Chapter 28

Bradley wandered around the campus quad. His next class started in a few minutes, but he was procrastinating, hoping he’d catch Carissa on the way to her class. She hadn’t been back to the house since she’d rushed out Sunday night, and that was three days ago. She also wasn’t responding to his messages.

His phone rang, and he scrambled to get it out of his pocket. Heart racing, he wished with everything in him that Carissa was finally getting in touch. But one glance at the screen, and his hope deflated. He accepted the incoming call from his sister.

“Hey, Beth. What’s up?” He stopped wandering and plopped himself at the nearest table.

“Well, don’t you sound chipper,” she said, her tone teasing. “What’s wrong, little brother? California not what you expected?” She laughed.

Bradley rolled his eyes. “California is fine. College is fine. Life is fine. What do you want?”

Bethany only ever called when she needed something. As the youngest of three siblings, Bradley didn’t have the closest relationship to his sister, who was almost ten years older than him. His relationship with his brother, who was only four years older, was much better.

“If you’re going to be cranky, I’m hanging up,” she said.

“I’m not cranky.” He rubbed his forehead, the stress of the past few days building to an unmanageable headache. “I’m running late to class, so can you please make this quick?”

“The annual charity auction for the ranch is coming up soon. Can I count on you again this year?”

“Of course.”

Not that he wanted to go, but if he didn’t, his parents would kill him, and he never wanted to disappoint his mother. But the thought of being auctioned off like a prime piece of cattle—again—had an undercurrent of anger and resentment burning in him.

If not for the fact that this event raised a shit ton of money for the ranch that helped at-risk kids, he’d tell his sister where she could shove her Bachelor Charity Auction—an event that starred him and his brother as the most sought after items. Women went crazy bidding on them for a single date.

Bradley loathed the event, but because he was still single, he had a standing agreement with his sister to help out. The few years he’d been in a relationship with Faith, he’d had a reprieve, but now he was literally back on the auction block.

Beth let out a joyous squeal. “Thank you, Brad! You’re the best brother ever.”

He couldn’t stop from smiling. “One of these days, you’re going to owe me. Big time.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” She sighed. “I’ll email you all the details, along with a complete itinerary.”

“Okay.” No use arguing; he’d tried that in the past, and there was no winning against his sister. “Not to be rude, but is that all? I really have to get to class.”

“Oh, now you worry about being rude?” She laughed again.

“Seriously, Bethy? You’re going to lecture me about my manners?” His nerves were frayed, thanks to not having any contact with Carissa for days, but he needed to check himself and not take his frustrations out on his sister. She hadn’t done anything wrong.

“No. I’ll let Mom do that.” Her tone was smug. “By the way, you need to call her. She misses you.”

He sighed. “I will. Promise. Talk to you later.” He stood and grabbed his bag from the table.

“Have fun in class. Love you,” she said in a sing-song voice.

Shaking his head with amusement, he said, “Love you, too.” He ended the call, then slung his backpack over his shoulder.

Class had officially started ten minutes ago. Should he walk in late and cause a disruption? Or should he skip? He wasn’t sure he’d be able to concentrate on the lecture when his mind was elsewhere. He hesitated, unsure what to do. Finally deciding to ditch class, he turned to head back to where he parked his car. Then he froze.

“Someone looks confused,” Carissa said with a teasing grin. “You lost?”

The sight of her standing there knocked the breath from his lungs. Dressed in denim shorts, a large white belt, a baby pink and white tank top that left her tanned stomach exposed, and chunky white sandals, she was stunning. He swallowed the lump in his throat, trying and failing to find words.

She tilted her head. “Seriously, are you okay?’

He snapped out of his stupid daze. “Yeah. Sorry. How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to hear you profess your love to someone.” Her tone was snarky, but her words were coated with jealousy. “All this time, I assumed you were single. Clearly, you’re just as much of a liar as I am.”

“I was talking to my sister,” he said. Though he couldn’t deny he was thrilled that she was jealous, because that meant she cared.

“Oh.” Carissa shifted on her feet. “Sorry.”

He nodded at the stack of papers she had clutched to her chest. “What’re you doing?”

“Making copies for Mallory. Sorority stuff,” she said. “The house has a copier, but running mindless errands like this is all part of the pledging process.”

“Sounds fun.” He hitched his backpack higher on his shoulder.

“It’s better than marching through the quad chanting.” She laughed.

“Speaking of… what happened to that shirt?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why?” she asked slowly, drawing out the word.

Bradley lifted his shoulder in a lazy shrug. “I’m willing to pay a hefty price for it. Y’know, as a souvenir of our first kiss.”

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head, her smile widening. “You’re an idiot.”

“Am I?” He raised a brow.

Tingles shot up his spine, across his shoulders, and down his arms. Bantering with her like this was a major turn-on, and he’d missed this. The past three days felt like a lifetime.

“Yes,” she said around a laugh.

“So, where is it?” he asked.

“Yeah… no…” She stepped around him as if she were going to walk away.

The library wasn’t more than a few feet away, and she headed toward the building. Bradley wanted to go after her, but he couldn’t chase her forever. He needed her to want him, to come to him.

“It’s okay if you want to keep it for yourself, you know. All you have to do say so,” he called after her.

She stopped and turned around. “I threw it away.” She took a few steps backward, her gaze trained on him. “Couldn’t have evidence of my little indiscretion just lying around, now could I?”

He smirked. “You’re such a liar.”

Tossing her head back, she laughed. “Guess you’ll never know, will you?” She stopped walking, still hugging the stack of papers against her chest.

