Page 52 of Crazy Little Thing Called Love

His eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe he’d let that slip.

“Senior project?”

“Um, yeah.” He grabbed his coffee, staring intently at the contents of the mug as he answered. “I started taking some classes at Metro a couple years ago to finish my BA. Mostly online, but I drove into Denver for a few also. Finished up this past spring.”

“Delta.” She stared at him, jaw dropping in astonishment. “That’s amazing.”

Taking a sip of his coffee, he placed the mug on the table and grimaced. “Not really. Finishing a bachelor’s degree at twenty-nine? Hardly anything amazing about that. Most people have a master’s by that age.”

No, they didn’t. She didn’t have a master’s and she was thirty-one. It killed her to see him belittle his accomplishments. Reaching across the table, she grasped his hand. “Does your family know?”

“That I went back to school?” He shook his head. “No. What would be the point?”

Seriously? “They’d be proud of you, Del.”

“No. They think I’m a screw-off. A jokester. Good for nothing but slinging drinks.”

She squeezed his hand, heart breaking a little. “They don’t think that.”

“Yeah, they do. And they’re right to.”

“No, they’re not. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

Curious eyes stared at her as he raised a brow. “Oh, really?”

“Yes, really. You’re smart and caring and a hard worker.” She could tell by the doubt in his eyes he didn’t believe her. “Everyone has a different path in life. Some walk a straight road and others take a few detours.”

“You read that on an inspiration poster, didn’t you.”

“I’m serious, Del,” she growled, trying to pull her hand away, but he held her tight, refusing to let go. His teasing disappeared, expression turning serious.

“I know, and thanks, for your belief in me. It means a lot.”

She shook her head at the stubbornness of the Jackson family. “They’d be proud of you, Del, just like I am.”

“I suppose I should have told them I was going back to school, but…” He sighed, one hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. “I guess I didn’t want them to know until I actually finished something. Had the degree, ya know? And then when I had it…didn’t seem like anything to make a fuss over. I just graduated with a BA. I didn’t cure cancer or anything.”

He was embarrassed. She knew him and the entire Jackson family well enough to see that Del felt his accomplishment wasn’t anything to be celebrated in his overachieving family. It hurt her heart to see him dismiss his achievements because he was afraid his family wouldn’t be proud. She knew they would.

“You’re a good man.”

“Good?” He gave a dramatic sigh. “I’ve been downgraded. Just this morning I believe the term you used was Sex God. Isn’t that right, Sassy?” He winked, eyes heating with lust.

And just like that his teasing smile came back. Guess they were done with the deep feelings part of the morning. Just as well. After being intimate in bed, the last thing her heart needed was to be emotionally intimate with this man.

She shook her head with a little laugh. “It’s only been an hour. Surely you’re not still up for it?”

His gaze pointed down, and when she leaned over to look she saw he was indeed up for it. Her body shivered with anticipation. Usually she was good for weeks off one orgasm, but with Del it seemed she couldn’t get enough. The cat was already out of the bag, so there was no sense in trying to fit it back in. Besides, they’d discussed keeping things casual and it did add a sense of realness to their marriage lie. What could be the harm in indulging themselves?

My heart.

No. She could not think like that. She would not fall for Del, no matter how sweet or caring or sexy the guy was.

“What do you say, Cassie?” Del brought their joined hands up to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “You in?”

Yes, please. Her body trembled at the feel of those warm lips against her skin. She remembered how they felt on other, more private places and her cheeks heated with a flush.

“I say we better get more condoms because we only have three left.”

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