Page 15 of For Three Seconds

“I’ve been known to be a great partner.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, his voice dropping to a low timbre. “I’m attentive, caring, thoughtful, accommodating, open to new ideas.”

My cheeks started to burn. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, making him smile.

“And I always help my partner finish.”

Jesus.

“Okay, that’s enough. Stop,” I said.

He threw his head back laughing.

“What?” he asked with fake innocence.

“Stop being nasty.” I rolled my eyes.

It sucked that talking to him was so freaking easy. It wasn’t hard. I didn’t get nervous around him, not like most girls would. My nerves were because of Gigi.

“Scar.” He slid his pencil from behind his ear and tapped my nose with the eraser. “That was me being a good boy.”

Jesus, what would be him being a bad boy?I wondered.

“You would melt, Davis.”

My eyes widened with terror when I realized I said that out loud.

Inner freaking voice, Scarlett, I had to scold myself.

I was relieved when I felt a pat on my shoulder. It was another class sheet; it gave me an excuse to compose myself.

I handed Gavin a sheet while I pretended to read mine, but I was actually looking at him. God, it was unfair for him to have eyelashes that pretty. Mine were curly only after I tortured them for fifteen minutes with an eyelash curler. His jaw was filled with scruff. When did he start rocking facial hair? I never allowed myself to look at him too closely. My palm itched with need to run it over his cheeks.

“Scarlett Dunn.” My head snapped up with horror at Gavin.

I hoped I heard him wrong. He hadn’t said, Dunn, right? There was no way he could have read that anywhere. I had never written it down. Ever.

“Has a nice ring. I like it.”

“W-what?” I asked.

Before he could answer, Dwayne shouted, “Jordan’s married tome.”

“Naw, you’re my wife,” Jordan replied.

The class broke out in laughter.

Mr. Reeves put his hands up, motioning for everyone to be quiet. “It’s just an assignment. The point of this project is to budget yours and your partner’s wages, as you would in a marriage. I’m talking about house loans, auto loans, bills, groceries. That’s your final project due at the end of the semester. As the weeks go along, we’ll have other projects due.”

I could do this. I could be married to Gavin for a project.

Easy.

“Just so we’re clear, Rogers, I’m the head of household,” Dwayne told Jordan.

“Aw, look at you trying to take care of me,” Jordan replied.

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing with the rest of the class. When I turned back around to face Gavin, he was staring at my mouth.

“You should smile more often, Davis.”

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