I move off the table, and immediately they start challenging each other. I feel so powerful when I get them to do what I want. I glance around the courtyard and am about to issue my own challenge when I see her.
She’s definitely Italian, with dark hair that falls in luscious thick curls from her head. Her nose is stuck in a book, so I can’t see her eye color, but she’s got a nice body covered in curves. My brain is already picturing those in just lingerie.
“Boys, I’ll be back,” I call. They all glance at me and then start wolf-whistling, cheering me on. I ignore them. Running a hand through my hair, I go over to where she is.
“Can I join you?” I ask, smiling widely.
She doesn’t even look up. “No.”
I frown. “That’s not very friendly.” I sit down regardless. “What’s wrong?”
She still doesn’t look up. “Why must something be wrong just because I don’t want to pay attention to you?”
Ouch. I smile again. “I’m just trying to be helpful. You look new. I generally know everyone who comes here. I like to be helpful.”
“I’m sure the other ladies thank you for your service,” she says sarcastically.
I don’t know what this woman’s problem is, but I have never wanted to win someone over quite as badly as her. She is challenging me. She doesn’t care who I am or what I represent. This is definitely going to be fun.
“Look, I’m sorry. Let’s start over. I’m Miguel, from Delta Kappa Delta Frat house. I’m sorry I came over and bothered you, but I just saw you, and something about you spoke to me.” I sit back. “Is that cheesy?”
Finally, she looks up at me, and I feel as though the air has been knocked right out of me. Those blue-gray eyes bore into me, and she quirked an eyebrow. “Does that line actually work?”
“Sometimes,” I tease. “Sometimes I get chewed out. Not this bad, though.”
She shakes her head. “Look, I’m sure you’re good at what you do, and I know you’re trying to impress Fred and the gang over there. I’m here to study, not to play with little boys.”
I cough slightly. “I can assure you. I’m anything but little.”
She snorts, “Now you really have something to prove. I’m just not interested, Miguel.”
“At least tell me your name.”
She sighs. “If I tell you my name will you leave me alone?” she asks.
“For today,” I assure her, “but I’m going to find you every day and ask you out until you go on a date for me. I’m determined now. I can’t be stalking someone without a name, though.”
“Stalking is creepy,” she shakes her head, “and I have boundaries.”
“If I can come up with an interesting way to ask you out,” I say, “without being creepy or an asshole or crossing any boundaries. Will you go out with me?”
She studies me, and I almost hold my breath in anticipation.
“My name is Kira,” she says. “You have a deal. You come up with a way that isn’t flashy or expensive, and that isn’t embarrassing, and I’ll go out on a date with you. Good luck with that.”
“I’m gonna try every day,” I promise her as I stand up, “’cause you’re worth it.”
She shakes her head again and returns to her book while I saunter over to the boys.
Present Day
Just thinking about how enamored I was with her makes my blood boil. I stub out the cigarette, the fifth cigarette I’ve smoked, and stand up. I need to work off this excess anger, or something is going to go terribly wrong.
My hand at least has stopped stinging, but now I can’t get those blue-gray eyes out of my mind.
I decide to change and go jogging on the treadmill, but first, I take out my phone and call Lyle.
“Yeah, boss?”