Sandwich and kettle chips in hand, he found an empty seat at a corner table and dug out his sauce and the notes for the next class, fully intending to study. Motion at the counter caught his eye and he looked up to the sight of perhaps the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, ordering a smoothie bowl. And having hung around the witches of Arcane, the vampires of Demidova Corp, and the werewolf beauty his best friend dated, Mack had seen his share of gorgeous women. This girl had them, to his mind, all beat, cold.

Jet black hair, dark, dark eyes, perfect skin the color of cream-doctored coffee, and a toned stomach peeking out where it was exposed by form-fitting athleisure wear, all of which was wrapped in a warm-looking long dark grey sweater big enough to act like a coat. Her long hair swung down across the side of her face as she pulled out a student ID card to pay for her lunch. One slim finger slipped up to tuck her errant hair behind her ear and he found himself entranced. The counter girl waiting on her finished the transaction, gave her an envious look, and turned to get the lunch order together.

The beautiful girl put her card away and turned while she waited, her gaze brushing across his as she looked around the room. Oddly, his mouth went dry and he completely failed to flash his trademark smile at her. He was always at ease around women, but somehow this was different.

Hastily, he looked back down at his notebook, taking a drink of water to clear his mouth. The words were meaningless on the page; all his attention was split between trying to understand his reaction to the sight of her and the razor-sharp awareness that she was standing there, just ten or fifteen feet away. It was kind of surreal.

Flailing mentally for something to break his confusion, he picked up his sandwich and took a bite. A big bite. Then he sensed motion and his eyes came up as he saw her approach his table.

“Is anyone sitting here?” she asked, hesitant, uncertain, as if he might actually turn her away.

Mouth full, he was helpless to speak, so he just shook his head.

“No, there’s no one here, or no, I can’t sit here?” she asked.

Frantic, he gestured for her to sit. She gave him a quick smile, then put her food down and pulled out the chair directly across from him. Her book bag went into the chair next to hers and she gracefully folded into her seat.

“Sorry I caught you as you took a bite. Stupid time to ask a question,” she said, flashing another heart-stopping smile before concentrating on her food.

He swallowed, painfully, forcing the food down. Then took a drink of water. “Ah, no problem. Just my luck,” he said, trying for self-deprecating.