me. I’m not sure what I did to deserve his attention.

  He smiles at me when he’s done and picks up his bag. “You have to work. I should get back anyway.”

  I frown. I don’t want him to go. “You’re leaving?”

  “You’ve inspired me. I think I’ll actually catch up on my Spanish work. I’m failing miserably.”

  My jaw drops. “On a Friday night? Who are you and where did you hide Second Floor Dave?”

  He chuckles. “Dumb language requirement is going to get me kicked out. Why did I come to this school again?”

  His grin gives me more of a rush than the amped up coffee. “Maybe to meet me,” I offer.

  He reaches to touch my chin, his eyes dancing as they look into mine. “Maybe.” He digs through the bags again and pulls out the candy.