Page 33 of The Ruse

I wanted to see how it smelled on my shirt?What kind of lame excuse was that?

Asher shot me a knowing smile. “Should I tell Nash he should be worried? ‘Cause it kind of feels like you sprayed that perfume just for me.”

“Well, I didn’t.” I held my chin higher. “So, that would be a lie.”

He chuckled in the lighthearted way that all guys who were in love with themselves did when they thought a girl liked them. And even though he was being totally cocky, I hated that I kind of liked that he was.

Confidence had always been attractive to me.

“Well…” He followed me out the door. “Since you’re testing how compatible your shirt and perfume are with each other—” He bent closer, sniffing the air around me. “—based on my scientific observations, I think they’re a good match.”

“Oh.” I tucked some hair behind my ear, not used to having such an attractive guy stand so close to me. “That’s good. I’ll, um—”Think of something, Elyse.“I’ll have to mark that down on my spreadsheet.”

Man, I was bad at this.

“Yes, you better do that.” He winked, like he knew I was totally making this whole perfume-and-blouse-testing thing up. “What’s the name of this new perfume, anyway? You know, in case I want to get a bottle of my own to test on all my different shirts.”

Ugh, why did I like that he was teasing me?

I was a feminist.

I wasn’t supposed to like it when a guy teased me.

But then, I also had a huge weakness for bad boys, and so the teasing banter was kind of my kryptonite.

“I think it’s called, Sweet Nothings,” I said, ignoring my conflicting thoughts. “It’s a new one. My mom just designed some flower girl dresses for Emma and Arie Blackwell’s daughters, and they gave her a few samples from the new perfume line they’re coming out with.”

“Well, I have a feeling that the Blackwells are about to get even richer than they already are.” Asher chuckled. “Especially if we get everyone to start doing experiments with it. Owen is always looking for new ways to keep his students interested in science. Maybe we should tell him about this experiment of yours.”

“Okay, now you’re just making fun of me,” I said.

“I’m just seeing how far you’re going to go in order to hide the fact that you wanted to smell nice for our study session.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” I said.

“Is it for Hunter then?” he asked. “Because I know he and Scarlett say they’re just friends, but I have a feeling that Scarlett would bring out the claws if anyone tried to steal him.”

“Can’t a girl just want to smell good for herself?” I asked.

“Sure…” He lifted a broad shoulder. “But I just prefer to think the world revolves around me.”

We made it to the main part of the school, and I tried to change the subject to something that would make me blush less.

“You said you went to live with the Carmichaels in Ridgewater last summer, right?” I asked. “Where are you from originally?” He’d said he was half-Korean. Had he lived there before coming to school here? We did have quite a few international students.

“I’m from Eden Falls.”

“Oh, that’s right,” I said, my memory triggered. “I think Cambrielle mentioned something about that when I asked her about you.”

“Ah yes, that was the conversation that made you assume I must be a serial killer since it went along with that show you were watching.” He winked.

“Yeah…” I said, feeling my neck grow hot. “That was just a coincidence.”

“So, do you still think I’m a serial killer?” he asked.

“No,” I hurried to say. “I never thought that. I just, um…” I was feeling more flustered the more I tried to piece together a coherent sentence.

“It’s fine, Elyse,” he said. “I’m just being a butt. If you haven’t noticed yet, I like to make other people feel uncomfortable so I don’t have to be.”

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