Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
But he seemed to be more focused on getting rid of his job as a Secret Santa because he quickly set his messenger bag under the table and pulled out the present he’d brought. It would’ve been sweet if he hadn’t dropped it almost like it was a hot potato. “This was so stressful.”
I must’ve looked guilty as he turned around because his gaze narrowed and his voice dropped to almost a whisper. “What did you do?”
Smart was sexy right up until he was aiming those brains at me.
“Nothing.” I needed to work on sounding more innocent because his head cocked and he stepped closer. “Are you okay?”
I was grasping for a distraction but nothing came to mind and I found myself inching back from him. “I made you the good kind of brownies with the extra chocolate chips in them, oh, and the mac-n-cheese I brought is the sausage one with the really good sharp cheddar.”
He’d really liked that one at the beginning of the semester because I used some badass cheese, so it actually stopped him for a few seconds. “No, you can’t bribe your way out of this one.”
Shit.
“It’s not bribing you to make you something that you like.” Especially since we were dating at the very least…but I was a very good partner and didn’t mention that part while we had an audience.
An audience that was growing more and more curious by the second.
Ruslan was being careful and kept his voice low, but his frustration was clear even if they didn’t know why he was pissed at me. “You did this. You really rigged this game and made sure to give me Jamie.”
Okay, so I could see part of why he was so frustrated.
“I owe you an apology for that but no one else wanted her, and if I made it random, one of the freshmen could’ve ended up with her. What would that have done to their self-esteem?” It was a very reasonable and completely legitimate question that had him pausing to think things through.
“All the other seniors and older students in general said they’d play and it sounded like fun but only if they didn’t get Jamie.” Luckily for us, she wasn’t there yet because she constantly overscheduled herself and she’d be hurrying from another class. She seemed to have a thousand. “I knew you were strong enough to handle her.”
And he had been…it might’ve just given him a bit of heartburn.
“I’d have stepped in to help if I thought you’d needed it. I even had a list of ideas prepared.” I’d been ready to jump in at any number of points if he’d gotten too stressed. “I was so proud of you.”
I was being honest and that was what might’ve been the reason he actually stopped considering how to kill me.
“So you’re saying that to rig the Secret Santa project you had to torture the man who’s supposed to be important to you?”
Well, when he put it like that.
“I don’t know what you mean by rig.” Had I admitted to that on a broad scale? “I just needed to have a strong person step in and take care of a big problem so that everyone else could have fun. You were the strongest person I knew.”
And he was also the person who noticed all the little details, so I knew he’d have figured out what to get her…and he had.
“She loved that tea you picked out for her.” Ruslan must’ve eavesdropped at some point to know what tea she’d been looking for because she’d been amazed. “You did a fabulous job so far. It’s her favorite part of Christmas this year.”
I couldn’t tell him that while her parents had money, they didn’t have common sense or empathy because she was just getting cash at Christmas and his presents would be the only ones she’d get.
Knowing all the gossip on campus could be stressful sometimes.
“Stop talking. I’m still deciding if I’m going to kill you and you’re too good at distracting me.” His glare was adorable but I was smart enough not to point that out. “You rigged everything just so you’d get to be my Santa.”
“What did I say about guessing that?” Jamie’s slightly high-strung tone had both of us wincing. “That is not part of the game. I’m so disappointed in you, Professor Winslow.”
As she kept going, getting all her stress about life out as she lectured Ruslan, I finally noticed the twin troublemakers in the corner staring wide-eyed at Ruslan. When Max leaned over to Adam, I knew it was going to be good. “I told you he wasn’t a sub. He’s got to be a switch at least, so we’ve still got a shot.”
Oops.
“Oh, chocolate brownies.” One well-timed and very hungry freshman popped in the door and saved the day, distracting everyone around us. “I brought special ones.”