Page 14 of A Favor Owed

“Settle down there, Pines,” he says, clearly amused at my discomfort. “It’s a study workshop, not dinner and a chick flick. I would hope if you were going to make a move on me you’d come up with something better than this.”

I stare at him with my mouth slightly agape before I remember to shut it. “Okay, well let’s not be late,” I say, gathering up my coffee and backpack. He shakes his head at me and follows me out the door.

“Maybe you should cut back on the caffeine, Pines. Chill out a little, ya know?”

“I don’t know how to chill out,” I mutter.

“Well, lucky for you, I’m the official law school chill-out achievement director. And you’ve got an appointment with me this weekend.”

“What?” I splutter.

“Bring a swimsuit.”

Chapter Six

Brady

Okay, so Operation Angela Pines is off to a pretty good start. This has the promise of a win-win situation. I’ll get the information I need to keep my dad out of jail (win) and potentially get some action, too (double win). Nothing too serious, though. No sex. The last thing I need is a brokenhearted mafia princess wanting me killed.

But her combination of blatant lies and occasional honesty has me intrigued, just like the scent of lime and oranges and warm girl skin that come my way whenever she gets close enough. She’s a mystery and a threat wrapped up in long, tanned legs. And the hell if I don’t want those legs wrapped around me. Okay, so maybe if she really pushes the sex it would be okay…No, Brady. Down, boy.

All of this is going through my mind as I sit next to Angela in the lecture hall. She shivers when the air conditioning kicks on. I shake my head. Typical girl, always cold. I reach into my backpack, pull out my old FDNY sweatshirt, and hand it to her without a glance. As I attempt to pay attention to whatever Professor Kim is saying, I watch Angela put it on out of the corner of my eye.

“Thanks,” she whispers.

I tilt my chin up in response and keep my eyes straight ahead, not really wanting to get a look at her in my sweatshirt. I can’t get ahead of myself here. Operation Angela Pines has to proceed cautiously if it’s going to work, and a hot girl wearing my sweatshirt… That has the potential to make me throw caution to the wind.

To kill time, and my hormones, I type a few notes into my laptop and text my obnoxious little sister and a couple of buddies back home.

Thanks for the address. Send a picture of her.

The text came out of nowhere, startling me.I’ll see what I can do, I text back.

And whatever else you have to confirm.

You got it.

I put my phone away and send an instant message to Angela’s computer.I gotta go.

She starts to take off my sweatshirt, but I put my hand on her arm and shake my head.Give it to me on Saturday, I type.But don’t lose it or bleach it or anything. It’s important to me.

She looks at me with those outrageous turquoise eyes, her expression serious, and then types,I’ll take good care of it.

“Swear?” I whisper.

“I swear,” she whispers back. And I kind of get the feeling she’d protect that thing with her life. Okay, then.

Can I get your phone number?I type.

Her hands freeze on her keyboard.

I promise not to write it on the bathroom wall,I type. The side of her mouth turns up in a reluctant smile. I unlock my phone and hand it to her. She takes a deep breath and types in her number.

I take my phone back, save her number, and pocket my phone.For a good time…I type into the instant message app.

Angela covers her mouth to suppress a snort of laughter and nudges me with her elbow.

I can’t keep the grin off my face as I quietly pack up and steal out through the back.

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