Page 74 of Conner's Luna

Jose's smile dims a bit, "no,chiquita. I'm not smart enough," he says bluntly. It makes me sad to see his obvious shame.

"Don't say that," I scold him gently. "Not everyone needs to go to school. My dad went to school in Puerto Rico and barely graduated. He only has his good job now because he served in the army for a few years."

Jose smiles at me gratefully. Conner's hand pauses as he strokes my back. "Your dad was in the army? What unit?" Conner asks.

"Um... Rangers," I tell him hesitantly. Dad never talks about his time in the army. I know he still has friends from his army days. A few of them even come out to see us every so often, but I've never been told any of my dad's army stories. Not a single one.

"When?" Conner asks.

"Oh, um, about twenty years ago, at least."

"Huh," he mutters. "Alright, babe. You ready to start your tour? We can meet up with Velia at the Student Center and go from there."

I perk up, "they have a coffee shop there!" I announce. "I saw it on the website before I stopped looking." I deflate a little at the reminder of the virus on my MacBooks.

"Yes, they do, my little caffeine addict," Conner teases. His smile drops when he sees my expression. "What's wrong, honey?"

"I need to run a scan on my MacBooks, Conner. I think my friend, Jared, can do it. I just need to drive them to Durham and-"

"Not necessary," Conner interrupts. "My uncle is sending a team in to do a sweep and make sure you're safe."

"Really?" I ask him, shocked. "Why?"

"You're a CH recipient and you work at a lab his company funds."

"So he cares about a lowly student and severely underpaid lab worker because...?" I hedge, skeptical. Why would a billionaire care about me, even if-?

"Because. You are mine," Conner bops me on the nose playfully, but there's nothing teasing about his expression. His eyes practically glow in the bright light.

"So," I say, "if I weren't dating you, which, by the way, startedthis morning, then your uncle wouldn't help me?"

"Just accept the help, Bailey. It makes me feel good to provide you with things."

I wrinkle my nose at him. "You're not required to provide, Conner. I'm not a helpless child."

"It's my personality, not yours, babe."

"Did you really give me an 'it's not you, it's me," speech?

"No," he says, looking a bit frustrated. "I'm an al- I like to be in charge."

"Cool. I don't like to listen to people who order me around." I cross my arms over my chest stubbornly, but keep our lower bodies pressed together because, well, my pants are unbuttoned. And my panties are soaked.

Conner grins rakishly, "I don't," he says smugly. "I said I provide. You brought up orders. Maybe you're the bossy one."

My mouth drops open, "I am not!" I snap.

Conner opens his mouth to say something, probably something snarky, but his phone buzzes with a text.

"It's Velia," he says after glancing down. "She's waiting for us."

"She has been there for a half-hour. You have to go,sí?"

Comically, Conner and I turn our heads to the open window and Jose, still standing outside the truck. He's grinning, even with rainwater pooling in his collar and turning the fabric dark.

"Hop in the back," Conner says through gritted teeth. "I'll drop you two off at the Student Center."

"I'm already wet,Jefe," Jose says with a wink thrown my way. "I'll park your car for you."

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