Page 11 of King of Temptation

Not that the panel judging me had even cracked a smile. They hadn’t. I’d just gotten the stock response, you’ll hear from us in a week or two. And then I was sent on my way.

I took a cab back to the airport, where I’d sort of slept on a row of chairs. Like I mentioned, no hotel money. And after two nights of barely sleeping, I’d woke to find that my seven o’clock flight back to Vegas was delayed. Which was a major problem.

I had a final this afternoon. It was my last class I’d taken during the summer session, and I needed to pass to get my degree.

Furiously, I typed an email to my professor on my phone, thanking my lucky stars that I had enough charge to send it.

Then, I sidled up to the desk.

“May I help you?” The attendant gives me a thin smile that tells me she is nearly out of patience.

I’m sure I’m not the first person to ask what’s going on with our flight. “Any word on when we’ll board?”

The smile grows more brittle. “Hopefully in the next half hour, but maybe longer, depending.”

“Depending? What’s wrong?”

“Mechanical issues.”

I sigh, I can’t wait much longer. “Any other flights I can take? I really need to get home.”

She looks down at her screen, tapping away. “Delta has one leaving in fifteen minutes. If you hurry…”

“Oh, that would be great!” I say, relief rushing through me. Professor Stilton, my Latin teacher, is a stickler for the rules. I’d put off taking the required language courses, a choice I now regret.

Because if I missed this final, there was no way she’d pass me.

“Let me book it for you,” she taps away. “The additional fee will be six hundred fifty-two dollars and twenty-three cents.”

My jaw drops. It was twice the price of the original flight. “Oh.”

She looks up at me, understanding why I haven’t just pulled out my credit card. “Or you can wait for this one.”

I nod, my shoulders slumping. I don’t have $653. Not in my checking or savings. I don’t even have it in credit. Once a month, something comes up I can’t pay for, and it goes on the plastic.

My shoulders slumping, I return to my seat. Firing up my phone, I see an email from Stilton.

Clicking it open, I get through the first seven words: I’m sorry, but there are no exceptions…before my phone dies.

“Great,” I mutter, my eyes sliding closed. Today is not my day.

The flight finally boards two hours later and I know I have no hope of making the final. It means I’ll fail the class.

Which means I’ll have to pay out of pocket to take it again next semester. That’s if I’m not leaving for New York.

The idea of leaving Vegas without my degree makes me wince.

Some guy takes the seat next to me. He’s good looking and athletic, and I can see by the way his gaze keeps sliding to mine that he’s interested.

I’ve never been less so.

Between my irritation and what happened with Leo, I can’t even imagine flirting with this guy, or any guy really.

“Going to Vegas?”

I look over at him, my brows drawn together. Is he serious? We’re all sitting in the same airplane. “Yep.”

“Me too. Can’t wait. I’ve never been.”

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