Page 48 of Lady Killer

This couldn’t go on unchecked.

Dominic continued to lecture into the webcam while I raged in silence. By the time he finished the lecture, I was ready to tear out of the hall.

“Uh, stay warm,” he called out to my back.

“You too,” I responded airily.

I had a plan.

Carrying my scarf, hat, and gloves in a pile, I cut through the first floor of Granger Hall, heading straight for the elevators to the upper floors of the building.

Rounding the corner, I nearly collided with someone hurrying in the opposite direction, and in my efforts to avoid them, my belongings fell from my arms, scattering across the floor.

“Shit, sorry,” said a familiar voice.

“Professor Schultz, what are you doing here?”

“Ah, oh, I’m meeting a friend,” he said, gesturing in the direction of the hall I’d come from. “And please, call me Michael.”

I kneeled to pick up my stuff with Michael reaching to help me. Once again, a prickle of awareness ran through me.

Was someone watching us?

Standing up, I looked around, my instructor looking at me in confusion.

“Sorry, Professor, I’m just . . . I’m also meeting someone, and I have to go,” I said, stepping around him, still searching for the source of my unease.

“Right . . . right. Well, then, see you next week,” he called after me as I walked away from him.

Ducking down another hallway, I peered around the corner. Watching and waiting to see if anyone else appeared.

After several minutes, when no one did, I came out from my hiding place and scurried over to the elevators I knew would take me to Locke’s office.

Once the doors closed, the uncomfortable sensation of being spied on eased up, and by the time I made it to the sixth floor, I was convinced I’d imagined it.

Stepping off the elevator, the floor was empty, thanks to the weather keeping most faculty at home, and I padded down the hall to where I knew Locke’s office was.

607 . . .609 . . . 613. . . There it was.

The door had a tumbler lock, which meant even though I wasn’t the best at it, there was a good chance I could pick it.

Looking around again, I pulled my backpack to my front and shoved my pile into it before reaching into the inner side pocket for my pencil case.

It was a cute pleather one I’d picked up at the university bookstore. I liked that, in addition to the one long rectangular pouch, there were a couple of small slim pouches inside. One was the perfect size for a collection of picklocks.

Turning my attention back to the door, I considered which pins were right for the job.

“A word of advice, if I might.”

“Zut alors!” I cursed, spinning around as my heart dropped to the bottom of my chest.

Everest stood less than an arm’s length away from me. Once again, I hadn’t heard a sound until he spoke.

What is it with these men sneaking up on me?

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, my eyes darting around the hall to see if anyone else had stumbled on me.

“Watching you, obviously,” he said, his forehead crinkled in confusion.

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