Page 35 of Love Lies Bleeding

“It wasn’t a tease, it was a statement.”

He mumbles something I don’t hear before he pulls me behind him to the door of the Dean’s office. My heart beats fast as I watch him look around before picking the lock on the door and swinging it open.

“Jake, what the hell?”

Pushing me through, he closes it behind us and smiles. “I want to show you something.”

“And we had to do a little breaking and entering for you to do that?”

“Babe, you do know my past is more than a little murky right, and we aren’t stealing anything. We’re just looking.”

“Your past doesn’t matter to me, Jake. I see who you are now.”

I mean it too, everyone has a past, and although Jake hasn’t told me much about his or really anything, I’m not in love with past him, I love the man before me now.

He walks to a glass cabinet and once again picks the lock as I peer over his shoulder. The cabinet is lined with old books, photographs, trophies, and a few antique bottles. Stepping back as Jake opens the door, I watch him gently lift a book from the shelf and place it on the table beside us.

I gasp in awe as I look at a first edition copy of A 1669 CLASSIC OF ARCHITECTURE, INCLUDING DESIGNS BY MICHELANGELO.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

Stepping forward, I touch the cover with reverence, knowing just how much a book like this is worth. But it isn’t the monetary value, it’s what’s inside.

“I thought you might like it. We can’t stay long but I thought you might want a few minutes to study it.”

“Thank you.”

Jake leaves me then to study the book as he goes to look at the photographs behind me. But I’m enthralled, taking in every detail of every page and sucking up the knowledge of the artwork inside.

Before long, I feel Jake beside me. “We need to get going.”

Taking the book, he places it back in the same exact spot and locks the cabinet before checking the coast is clear so we can leave.

Walking back to the dorms, I talk nonstop about the designs, the lines, and the influence of art on architecture. Jake listens as if what I’m saying is the most intriguing thing he’s ever heard.

“Sorry, I’m waffling.”

“You’re stunning when you’re like this.”

I’m about to laugh when my phone rings. Frowning, I take it out and see it’s work. “I need to take this.”

“Hey, I need you to work. Two of the other girls just called in sick.”

I listen as my boss begs and, although I don’t want to end my day working, I know I’ll say yes. Hanging up, I look at Jake with an apology on my lips only to see understanding on his face.

“You have to work.”

“Yeah, he’s in a tough spot. Sorry.”

“Hey, it’s fine. I have a few things I need to do anyway. How about pizza at my place tomorrow night?”

“I can’t. I have that paper due and I need to study for that exam on The Art Of Gothic Architecture.”

I see Jake’s shoulders tense before he smiles and I can see he’s disappointed. “How about I help you?”

I shake my head. “No, you’re too distracting.”

“Tuesday then?”

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