Fate (Steel Brothers Saga 13)

Warmth bubbled through me. “I wasn’t teasing you,” I said. “I really did want to make love. I wanted it to be you, Brad.”

“It will be me. Just not tonight.” He pulled me close.

We stood, embracing, for several moments. I never wanted to let go.

“I should get you back,” he said.

I nodded. “Okay.”

“I want to see you tomorrow night, okay?”

“Yeah, o— Oh! No. It’s first nighter.”

“Shit, really? First nighter is a pain in the ass. Skip it and go out with me instead.”

“I want to, but I can’t. All the girls on the floor made plans to go together. Patty would be upset.”

“Patty will be fine.”

My mother and I had talked endlessly about college. I’d spoken to Dr. Payne as well. We all agreed that I should have the normal college experience—which included orientation…and first nighter.

“I should go.”

“You realize they pair you off like ducks in a row, right?”

“I know what it is, but everyone says you don’t have to spend the evening with your date.”

“Whoever is lucky enough to be paired off with you will want to spend the evening with you,” he said. “I guarantee it.”

His words warmed me. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t be interested in whoever it is.” I touched his stubbled cheek. “I’m interested in you. Only you.”

He smiled, and his cheeks flushed a bit. He was a senior, twenty-two years old, and I made him blush.

It really was destiny.

“I can’t talk you out of this, huh?” he said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to disappoint the others. Plus, I honor my commitments. I feel strongly about that.”

He kissed my forehead. “You’re something, you know that?”

“I can meet you after,” I said.

“You got it. Let’s get you back to the dorm.”

Brad gave me a searing kiss after he walked me to my room. Patty was still out with the girls, or maybe she’d met Sean. I had no idea. At any rate, I undressed, wrapped my robe around myself, and gathered my facial scrub and toothbrush, ready to head to the bathroom and wash up. I jerked when someone knocked on the door.

I sighed. Probably Ennis or someone else, saying another party was forming in the lounge. I was just too tired. These three days had been nonstop, and frankly, I wanted to lie in my bed and relive my time with Brad. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I decided not to answer the door. Who would it harm? As soon as whoever it was went away, I’d make my way to the bathroom.

Then a harsher knock. “I know you’re in there,” said a female voice. “I saw you come back with Brad.”

I didn’t recognize the voice, but I’d only just met all these people. It could easily be one of the girls from the floor.

If she saw me, I’d be a liar if I didn’t answer the door. I wasn’t a liar.

I opened the door.

Not one of the girls from the floor. Instead, it was a beautiful woman wearing jeans and a tank top with Candie’s high-heeled slides. Her body was a perfect hourglass figure. Her hair was brown, lighter and shorter than mine, and her eyes a sparkling blue.

“Uh…hi,” I said. “I’m sorry. Have we met? Do you live on one of the other floors?”

She eyed my room. “Cute,” she said.

“What do you want?”

“Nice robe.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m a friend of your brother’s.”

“Larry?”

“Yeah. Can I come in for a minute?”

Say no. But I no longer trusted my inner voice, not after I’d lost so much time junior year. I had nothing to fear from this young woman. She didn’t seem dangerous. Even if she was, I was taller. Of course, I was no fighter. She could do some major damage with those wooden heels alone.

Something pulsed in my head. Something familiar, like I’d been in a similar situation before.

But I hadn’t. I had no idea who this girl was.

“Who are you?” I said again.

“A friend,” she said. “I’m here for one reason.”

“And that is…?”

“To warn you to stay away from Brad Steel. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“I only just met—”

“I know. That’s why I’m here, to help you. I know he’s been with you the past three evenings. He’ll hurt you, Daphne.”

That feeling—that pseudo-memory of violation—pulsed through me again.

This person had been watching me?

My skin prickled with invisible insect bites. My heartbeat drummed in my ears. White noise clouded my mind.

“He uses women,” she said. “I know how you’re feeling. He’s great-looking. You’re new here and the most gorgeous guy on campus has the hots for you. I feel for you, but you’re only going to get hurt.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I know you don’t. You don’t want to, and that’s okay. If you keep seeing him, though, don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll go now. Looks like you’re ready for bed.” She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.