Page 3 of Devil’s Kiss (Sunset Cove #2)

T HE PEOPLE WHO stand out as special in your life are usually put in your path for a reason.

Camille Finley, Finn’s mom, had said that to him last night as Derek sat at her kitchen nook and ate a “good luck on your first day of college” spaghetti dinner with his best friend.

He’d been in the process of trying to work out a way to thank her for being the mother he’d never had.

But, as usual, when he’d gotten to the emotional “Thank you. I love you” part, he’d choked the fuck up.

That had been when she walked around the counter and gave his large shoulders a squeeze, and whispered those words of wisdom in his ear.

He was starting to think the woman was right, too, because if it hadn’t been for her, he sure as hell wouldn’t be standing on the perfectly manicured lawn of a university with a swollen eye and one hell of a headache, waiting on her late-ass son.

Yeah, today was the first day of the rest of his life.

His first day of college. And even though he’d worked damn hard to be there, a part of him already wanted out.

The part that was embarrassed to know that he’d have to sit through class with his sunglasses on or look like the kind of dick who got into weekend fistfights. Fucking awesome.

The shitty part of the situation was that he wanted to be there. But now he was stuck with a shiner developing on his face that would no doubt draw attention and questions about himself, and not the good damn kind.

I mean, really, can the day get any worse?

The constant heat that blanketed the small town of Sunset Cove was in full effect as all the students who would be attending college for the upcoming year were trying to find their classes.

He glanced at his watch again, and when he saw the time he grimaced.

Finn was really late. That was just brilliant.

Why not add that to the list of shit that was starting to pile up: late on the first day.

He should’ve known better. During his run he’d noticed the waves were perfect for surfing, and after years of friendship he should’ve clued in to what his buddy would be doing this morning, no matter how late it made him.

That didn’t help him out, though. He didn’t want to get off to a bad start with his professors, so he walked up the path that dissected the lawn and headed toward the front entrance of the History building.

After climbing the stairs to the double doors, he heard his name being called from behind and spotted Finn jogging across the lawn toward him.

Daniel Finley—Finn to most, and Danny boy to him on occasion—was his best friend. He understood who Derek was and the situation he came from. That didn’t mean the two of them hadn’t had their fair share of throw-downs, though.

He was too irritated right now to bother acknowledging his friend, who had finally come to a standstill opposite him with a grin so wide it looked like it was about to slide right off his face. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Jesus. Relax, would ya? I got held up. My first class was an hour before yours, remember? And then the rooms got switched, so I totally missed it. By the time I found the damn thing, it was over and I got stuck explaining myself to my law professor. Why are your panties in such a twist?”

Shit, he’d forgotten that. He’d been too busy trying to work out how the hell to hide his mangled face. “Sorry, man. I blanked. But now I’m late. Not exactly how I wanted to start my academic future. With a professor riding my ass.”

Finn opened his mouth and a mischievous light entered his eyes.

He was probably about to throw out some jab on how he knew Derek liked to be ridden, but then he caught himself and let whatever comment he’d been about to say go.

Derek figured the grim expression he must’ve been sporting had a lot to do with Finn’s silence.

Daniel Finley may have had that easygoing surfer vibe happening, but he was one smart guy.

Tall, almost as tall as himself, he was broad-shouldered, with a golden tan, and had shoulder-length blond hair that was currently shoved behind his ears.

Most underestimated the guy, and were shocked as hell when this beach boy outsmarted them every damn time.

Wanting to steer the conversation to his own liking, Derek said, “You know, out of all the classes I’m dreading, history has to be top of the list. What the fuck do ancient ruins have to do with a business degree? It makes zero sense to even have it on my syllabus.”

Finn held open the door for him, and when he loped past, Finn clapped a hand on his shoulder. “We picked this course because it’s pretty much the only class we’ll see each other in. So stop bitching and get your ass inside, would you?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just don’t see the point,” Derek grumbled as they entered the large lecture hall and trudged up the stairs to the middle of the room. He was pleased to find that even though they were late, it appeared their professor was also.

