Better when He's Bold (Welcome to the Point #2)(14)
I nodded stiffly and bent over to get my laptop out from under the seat where I’d stashed it. When I turned back around, I felt heat rush into my face because bent over like that, I had clearly given Race the opportunity to check my ass out at its best. The green in his eyes had turned to something much darker, and I gulped nervously.
“What’s wrong with the computer?”
I held it protectively against my chest while his eyes rolled over me. It was unnerving to be the sole focus of a guy like Race. I felt like he was trying to get a look inside me, like he was systematically trying to figure out all the bits and pieces that made me tick.
“I don’t know. I turned it on and the screen was just blue. I know it’s bad, but everything I need for school is in there, so I have to do something.”
He lifted a sandy brow and reached for the laptop. “You don’t back anything up on an external drive or on an outside database, like Google Drive?”
I groaned and shoved my palms into my eye sockets. “Really, Race? If I was smart enough to do that, do you think I would be praying that you can fix it? Nothing is ever that easy in my life.”
He just watched me, his mouth turning down in a little frown. I much preferred that look on his exquisite face to the one he wore when he was flashing that sexy dimple at me. It was easier to resist.
“When do you need it back by?”
“I have a paper on there that is due tomorrow, but the teacher is pretty cool and will let me slide until Monday if I explain the situation. What I really need are my Math Theory notes. I have an evil TA who’s got it in for me because I turned him down when he asked me out. I’m barely passing the class, and without the notes, I’m beyond screwed.”
His eyes sank even further into midnight and his frown got even tighter. His broad chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
His eyebrows dipped low over those dark eyes, and his voice was even rougher than normal when he asked me, “What is going on with you, Brysen? Why does every single thing you’ve said to me tonight make me want to hurt things and various people?”
I gulped a little and shivered as we just watched each other silently.
“Life isn’t always fun and games, Race. You have to know that better than most people.”
He shook his blond head and took a step back from me. I really, really wanted to reach out and snatch him back. He was so bad for my self-control.
“No, it’s not, but you’re a good girl and too pretty for words. Things shouldn’t be that hard for you.”
Well, they were that hard, and I was just going to have to live with it.
“Do you think you can save it?”
He took another step back and grinned. I swear everything that made me female melted and turned liquid when that dimple indented his cheek.
“I’m pretty skilled at whatever I put my mind to, Brysen.”
The sexy undercurrent made me want to whimper.
“When do you think I can have it back?”
“Give me your number. I have a bunch of shit to take care of tomorrow, but after that’s all handled, I’ll look at it. Give me until the weekend.”
That was only three days. Aside from Math Theory, I should be able to make do until then. I rattled off my number and scowled when he didn’t pull out his phone to enter it in.
“You’re going to remember that?” I hated that I sounded like I was pouting about it.
“I won’t forget it, Bry. Everything about you is very memorable.”
Ugh . . . that kiss. It was going to haunt me forever. I shifted uneasily and pushed off the car.
“I have to take my little sister some ice cream and make sure she has her homework done.”
He gave me a considering look and tilted his head to the side a little bit. I didn’t want to be the object of Race Hartman’s attention; it made hiding the way I reacted to him too hard.
“You’re gonna have someone walk you to your car from here on out.” It wasn’t a question, just a blanket statement.
“I’ll try.” I would prefer it but life didn’t seem so inclined to give me anything I preferred right now.
“Do it, Brysen.” His tone suggested I listen or I might not like what followed.
“Yes, Race. I’ll make it happen from here on out.”
He grunted and turned to walk to where his bright red Mustang was parked. It was a supersexy car for a totally dead-sexy guy. Completely not fair.
“I’ll be in touch.”
He left without another word and I felt like I was going to fold in on myself. Every single person had limits to what they could endure. Adding Race into the mix of the mess I was already in the center of felt like there simply wasn’t any more room inside of me for things to stay stuffed down. Everything was coming to the surface, all the feelings and emotions I refused to acknowledge, refused to fret over, were popping the seams and threatening to spill out. That wasn’t a spill anyone was going to want a hand in cleaning up when I finally ruptured.
I sighed and called Karsen to see what kind of ice cream she wanted me to get for her.
Chapter 4
Race
THERE WAS A TIME in my life where the thud of heavy fists smacking into flesh, the smell of blood, and the agonizing sounds of human suffering moved me. It used to make my skin crawl and my guts go tight. Now it was a necessary evil, and as bad as it appeared it was just part of the job.