To his credit, he looks away.
“Listen,” I say, more gently this time. “I understand that you have personal issues. I have them too. But you can’t take them out on me.”
He swallows hard, and it’s obvious he can barely meet my gaze. “I’ll work on it.”
I suppose that’s the best he can do. “Good. I’m tired. Can you take me home now?”
He nods. We’re almost at my dorm, a place I won’t have to see in another few weeks, when he looks over at me. “I think we just had our first fight.” He pulls up in front and puts the car into park.
“I think we did.” Despite my lingering annoyance with him, I grin. “Guess you’ll have to make it up to me,” I say, batting my eyes and sliding out of the car before he can make a move to kiss me.
Yes, I’m making him work for it.
Chapter Six
Zach
There’s no way out. Unless I want that bastard to forget what he did to my sister and live a guilt-free life, I have to go through with the plan.
I’ve stalled long enough. I didn’t even push Chloe for sex right away because I couldn’t bring myself to sleep with her, knowing what I planned. So I put it off. And when we finally did? Spontaneous and fucking incredible. I’ve never felt anything like her clasping me in her wet heat. Warm, welcoming, like fucking home.
But the plan always lingers. I could have videotaped her the first time, but even I’m not that much of a dick. I wanted her to have some decent memories, not betray her right away. Afterward, I put off installing cameras, but the joke’s on me. The more time we spend together, the more I like her.
The more I’m drawn to her.
The more I want to be the man who is protecting her for the right reasons.
And the more I want to be someone she can look at with love and trust in those baby blues. The last month with Chloe has been what I would want out of life if I had the luxury of choosing. Even living in my grandfather’s old house hasn’t been bad — because she’s been there with me so often.
But weekly visits with my sister remind me of what must be done. So I had a friend who owes me a favor install video cameras in my bedroom. Various angles. High-tech.
But I don’t know if I can go through with using her, with turning the video over to someone who will make sure it goes viral fast. Because in Chloe’s eyes, I see the man I want to be. The man I could have been for her if that bastard hadn’t destroyed my sister.
Of course, if he hadn’t, then I wouldn’t ever have met her, because nothing about us wasn’t planned. Except for my feelings. I think I love the girl. Which explains why last night, I almost called my friend and had him pull the cameras, which will turn on when we walk into the bedroom. Then Ferro showed up at the bar, and all the suppressed anger and hatred resurfaced.
So the cameras are in place. They’ll do their job.
Will I have the courage to do mine?
Chapter Seven
Flowers arrive at my dorm room the next morning. I open the card, read it, and grin. “Let me make it up to you.” A few minutes later, another deliveryman arrives, this one with a chocolate tree. Seriously. Mini chocolate bars in the shape of a tree. The man is seriously trying to apologize. I’ve already forgiven him. I’d mentally done it last night, but that didn’t mean I planned to make myself look easy.
I pick up my phone, about to text him when it buzzes in my hand. I glance down. “I need to see you.”
I hold the phone against my chest and sigh. Am I in over my head with this guy? I want to see him so badly. It’s like the one night apart is already ripping my heart out of my chest. How could I fall for him so hard, so fast? Granted, he’s stepped up the actual time frame by being with me. All. The. Time.
I blow out a deep breath. The phone buzzes again. “Now,” I read.
I text back: “Okay.”
“Waiting downstairs. Pack a bag.”
I shake my head, yet I do as he says, including textbooks so I can study. Soon I’m running down the dorm steps and out into the summer heat. Sure enough, his black truck is idling out front. My heart picks up speed as he meets me around the passenger side of the car and opens the door.
“We cool?” he asks before shutting my door.
I meet his gaze and see the apology in his eyes. “We’re cool.”