Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Creak.
We jumped apart at the familiar groan from the old staircase and approaching footsteps.
My heart thundered in my chest as I pulled away. “I should go.”
Holden nodded, his tongue tracing a lazy, no doubt unintentionally sexy path across his bottom lip. “Have a good day, Ezra.”
I stared at his mouth for a beat and swallowed hard, battling the supersized swarm of butterflies in my stomach.
What the fuck was happening to me? Was this just lust? Or was it something more?
I cruised through my day with a smile on my face, high-fiving partners and eagerly tackling research with a side of filing. I studied during lunch like a good law student and was sure to give myself ample time to meet Cole in Santa Monica later that afternoon.
Shockingly, there was zero traffic. I stopped at a Del Taco to grab a drink and fries and kill some time. The drive-thru line was ridiculously long, so I went inside, placed my order, and headed for the soda fountain.
“Excuse me, sir. Would you please pass me a straw?”
I glanced over at the statuesque college-aged young woman with bubblegum-pink lips and stylish glasses and absently handed over a straw. “Here you go.”
She thanked me but didn’t move. I sensed her stare as I filled my cup. I couldn’t tell if she was flirting or just awkwardly waiting for her shot at the root beer. I topped off my drink and stepped aside. Yep, she was still staring.
“You work for Rossman and Engle. Is that correct, sir?”
I cocked my head, slightly thrown off at being called “sir” twice in less than sixty seconds. And she looked familiar. Kind of like—
The boss’s daughter. Great.
I pasted a smile on my face. “Yes. Hi. You’re Mallory Rossman, right?”
She wiggled her nose primly and thrust her hand out in a manner that would have made a mobster proud. “Yes. And you’re the intern, Ezra Marsden.”
“That’s right.” I somehow managed not to wince at her surprisingly firm grip.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again. I recall briefly making your acquaintance at my father’s office. I trust that your internship has been a fruitful experience.”
There was no way to sugarcoat it…Mallory was a mega geek. The kind that spoke in direct complete sentences, never broke eye contact, and wore cardigans every day…even in July. Her designer accessories—the fashionable glasses, diamond necklace, and Chanel purse—hinted at her privileged upbringing, but I got the impression that her high-end accessories were gifts from her parents and represented the only real influence they had in her everyday life. In other words, Mallory seemed nothing like her status-conscious parents. I liked that about her.
“Thanks. Yeah, it’s been good,” I replied awkwardly. “Um…I’m kind of surprised to bump into you at a Del Taco in Santa Monica.”
“Understandable. I rarely frequent fast-food establishments. Do you?”
I shrugged. “Well, yeah, I tend to go for quick and easy when it comes to food lately. Today, though, it was a matter of the traffic being lighter than expected. I’m meeting a friend to look at a rental nearby.”
“Hmm. I wondered,” she replied cryptically.
I frowned as I shuffled toward the pickup section. “What do you mean?”
“I followed you here.”
“You followed me? Why?”
“Because it seemed more prudent and professional to confer with you regarding this matter outside of my father’s firm.”
I scratched my temple in confusion. “I’m lost. What did you want to talk about?”
Of course, the second the question left my mouth, I knew the answer.
“I’ve decided to take your advice regarding Professor Galymer.”
“My advice?”
Mallory gave her glasses a businesslike push with her forefinger. “I’m going to volunteer my services for Renaissance in the Park in the hopes that a personal connection will create an amiable tutorial relationship and much-needed extra credit. Thank you for the suggestion.”
Fuck.
I shook my head and waved my free hand like a red flag. “No, no. That was not my suggestion.”
“Don’t be modest. My father wouldn’t have known anything about the need for volunteers if not for you. He was rather adamant that your intimate acquaintanceship with the professor could be beneficial to my cause. I’m ashamed to report that I haven’t done well in Professor Galymer’s class. I’ve tried tutoring and study groups, but it hasn’t improved my grade. I have a month left, but failure looms in the distance. If I don’t pass this course, my acceptance at USC will be delayed, which in turn will delay my father’s role on the law advisory board.” She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled prettily. “So again…thank you. I’m grateful for your guidance. And for the chance to get to know you better.”
Wait. Was she making a move on me?
I had a very bad feeling that her dad told her to “get to know me” and this was the result. Nothing about my boss using me to solidify a connection for a passing grade was good. Or a spot on an elite board? That was new.