Page 22 of Defiant Beta

She blinks at me. “Please put me down.”

“Or I could take you to Paris?”

She stares at me as if the world just lost all meaning. “You want to take me toParis? A complete stranger?”

I lick my lips as my gaze dips to her breasts. “We’d leave as strangers, but we would definitely return as friends.”

She pats my arm. “I appreciate the offer. It’s sweet, but I have stuff to do.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Did you just pat my arm?”

She snatches her hand back. “I’m sure you’re nice, but you’re not really my type.”

Not just friend-zoned. Outright rejected.

I was flirting to get her to leave, so I’m not sure why it bothers me so much that she wants nothing to do with me.

The sound of raised voices drifts from behind me. Delilah’s eyes dip over my shoulder, and she pushes on my chest. “I have to go.”

I reluctantly let her go.

This seduction has fallen completely flat.

I make one last attempt. “Maybe we could…”

“Uh, huh. Sure. I’ll call you.” She doesn’t look back, sprinting from tree to tree until I’ve lost sight of her.

“Damn.” I scratch my beard, hoping I haven’t lost my touch.

I grab my rake as raised voices from the faculty building catch my attention. Ms. Arkwright strides across the quad, her face like thunder.

“What is it?” she demands as a teacher emerges from the building, wringing his hands.

“Someone glued all the doors shut,” he explains. “I couldn’t get into my office.”

Head down, I smile as I listen in.

Delilah Farrow, or Della, whatever your name is, my brother was right. You are a menace.

“Glued?” Ms. Arkwright repeats.

“We’re going to have to take the doors off their hinges.”

Had to get to class.I mentally snort. More like get clean away fast.

I have no clue why she’s doing all this, but I can’t say it isn’t fun to witness the fallout. Like setting a cat among a pen of chickens. Delilah Farrow is that cat, and she is flustering all these teachers like no one’s business.

“Clearly, a student has played a practical joke. You!”

I keep raking, hoping she’s not talking to me.

“You!” The sharp click of angry footsteps moves toward me.

I lift my head, pasting a bored expression on my face.

She frowns. “You didn’t notice any students causing trouble, did you?”

I recall the pretty beta. “Just the usual comings and goings. A squirrel or two. That’s all.”

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