Bradley closed the distance between them, his heart pounding harder with each step. Something about her and her demeanor was different today. She seemed… happier, like she no longer had a worry in the world. What had changed with her?

“I call bullshit,” he said, stopping in front of her. “I think you still have that shirt, and I think you have it hidden somewhere safe.”

“Nope.” She shook her head, her long hair swaying against her face with the motion.

“Then prove me wrong.” His chest ached with each breath he took, and his body buzzed with longing. Why did he always have such a visceral reaction to her?

“And if I do? What’s in it for me?” She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling.

He licked his lips, his gaze dropping to her mouth before moving back up to meet her eyes. What he wouldn’t do for a kiss right now. “If I’m right, you have to do something for me.”

The idea popped into his head without warning, but he latched onto the thought. If he could get her to agree, he’d essentially kill two birds with one stone—he’d find a way out of his sister’s bachelor auction without upsetting his mom, and he’d secure some alone time with Carissa.

“Do something for you? Like what?” Her tone dripped with suspicion. “If you’re trying to bet me into having sex with you, I—”

“Whoa! No.” He held up his hands, eyes wide. “That’s not what I’m doing. First, I don’t need to bet or coerce or trick anyone into having sex with me, especially not you.”

“Especially not me?” She shifted on her feet. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that when we have sex, you’ll do so willingly. Not because you lost some stupid bet.”

“Ha! When. Don’t you mean if?”

The attitude she threw at him right then should’ve probably deterred him, or pissed him off, but he found himself excited. Aroused. Most of the women he knew kissed his ass in the hopes of snagging him—and his billions. But not Carissa. She was the exact opposite, always pushing him away, making him work for every second he had with her.

“No. I mean when. I’m confident this will happen between us eventually,” he said coolly, confidently.

She took a step closer, bringing their bodies within touching distance. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that arrogance isn’t charming? In fact, it’s a major turn off.”

“Is that why your face is flushed right now? I bet your heart is racing, too.” He leaned down so his face was inches from hers. “Besides, there’s a fine line between arrogance and confidence.”

“Are you confused as to where that line is?” she asked, her tone sickeningly sweet.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a cocky smirk. “Stop trying to deflect. Back to this T-shirt… Prove me wrong, and I’ll do something for you. Whatever you want. But prove me right, and you have to do something for me.”

He expected her to pull away or take a step back. But yet again, she shocked him when she leaned even closer.

“Deal,” she said, her warm breath breezing across his lips. “But first, copies.” She held up the stack of papers in his face, effectively blocking her from his view.

Bradley gently guided her hand down so he could see her again. “I’ll help,” he said.

“I’m sure I can figure out how to make copies all by myself.” She once again turned on her heel and sauntered away, a little extra sway to her hips that he was positive was for his benefit.

He stood watching her for a moment, enjoying the view. But then he snapped back to his senses and jogged to catch up to her. “I’m sure you can, too, but we’ve got a bet to settle, and I’m not letting you out of my sight until we do. Don’t want you rigging it in your favor.”

Bradley grabbed the library door and held it open for her. She tossed him a flirty look as she stepped inside. A blast of cold air hit him when he entered behind her. Having grown up in Texas, he was used to both the heat and the subsequent shock of cold air upon entering a building.

“Did you just accuse me of cheating?” she whispered.

He fell into step beside her as they made their way to the copy room at the back of the library. “Just want to protect my interests,” he said.

Carissa strode to the biggest copier in the room, loaded the papers into it, then pressed several buttons. As soon as the machine whirred to life, she turned, leaned against it, and crossed her arms over her chest.

“So, how are we going to do this?” He set his backpack on the long table pushed against the far wall, then hopped up to sit on the table. “I don’t know where you keep your most treasured possessions, so I have no way of knowing if you’re truly hiding the shirt somewhere safe.”

“First, that shirt is not one of my most treasured possessions. And second, I’ll give you unbiased information.” She eased her phone from her back pocket, and then she held the phone out, screen up.

A second later, Tiffany’s voice rang out from the speaker. “Please don’t tell me you can’t figure out how to use the copier. Is that what’s taking you so long?”

Carissa laughed. “No. I got, um, sidetracked. I’m making copies right now and will be back soon. Promise. But I need your help with something.”

“What?” Tiffany asked.

“Can you verify where I keep my box of memories that I don’t want to get rid of?” Carissa glanced up at Bradley.

He tilted his head, waiting for Tiffany’s answer. He gripped the edge of the table and leaned forward so he could hear better.

“That is probably the strangest question you have ever asked me,” Tiffany said around a laugh. “You know where you keep your own stuff. Did you fall and hit your head or something? Do you have amnesia?”

Bradley covered his laugh with a fake cough, and Carissa narrowed her eyes in his direction.

“I’m trying to prove something to someone. Can you please just answer the question?” Impatience filled her voice.

“In a clear tote that you hide under your bed. You bought it and decorated it with stickers and glitter the summer before our freshmen year of high school.” Tiffany paused. “Now, want to tell me what this is all about?”

“Later,” Carissa said, dropping her gaze back to her phone. “Thanks, Tiff.” She ended the call abruptly and shoved her phone back into her pocket. “Happy now?”

Bradley nodded.

“Good. If I’m right—and I am—that shirt won’t be in the tote.”

“Fair enough.” He straightened and studied her for a moment.

He couldn’t put his finger on what was different about her, but she’d changed since the last time he’d seen her. She appeared happier, more confident. Freer, somehow.

Bradley crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”