Page 8 of Liar & Champion
“It’s an old Chevy. It’s already set up with a parking pass at the school. You did say that you wanted to go incognito so you could find out who the women really are before you let them know who the lucky winner is. Maybe you’re just going to sleep with all of them and see which one you’d rather keep for six months.”
I ignored that last part. That sounded like work, rehearsing girls for sex? No. I wasn’t going to turn me or any of them into a prostitute. There was too much of that in Vegas. “Who at this school is broke enough for an old Chevy?” I liked nice trucks. I liked new trucks, not falling apart dinosaurs held together by twine and prayers. But I was here as a nice nondescript student,not as Nix Death-Hammer, champion of the off-road mixed-martial for the past ten years.
“Several students are here on scholarships, and some are here because a rich relative paid, but that generosity isn’t all-inclusive. The blond you pointed out, the cute one without any kind of experience, is in that position.”
“She also lives two doors down. Too bad she’s on the list.”
“Why’s that? You don’t want her to see the comings and goings of your paramours?”
I frowned at him. “Because I thought maybe I’d have a little fun before I got down to business, but you’re right, I’m not here for fun.”
I headed for the shower, a cold shower. Daniel could see himself out.
Chapter Four
LIAR
“Sunny! How was your summer?” Bea grabbed me in a hug before I could wriggle away. She held her skateboard, so the hug wasn’t as thorough as it would have been otherwise. She was parked at the bottom of the steps with the good railings beside Bosko’s gang. The old building near the back gate didn’t get as much supervision as the front, so that’s where the skaters liked to do their thing before they were rousted.
“Aren’t you too old to be hanging with Bossy?” I asked, smiling at her teasingly. “My summer was amazing. Blue sky and azure sea, just sailing around like complete reprobates.”
“You and Beastie boy? I thought he was working all summer.”
That jerked the rug out from under that lie. “He wasn’t workingallsummer, but I was talking about my other friends. Beastie isn’t my only friend.” I laughed like the idea was hilarious. She laughed with me, because it was hilarious. Yep. He was definitely my only friend. And he hadn’t seen me all summer because jerk decided to grow up and start being responsible. He could have waited for me to die like a really good friend, but no. He’d texted me probably once a week to ask me if I was dead yet.Who does that? I always responded that I was definitely dead which he replied with zombie emojis. Yep. What we had was deep.
“What about you, Bea? You do anything awesome? Are you still working at the coffee shop and scaring patrons?”
“Basically, until I get into art school. Why are you here? Their art program is weak, and you’re actually talented. I’ll never forget what you did for me.” She pulled up her sleeve to reveal the scroll tattoo of a bee that I’d designed. I’d also done the needle work because she was going to have Bosko do it, and I’d seen his work. He wasn’t doing that to my design, even if Bea didn’t care. It had been kind of fun, but tattoo artist wasn’t my calling, however well I got along with needles.
“You are too sweet. I haven’t decided on a major yet. I wish I was as focused as you are.”
She laughed loudly and grabbed me in another half hug. “No one has ever called me focused before. You are too sweet. Sometimes I wish I was a lesbian just so I could pick you up.” She did, pick me up at that point, then Bosko sailed down the railing and his board hit the wall and ricocheted, spinning towards us.
I would have blocked it with Bea’s board, but she was still hanging onto me, hampering my movement. Out of nowhere, a guy caught the board, spinning it and slapping it to the ground, pinning it with his foot like he knew what he was doing.
My eyes rode slowly up that muscled lower body to the midsection, chiseled abs, strong large hands, broad shoulders and blue eyes. It was the guy, the pretty boy next door.
“You okay, honey?” he asked in a slow drawl, like he hadn’t caught the board before it could do any damage.
“I’m good.” I wasn’t used to being called honey, and it kind of made my toes curl in delight. He was just so magnificent, like a champion ready to battle the villain.
“Hey man, give me my board,” Bosko said with his sneering head-jerk as he reached for his property.
The champion raised it slightly so Bosko’s snatch fell short. “I don’t think skateboarding is allowed on these premises. You might hurt the innocent bystanders.”
Bosko snorted. “Who you calling an innocent bystander? Sunny? Don’t let that push-up bra fool you.”
I didn’t stop smiling, but suddenly I wanted to hurt him. I didn’t hurt people physically, because I hate violence so much. It’s my absolutely least favorite thing, but Bosko’s ego was more delicate than his skin.
I grabbed the board and tugged gently on it, putting me in very close proximity to the incredibly good-smelling man. Sweet heaven, he was like spice and sunshine, plus fresh bread. “Excuse me, could I hold this for a minute,” I said with my sweetest smile.
He smiled back at me, eyes crinkling as he released the board. “You going to hit him with it? I can hold him down for you.”
“That’s real sweet, sugar, but he’s not technically wrong about me.” I carried it up the steps under my arm, feeling more nervous than I’d been for a long time. I always had Beastie to watch my back, to keep Bosko and anyone else from getting out of hand. Still, in this, I could hold my own, on my own.
When I got to the top, I turned to look at my champion. He was studying me with a curious expression, not like he was judging me, just waiting, watching, open to the possibilities without preconceived judgment.
That made me even more nervous, but still, I could ride a railing down with a few spins in between. Maybe I shouldn’t have been wearing a denim skirt, but it was loose, and after I rolled the waist twice, it wouldn’t get in the way.
