Page 6 of Burned

Chapter Three

The third time had to be a charm. He felt in his pocket for his lucky coin and breathed a sigh of relief to find it still nestled in the corner. Surely, she couldn’t turn him down now. Rhys waited outside of the English building. Sadie’s class should be getting out soon and when it did, he’d be waiting. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think he was some kind of psycho stalker.

Rhys questioned what the hell he was doing. He’d never pursued a woman this actively before but there was something about Sadie that told him not to give up. He glanced at his watch in anticipation. Her class should have gotten out a few minutes ago. What was taking her so long?

Panic struck him. What if she’d skipped class today? Damn, he hadn’t considered that. Taking a seat on the bench he shifted nervously. After another fifteen minutes passed, he was just about to lose hope when he spotted her. He stood with a smile tugging the corners of his mouth.

She looked absolutely stunning. Dressed simply in a pair of dark high-waisted trousers with a wide belt and a pink top that clung to her full breasts, she took his breath away. Her braided hair was pulled into a messy bun that rested at the nape of her neck and she wore hoop earrings that framed her face. She didn’t wear too much makeup which he liked. In all her simplicity he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.

Rhys knew the exact second when she realized he was watching her when she halted in her tracks. He walked toward her, tempted to pull her into his arms and press his mouth against the lips that had been haunting his dreams for days. “Sadie…”

Her mouth fell open and then she closed it again. “I uh…what are you doing here? Are you following me?”

God, she was adorable. “And if I said I was would that freak you out?”

“A little. I mean, what do you want from me?”

He grinned. Sometimes you had to be direct to go after what you wanted, and Sadie would soon realize he wanted her. “A date.”

“Didn’t I already make it clear that you and I wouldn’t be a good idea?”

“Yet you never said why. Have I done something to offend you?”

She shook her head making her earrings dangle. “I don’t know you.”

“I’d like to change that.”

“I don’t think so.”

He raised a brow. “Is it my accent?”

“No. Why would that matter? I’m sure you already know most women love a guy with an accent.”

“But not you?”

She looked left and right as if she was about to make an escape. “No. If you must know, your accent is very charming.”

Rhys grinned. “So you think my accent is charming,do you?”

She shrugged, not quite meeting his gaze. “Yes but that doesn’t mean I should date you because of it.”

“I know what it is then. I kind of thought better of you, Miss Sadie Flowers.”

She frowned, those big brown eyes finally colliding with his. “What are you talking about?”

“You don’t want to date me because I’m ugly.”

Sadie doubled over and released a loud belly laugh. The sound was an utter delight and his heart did somersaults because he was the one who’d put that smile on her face. He wanted to put many more there. “You’re kidding me right?”

He poked his lip out to what he hoped looked like a convincing pout. “Course not. I’m quite sensitive about this ugly mug of mine.”

Sadie rolled her eyes. “You’re so full of it. I’m sure you already realize how handsome you are.”

Rhys couldn’t keep the grin off his face if he’d tried. She thought he was handsome? Maybe he was making more headway with her than he thought.

Sadie narrowed her dark gaze upon seeing his reaction. “I never figured you for the type to fish for compliments. Look, I’m not sure what it is you want but I really have to go.”

“Do you have any plans for the night?”

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