Leaving his sunglasses in place, Derek squashed his large frame into one of the small seats to the left of the aisle and then swept a surreptitious glance over the students already seated.

Most looked like your average high schooler.

Fresh faced eighteen-or nineteen-year-olds, thinking they were adults now that they’d graduated and moved on to pursue a higher education.

Most of them also looked as though they could afford to be there and weren’t the owner of a purple bruise forming around their eye courtesy of their father—something he was well aware made him very different to this preppy crowd of overachievers and history nerds.

Fucking hell. What am I doing here? It wasn’t the first time the thought had crossed his mind, which was insane considering he’d only been at school for… Shit, twenty minutes. But really, what am I doing here?

He wasn’t like these kids. They’d been waiting their whole life for this opportunity. Hell, they probably had career plans mapped out when they were in grade school and then worked toward it in high school.

Him? Not so much. He’d been busy working out at the gym at every opportunity he could get to focus his adrenaline and frustration in a specific and controlled way.

Not to mention trying to fucking survive his childhood and adolescence.

So yeah, he was totally winging it, and was here only courtesy of financial aid and a scholarship he’d submitted and actually been accepted for.

Miracle of all fucking miracles.

Finn leaned over and bumped arms with his. “See, you were worried about nothing.”

Derek turned to face his friend and slumped a little farther down in his chair. “I guess.”

“What do you mean, you guess?”

“I mean, I fucking guess. Jesus.”

“Cool it, would you?” Finn said under his breath. “What’s up with you this morning? And what’s with the sunglasses? Late night out on the town?”

“No. Early appointment with my father’s fist—” His words came to an abrupt halt when the door to the lecture hall swung open and crashed back against the wall, followed by an “Oh, shit!” which echoed off the cavernous ceiling.

The new arrival, a young guy carrying a mountain of books almost taller than himself, then stepped into the room and peered around the stack of literature practically weighing him down.

“Check this guy out,” he said, trying to get Finn’s attention off him.

He knew his friend wanted to ask more, but Finn was smart enough to know that now wasn’t the time or the place.

So, like a good friend, he let it go while Derek continued on about anything other than himself.

“I get wanting to impress the professor if you’re his TA, but fuck, man, you can make two trips. He isn’t even here yet.”

“No lie. He looks like he’s gonna fall flat on his face.” Finn laughed.

They both watched as the guy barely made his way across the front of the room, where he dumped the stack of books on the wooden table beside the podium. When he straightened up, he placed his hands on his narrow hips and blew out a deep breath.

“Whew. Where’s a strapping young man to carry your books when you need one?” he announced loud enough to grab hold of anyone’s attention he didn’t already have. If the volume of his exclamation didn’t do it, then his words sure as fuck did. Not to mention his clothes.

The guy was wearing the brightest pair of yellow pants Derek had ever seen, with a violet button-up short-sleeved shirt.

It was tucked in at his trim waist and outlined by a thin belt the same color as the shirt.

His lean frame took nothing away from his confidence, though, as he surveyed the faces of everyone now solely focused on him.

He didn’t seem embarrassed, humiliated, or in any way uncomfortable, except for the fact that he’d just lugged half a damn library into a room.

That confidence instantly intrigued Derek, because while he himself most certainly looked confident on the outside, there was a whole fuck ton of self-doubt just beneath the tattooed top layer.

This man who’d captured his and everyone else in the room’s attention, on the other hand, appeared to know exactly who he was.

“Good morning, class. As you can see, I’m a little all over the place, but rest assured now that I’ve finally located my classroom this won’t be an ongoing occurrence,” he said, his hands moving right along with his words as though part of a choreographed dance.

“Well.” He laughed. “The all-over-the-place part, that is. I can’t guarantee complete punctuality because I’m always late.

What ? It takes time to look this fabulous every day.

But I’ll work on that too. As long as you all promise to try and be here on time as well. ”

The guy aimed a dazzling smile up at them, and the class laughed—everyone except for Derek.