Page 6

“Next!” an upbeat male voice called. Beau gently shoved my shoulders toward the desk. With a resigned sigh, I relented and moved toward the secretary.

The man’s head was bent as I approached, rapidly typing on his computer. His head was bobbing side to side as he sang beneath his breath. I couldn’t recognize the song, but it was hauntingly beautiful.

His head snapped up, and I was momentarily struck dumb.

The man was gorgeous. Beautiful auburn hair with streaks of gold and dark red. Large hazel eyes framed by thick lashes. Full bottom lip and a small top one. What was going on here? Did this town just breed beautiful, sexy men? Or was it just the troubled guys? After all, this was a school for troubled teens.

He smiled at me, flashing perfect white teeth, and extended a hand. I shook it, stunned by how warm he was. How strong his grip was. How my heart began to beat erratically against my rib cage.

“The name’s Kace! And what’s your name, beautiful lady?” His fingers were rapidly tapping against his knees, and his body was bouncing like a fucking ball. The man had so much energy in him it was both adorable and nauseating.

“Bianaca,” I answered.

“Bianca?”

“No, Be-ana-ca,” I stressed. His gorgeous, impish smile never left his face as he typed something into the computer. His fingers moved rapidly over the keys. I supposed he did need an outlet for all that pent up energy.

Humming beneath his breath, he swiveled in his chair and rolled backward toward the printer. His long fingers gripped the corner of the newly printed paper before he rolled the chair back toward me.

“Here you are, beautiful lady,” he said with a wink. The man was…extra. But I couldn’t help but smile in return. Damn. I was a sucker for the crazies.

“Why thank you, handsome man,” I replied with a dramatic curtsy. He held the paper out for me to take, and I could’ve sworn his hand purposefully brushed against mine.

“I hate to say next…” He glanced over my shoulder and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Especially since the guy behind you is not nearly as sexy as you. And he’s glaring at me. Like he wants to rip my head off.”

I giggled, glancing over my shoulder at Beau. He was, in fact, glaring at us, muscular arms crossed over his broad chest.

“He’s all show but no bite.” I lowered my voice even further. “Unless you ask him to.”

“Is that something you like?” Kace’s smile was positively wicked. Sinful. “Biting?”

“Is that something you like?” I parroted. Before Kace could reply, Beau stormed toward us.

Kace directed his smile at Beau good-naturedly.

“Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to flirt with your girl.” Despite his words, he sounded the exact opposite of apologetic.

My stomach fluttered, both at being Beau’s girl and the thought of Kace flirting with me.

Down girl.

Beau, ignoring him, grabbed a pamphlet from the counter and wrote down his name and information.

“He doesn’t talk much,” Kace commented, typing Beau’s information into the computer.

“You have no idea.”

Beau pinched my arm, and I stuck out my tongue at him.

“Only speaking the truth,” I jabbed.

With a roll of his eyes, Beau grabbed the paper Kace held out to him and then reached with his free hand for me. He began to pull me toward Maria and the others.

“Hope to see you around, pretty girl!” Kace called with a jubilant laugh. A tentative smile touched my lips.

“I thought it was beautiful lady?” I teased. He laughed again.

“Why can’t it be both?”

Seeing Kace around? No, that would most definitely not be a bad thing.