I came out of Professor Laken’s office with my mind still whirling from our conversation about my honors project and nearly tripped over Derrick’s legs. I’d been digging through my bag, but that was no excuse for him to take up so much space. The little used hallway chair looked like it was going to collapse under his big body.

Luckily, he’d missed my graceful exit from Professor Laken’s office, since he was staring down at his phone. I dropped my heavy bag at his feet, and he looked up. That jolt hit me again—the one that happened every time our eyes met—like warm little bubbles had invaded my body. Probably a pheromone thing. Biology was so annoying.

He rose from the seat with a grin and put his phone away. “Ready to eat your words?”

“With that kind of greeting, how could I not be?” I deadpanned.

“I can deliver a better greeting.” He stepped closer, and my breath caught.

The hallway suddenly shrank, and I realized how alone we were in the bowels of the psych building. Derrick leaned over to brush his lips against my cheek.

“How was your meeting, Em?”

As much as I like to think of myself as a strong, confident woman, having Derrick’s mouth—Derrick’s everything—that close to me, brought all my thoughts to a screeching halt. All my thoughts except one. That one urged me to turn my head toward him to see what he would do.

With my skin tingling, and the rest of me on fire, I took a shallow breath. It would have to be enough.

“The meeting was fine. Professor Laken is concerned about my inattention in class, but I’m on track for my project, and you smell really good.” Why had I said that last part? It was true, but he always smelled good. Dear God, I needed to get a grip.

Derrick stepped back with a wide smile. “Thanks. Should I apologize for the inattention?”

I snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s been a complicated semester.”

“I understand. You ready to go?”

His quiet acceptance didn’t fool me for a second, but I couldn’t very well keep defending myself without revealing my massive lie. The sole reason for my inattention was him. The straight A student inside me, who’d been noticeably absent so far this semester, pointed out that I could always sit somewhere else. Each class, I’d chosen to join him in the back corner of the lecture hall, so the inattention was partly my fault too.

I told my inner goody-two shoes to shove it and nodded at Derrick. “Yeah, I’m ready. What did you have in mind… besides me following you around with a besotted expression on my face, of course?”