Page 12 of Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch 2)

Wow.What were the chances? Again?

Evie straightened from where she’d hunched over her laptop and looked up to see Carson Hunt, of all people. “Are you following me?”

Carson’s mouth quirked. Had she noticed before that he had a very nice mouth? Possibly a kissable mouth, not that she’d know or had anyone to compare him to.

“No . . . I’m the TA in one of the biology classes. What are you doing here?”

“Oh.” Evie smoothed back her hair; why, she didn’t know. It was already in a ponytail. But Carson looming over her made her feel self-conscious. Like she should check her reflection in a mirror or something. And, yeah, seeing him standing there in his cowboys boots, there was no denying he was the type of guy she needed to stay away from. And . . . he was still waiting for an answer, apparently. “This area looked quiet and deserted. So I’m here working on stuff until my next class.”

His nod was slow. “Are you taking biology?”

“Oh, heavens no. I did the general class my freshman year,” she said. “Science is not really my thing. But apparently, you’re pretty good at it if you’re a TA?”

Carson’s gaze perused her.

Was she blushing?

“Not exactly,” he said. “I mean, I did fine in biology. The TA thing is a paid job.”

“Right.” Evie should really get back to researching for her paper and stop talking to insanely good-looking former football players and current cowboys. She looked down at her laptop and tapped out a few things. Giving the guy a hint.

He took it. Carson moved to the water fountain and proceeded to fill up a water bottle he’d dug out of his backpack. Evie might have peeked at him once or twice. His dark, wavy hair seemed more mussed up than she remembered. Maybe he’d ran his fingers through it? And by the tenseness of his shoulders, she wondered what he was thinking about.

Whoops.He glanced up and caught her staring.

Her gaze quickly reverted to her laptop.

“You never told me why you’re in this building,” he said, twisting the cap on his water bottle. “I’m here a lot, and I’ve never seen you here before.”

Evie swallowed. “Well, I usually study at the commons, like half the students do. But since my vow, I’m keeping to myself. You know, avoiding distractions.”

He was watching her intently. “What vow?”

Had she just told him she’d made a vow? Apparently, she had. She puffed out a breath. “A vow to stay away from idiots like Devon.”

Carson’s mouth turned up. “Good plan.”

When she didn’t say anything more, he said, “I feel like there’s more to this vow.”

Evie really, really liked all this attention from Mr. Hot TA, but just hanging out with him was sort of against her vow. “There is. But why do you care?”

Her retort didn’t even faze him. In fact, he bent and drank some water from the fountain. Then he straightened again. “Like I said, we’re going to be neighbors.”

At least he hadn’t called her sweetness, like he had two times before. It was just a Texan endearment, meant very little, but still . . . coming from a guy like Carson Hunt, the butterflies in her stomach had sat up and paid attention. Evie gave the most nonchalant shrug possible. “I don’t spend much time in Prosper, but you’re welcome to hang out with my brothers.”

Carson laughed, and she could swear that his eyes lightened in color. The deep rumble of his laugh stirred up those butterflies again. Evie wanted to press her hand to her stomach to stop them from spinning.

“I’ll make a note of that, sweetness.” He tipped his hat—an imaginary hat—then strode away.

When he disappeared around the corner, Evie squeezed her eyes shut. It was like the Fates were playing a terrible joke on her. She’d vowed, in good faith, to stay away from attractive men so she’d stop making a fool out of herself. Yet in the farthest corner of the biology department, she wasn’t safe.

“Hey, Evie?”

Her eyes flew open, and she turned her head.

Carson was back, hovering near the end of the hallway.

“Yeah?” she said in a faint voice.

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