Page 10

Sam

Christmas break passes in a frosty blur, the city blanketed with snow.

A chill rolls through me as I walk the halls, closing my jacket over myself.

Today is my first official day as Professor Frazier’s teaching assistant.

The door on last year has closed, a new one opening and propelling me closer to my goal.

One step closer to graduation.

When I open the double doors to the lecture hall, students crowd the aisles, chatting among themselves. They assume I am one of them.

Not this time .

I stroll down the center aisle toward Professor Frazier, who smiles when he sees me. “Good morning, Samantha. I hope you’re well rested and ready to work.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, shifting the bag on my shoulder to adjust the weight. “I’ve already prepped the first three assignments for you.”

He flashes another smile, his gaze moving from my face and down my body.

Ugh, why does he have to be such a creeper?

For such a well-respected attorney and chair of the law department, I would have expected someone more…

professional. But I need this job. Regardless of his behavior, I have to ignore him.

Working with Professor Frazier is a stepping stone to my next endeavor. This job will look good on my resume.

Professor Frazier points at a stack of papers on the table. “Pass those around the room.”

I grab the papers, about to walk up the aisle, when the door slams. Tucker Kane stands before the double doors, looking like a blond, broad-shouldered sex god.

He’s accompanied by another gorgeous guy who’s tall and muscular with shaggy brown hair.

They’re both built like athletes, disgustingly handsome, and capturing the attention of everyone around them.

Tucker’s eyes find mine. He appraises my body and rolls his tongue over his bottom lip. This time, a shiver runs through me, not because of the chill in the cold building. Tucker walks toward me and winks.

He’s dressed in a leather jacket paired with a fitted navy tee and low-slung jeans hanging from his hips, reminding me of a male model.

Now, I’m the one licking my lips. I suck in a deep breath, frozen in place, my feet unable to carry me.

Tucker whispers something to his friend, both of their eyes on me.

He stops in front of me with a strange expression on his face. “So, we meet again, Sam.”

My mouth falls open slightly before I realign my jaw again.

“Is that for me?”

Tucker takes a syllabus from my hand and passes it to his friend. His fingers brush mine when I hand another to him. He glances down at the paper and follows his friend to the back row.

I watch as he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his thick chest. He kicks his feet up on the chair before him and flashes an evil grin in my direction. There’s no way I’ll make it through an entire semester with Tucker staring at me this way.

After everyone has a syllabus, Professor Frazier slips behind the podium. He gives his spiel about what he expects over the next twelve weeks, instructing the class to contact me, which means Tucker will have direct access to me.

I clear the lump forming at the back of my throat. He makes it impossible for me to focus on anything other than him. His presence commands attention, and he seems well aware of this.

I am so damn screwed.