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“You don’t even know me.” He huffs, his tone irritated.
I think I’ve pissed him off.
“Sure I do. I’ve been around baseball players my entire life. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t want my daughter around college dorm life.”
“I don’t do the dorm life thing.”
He has an answer for everything, doesn’t he? “You know what I mean.”
A frown settles on those beautiful lips, and he draws in a quick breath, shaking his head. “No, really, I don’t.”
“Cason.” I sigh, trying to put this nicely. “I can’t rent this room to you.”
“Why not? I can pay for six months’ rent.Today.” It’s as if he knows I need the money. Oh, right. He does know. Fuck.
“If you can afford that, why rent a room from me? Why not rent a house or even a dorm room? You’re probably in school on a scholarship.” I leave the words hanging because he should be. With that kind of talent, he has to be there on a scholarship.
“Dorm life and me didn’t work out.”
“Why not?”
He doesn’t say anything at first, but then he sighs, his shoulders rolling forward with defeat. “Okay, if you must know, I filled a condom with conditioner and left it on the floor. They kicked me out for lewdness and invasion of privacy.”
I want to laugh, because that’s funny. “Why would you do that?”
“I could go into the reasons and all that, but I won’t.”
“No way they kicked you out for that only.” I went to college and was around plenty of college athletes over the years. It’s next to impossible to get in trouble for them. Everyone worships them, and they’re constantly handed second chances.
“I was drinking.”
I stare at him.
“A lot.”
I’m still staring, waiting for him to crack and tell me he set the school library on fire and that it was all a misunderstanding and the fire started itself.
But that doesn’t come. Instead, he tries again and gives me soft eyes and a pleading voice that nearly cracks me.
He caves. “Listen, I swear, I’m a good person. I just made some shitty decisions this last year. But I need a place to stay.”
“I really can’t. I have a daughter to think about. I can tell you’re a good person, and I want to let you stay here, but if I do, I’m afraid of what I’ll do.”
He raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You.” I gasp, reaching out to touch his arm. I regret it instantly because the second our skin touches, I’m reminded of how much I already like this guy and our strange electric connection. I don’t know if he feels it too, but I think he does because he automatically moves closer, his lashes fluttering. “You’ll be here every day, and then sooner or later, we’ll be sleeping together.”
A smile tugs at his lips. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“See? That’s exactly why you can’t stay here. I need someone unattractive.”
“I’m great with kids,” he adds, trying to gain some runs for his side. “They love me.”
“That’s because you are one,” I mutter under my breath, chewing on my bottom lip. I notice in the distance, over Cason’s shoulder, a car pulling into my driveway.
“I didn’t hear you complaining the other night.” Cason glances over his shoulder. “I can help you with her.”
I frown. I can see it now. Tatum attached to him and thinking she has her own personal boy toy. Not in the same ways I would, but you get it. “No way.”