Sighing, I try again. “The people in admissions get paid to give tours. The lovely folks in fundraising and alumni engagement would probably carry you through campus on a golden sedan chair. The administration would probably make the college president himself take you on the damn tour if they thought you’d take the position.”

He nods. “You’re probably right.”

Thank you. I turn my attention back to my laptop, still ignoring the beer he poured me. It doesn’t even appeal to me right now, which is good, since I’m so tired that I’d probably pass out after drinking half of it. I shouldn’t have worked through my spring break. I can’t afford to burn out right before the finish line. “So . . . good luck with that. I’ll see you around.”

I can feel his gaze on me. Hungry and intense. By the way he’s devouring me with his eyes, you’d think I was in a slinky formal gown and not the clothes I wore on my afternoon run. “You’re right,” he says, “but I still want you to do the tour.”

I refuse to look away from my screen and reread an email about a department meeting. “It’s nice to want things.”

“Which is why I mentioned it in my meeting this morning. I said Shayleigh Jackson is an old family friend and I’d love for her to show me around the liberal arts side of campus.” When I finally lift my eyes, he’s grinning like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar and not like a grown man cornering me into spending time with him. “I guess you’ll get a call about it soon.”

“I guess I will,” I say tightly.

Easton

Glasses. Sloppy bun. Pencil skirt. Oversized cardigan. No makeup, but a little gloss on her lips.

Shay agreed to meet me at the coffee kiosk in the lobby of the campus library Wednesday morning, and I’m sure she had no idea that her choice in attire would inspire some serious sexy librarian fantasies.

She grabs her coat off the back of a chair and shrugs into it. “Good. You’re on time. Where do you want to start? I want to be back in my office by ten.”

I grin at her. I’m not about to let her abrasive attitude scare me off. I brought a new fledgling NFL team through its growing pains and to three Super Bowl wins. I am persistence. “Coffee?” I ask, ignoring her scowl.

She opens her mouth, and I know she wants to refuse like she refused the beer I brought up last night, but this is Shay and coffee. I know her weaknesses. “I guess we can drink and walk.”

I’m going to win her back one little victory at a time, and we’ll call this victory number one. “Americano, splash of half and half?”