Wait, what?Cash was checking in on my project?Why did that gesture leave a warm spot in the middle of my chest?I mean, we’d made out once and hung out twice, but we’d yet to go on that date.We were not a thing.Cash was a football player, and while he said that part of his life would be over at the end of next season, he ran with guys who were headed to the next level.I couldn’t see how those ambitions wouldn’t be contagious.
My plan was to avoid entangling myself with any man, but especially not a football player.A vision of a lock of his raven-black hair falling onto his forehead as he’d grinned his wicked lopsided grin at me over his coffee earlier popped into my mind, and I groaned in frustration.Exactly why did he have to be so damn gorgeous?
Ugh!
I couldn’t leave the poor guy hanging.It would be rude.
Me: Not well—for Barry.The rest of the team signed off on my final cut.
TH: Yeah?Good for you.How did he take it?
Me: Threw a tantrum and threatened to redo every edit before we turn it in tomorrow.But we were ready for that.
TH: Sounds devious.
Me: Self-preservation.I sent the final cut to our professor directly from my personal computer.Unless some extenuating circumstance says otherwise, the only cut the professor will accept is from the editor.
Me: Rather than pissing me off, Barry should have tried harder not to underestimate me.
TH: Trust me, Saylor, I’ll never underestimate you.
Cash’s comment sent a shiver through me.
TH: Looking forward to Thursday night.First date and celebrating your triumph over the clueless wonder.
We didn’t know each other.At.All.So how was it he had all the right words?
Chapter Thirteen
Cash
I’dasked Saylorto meet me at the screening room because Piper had let it slip she had a class there on Thursday afternoon.If the woman was going to try to bail on me, she’d have to miss class or sneak out early to do it.As skittish as she was about going out with me, I didn’t want to take any chances.
I’d quarterbacked my high school team to two state championships my junior and senior years of high school.If not for fucking up my knee sophomore year of college, I was on my way to quarterbacking the Huskies to a conference championship.I knew how to play hard for what I wanted.Even though Saylor and I hadn’t spent a ton of time together—yet—I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone, including my long-term ex-girlfriend back in Washington.
Saylor’s self-confidence and swagger drew me to her before I’d even set eyes on her stunning face.She had no doubt about her worth and wouldn’t stand for anyone not appreciating it.I could relate to her assertiveness and take-no-prisoners attitude.So fucking hot.
Saylor was the whole sexy package.I couldn’t wait to take her on the best date she’d ever had.With my duffel bag on the floor at my feet, I leaned casually against the wall opposite the door to the screening room, my hands in my pockets, the picture of nonchalance.While she’d eagerly kissed the shit out of me behind the anonymity of our masks at Mardi Gras, since I’d finally discovered her identity at the cornhole tournament, she’d been acting standoffish.After our conversation about postgrad plans, I understood why.I wasn’t asking her to marry me.I only wanted a chance to get to know the prettiest and most intriguing woman I’d ever met.
After that?Well, later could sort itself out.
The door to the little theater opened, and people streamed out of it, some on their phones, some chatting with each other.I recognized the whiney-ass director of Saylor’s project as he exited the room by himself, his expression pinched, and I hoped it didn’t mean something bad for her.Our date was supposed to be fun, but if she was still stressing over their project, that could be a problem.
Unease prickled through me.As a quarterback, I lived for timing.On the field, my timing was impeccable.But I may have made a colossal mistake in timing this date if Barry What’s-his-bucket’s expression was anything to go by.
As the room emptied out, a group of students surrounding my date emerged, all of them grinning, but none of their grins were as big as Saylor’s.When her gaze landed on me, the wattage of her smile dialed up to blinding, and I let out a breath.She said something to the people surrounding her and then stepped over to me as they wandered down the hallway toward the Union’s cafeteria.
“Hello, handsome.This date had better deliver, especially since it follows what just happened in there.”Saylor nodded over her shoulder in the direction of the theater.
Taking a chance, I leaned down and brushed a kiss over the silky skin of her cheek before whispering in her ear, “Like I told you before, sweetheart.I always come through on my promises.”
I clocked the tiny shiver that rippled over her and grinned inwardly with satisfaction.
Dropping my hand to the small of her back, I guided her toward the stairwell leading out to a sidewalk that ran along the faculty parking lot in front of the Union.I’d taken a different chance and parked my Jeep in some professor’s spot.At this time of the evening, I doubted I’d be ticketed let alone towed, and I didn’t want to waste date time on accidentally running into anyone we knew as we walked across campus to the student lot.
“I saw the expression on your director’s face as he walked out of class.It was one-eighty different from yours.So what happened in there?”I asked as we tossed our bags into the back seat of my ride.
Saylor slid into the passenger seat and buckled herself in before turning to me with a wicked gleam in her gorgeous amber eyes.“Today was the final screening of Film 301 projects.We screen and critique two or three films each class for the two weeks leading up to finals.My group’s was the first film of the afternoon, and let’s just say, Barry’s choices were roundly panned.”
