And my body responds to it, lighting right up like a complete traitor.
“I don’t have a sister,” I admit. “Just an older brother.”
“I have two sisters. Blair just started school here. Our sister Ruby is a freshman, but she goes to a different college.” He clamps his lips shut. “Random facts. Sorry.”
“I don’t mind.” I watch as he slowly starts to approach the counter once more, drawing closer. Close enough that I can practically feel the heat emanating from him and I wonder what his chest feels like.
Rock hard like his thighs, I bet.
“Can I ask you a question?” The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess them.
Knox stops at the counter, propping his forearms on top of the battered wooden surface. My gaze drops to his arms, lingering. They’re thick and corded with muscle and dusted with golden brown hair that matches the hair on his head.
“Whatcha wanna know?” he asks, his smooth voice causing my gaze to jerk up to his. What a mistake. His eyes are such a beautiful shade of green, and I get lost in them for a moment.
He must realize he has this effect on females because his smile is slow and confident.
Ugh.
“Why are you suddenly coming in here all the time?”
“Define all the time.”
“The last three days,” is my automatic answer.
“You’re keeping count?”
Well, that’s embarrassing. “You didn’t answer my question.”
He lifts a single brow, glancing around the cavernous space loaded with books before his gaze returns to mine. “I like to read?”
He says it like a question, which is kind of funny. But I stifle any laughter because I’m being serious.
Why does he keep coming back in here and talking to me? I don’t get it.
“You do not. I’ve never seen you buy one single book.” I turn to my computer and enter his name into the database. It comes up empty, no surprise. Odd though, considering he’s a senior. There are other ways to get textbooks, but the campus store is so convenient. “We don’t even have your info on file.”
“I always pay with cash.”
No one pays with cash. He has to be teasing me.
“Even if you pay cash, we end up getting everyone’s info eventually. We have a great rewards program. You could earn a free coffee or muffin from the café with only a few purchases.”
He steps away from the counter, waving a hand at himself. “Do I look like I eat muffins?”
I roll my eyes. He just shifted back into obnoxious mode.
And no, he doesn’t look like he eats muffins, while I probably do.
I tuck my cardigan tighter around my body. “I don’t understand you.”
“What I don’t understand…” He’s leaning against the counter again, so close I can smell him. His scent is like a crisp fall day. Autumn leaves and sharp apple and woodsy smoke, all mixed together. “Is how you know my name.”
Oh crap. Now I look like a stalker, but come on. Everyone on campus knows his name.
Even me.
My gaze locks with his and I wonder if I look as nervous as I feel. “Please. You’re a celebrity here. Plus, you’ve made two purchases on your credit card, which has your name on it.”