Chasing Forever (The Forever Series #1)(8)
Ah…that’s where he got his eyes.
Regan stifled her laughter. She liked this playful side of him. “Hmm, I don’t think waking anyone up is necessary. Aren’t you the king of this fraternity or something?” Regan asked waving her hands in front of her.
“King. No. President. Yes.”
“So can’t someone here give you a reference?”
“You really want a reference from a member of my fraternity?” His shook his head in mock disbelief.
She scanned the room eyeing the people lingering on the main floor. A group of five guys passed around a bottle of tequila in the corner, laughing as they patted each other on the back. A couple too engaged in each other to see anyone else stumbled up the stairs, the girl giggling as the guy whispered in her ear. A few people were passed out on the chairs. Nobody seemed sober enough to remember their own name. They wouldn’t provide a credible reference. “Probably not a good idea,” she responded dryly, then sighed. “Okay, you can walk me home.”
“I guess I’m the best of the bad options.” Lucas looked up at the ceiling and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll take it. Let’s go.” He held out his arm signaling her to go ahead of him.
The front yard of the fraternity was crowded with people trying to decide what to do now that the party had fizzled. “So why are you being so nice to me or is your sudden chivalry part of a devious plan to take advantage of an unsuspecting freshman you shepherd back to the dorm?”
“I don’t—” Two guys, with hats on backwards, ran up the steps separating her from Lucas.
“Nice pick, Evanston,” one of the guys shouted as he passed.
“What did that mean?” she asked, stopping on the sidewalk and turning around to watch the guys enter the fraternity.
Lucas shrugged, ignoring the comment. “I don’t make a habit of shepherding freshmen anywhere.”
“So, it isn’t a habit, just an occasional indulgence,” Regan said, quickening her steps. She wished she had re-evaluated her decision to go the party without a jacket. The temperature had dropped since her walk to the party and the loose weave of her sweater wasn’t providing much protection from the cool breeze.
“Not even an occasional indulgence. This is a first.”
“A night of firsts.” She stopped at the crosswalk, wrapping her arms around her torso.
Lucas halted next to her, draping his arm around her shoulder. “You’re cold,” he said, his voice low.
“I’m fine. It’s only two more blocks.” She tried to step out of his embrace, but his hand tightened around her shoulder, pulling her back.
“I don’t bite and your sweater is damp.”
“Exactly. It’s damp, not wet. I’ll live.” Honestly, she didn’t understand what Lucas wanted from her. There were a hundred other girls at the party. Why did he pick her out of the crowd? Granted, the attention was flattering, but it didn’t make sense. If he dated girls like Olivia, she couldn’t imagine that she would draw his attention. Olivia looked sophisticated and classy—Regan, not so much. Natural, petite, and different would be a better description.
“Look,” he began, “I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable and like you said it’s only two blocks. Go with the flow. Live a little.”
The crosswalk turned and she started walking again. “I think I’ve lived enough for one night. Besides, I’m more of a planner. The motto around our house is if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
Lucas chuckled. “Right. Planning is a good thing, but some of life’s best surprises aren’t planned.”
“And most of life’s worst surprises aren’t planned.”
Lucas pulled her closer against him. “I guess this is what I get for approaching a strange girl at a fraternity party. I pick the sassy, jaded one.”
She halted, turning her face up toward his, her eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean, you picked me?”
Lucas turned to face her, placing both of his hands on her shoulders. A thousand winged creatures flopped around in her stomach itching to get out. Crap. She couldn’t be attracted to this guy. He ate girls like her for breakfast.
He stared down at her. “You walked into the party looking all lost and adorable. Right then, I knew I had to talk to you.” He pushed her hair behind her ear, lightly brushing her neck, and she felt an electric current tingle down her spine. Double crap. Her heart started beating erratically, almost as if she’d just finished running a marathon.
She looked down at her black moto boots, briefly wondering why she didn’t wear those heels Erica tried to force on her and those thoughts explained why this guy was dangerous to her. Well, to any girl, really. She cleared her throat. “So this is my dorm. Thanks for walking me home.”
He tipped up her chin and his amber eyes searched hers briefly. Those eyes should be outlawed as a weapon of mass destruction because they brought her to her knees. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, ever so softly, never releasing his hold on her chin. He pulled his head back, his lips hovering just inches away from hers. “They’re as soft as I thought,” he whispered, his warm minty breath teasing her senses making her body shiver.
“Huh?” Her eyes widened in surprise. As his lips curved up slightly at the corners, she thought of a big sign flashing, danger, danger, run away, don’t look back.