Page 1 of Beauty Becomes You (Beauty 4)
CHAPTER ONE
Blake stared down at his drink, trying to force his sluggish mind to wake up. His throat was dry. His whole body ached, as if reminding him he was no longer young and couldn’t afford to act that way.
Footsteps came from behind him. He turned slightly. Ah, there she was. Erin. Beautiful Erin with a smile far too bright for this time of day.
She sat down on the stool next to his. “Hey, stranger.”
“Do I know you from somewhere?”
“We may have met. I think you taught one of my college courses.”
“Did I? So tell me, how’d I do?”
“Oh, excellent. You got five chili peppers on the professor rating site.” At his raised eyebrow, she explained, “That means you’re hot.”
He snorted, swigging the remainder of his apple juice. “Now I know you’re lying.”
“Well, I think you’re hot.”
Even though she was just being kind, something panged in his chest. She meant he was beautiful on the inside, or she’d just gotten used to the way he looked, and it was more than enough for him. It would have to be.
With an exaggerated wink he said, “Back atcha, babe. Now what do you say we take this somewhere more comfortable, like my place?” He looked around at his kitchen from the breakfast nook. “My God, we’re already here.”
“Very convenient,” she said solemnly, her eyes twinkling.
“I thought so.” He buffed his nails on his shirt, because… well, hell, wasn’t that what smooth talkers did? He had no idea. It had been a hell of a long time since he’d been to a bar, or really, anywhere that wasn’t home or work. He vowed to change that as soon as possible. Once the semester was over and finalized, he’d take Erin out to dinner and dancing as often as she could bear.
He must have looked like an idiot—a sleepy idiot with no one to blame but himself for keeping her up all night. She didn’t seem to mind, judging by her saucy grin. She slipped off the stool and circled him. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her legs. Her bare legs, almost completely exposed beneath the hem of his rumpled dress shirt. She must have picked it up off the floor before coming downstairs this morning. And goddamn, she wore it better than he did.
She ran her fingertip over his shoulder. “Weren’t you going to take me upstairs and show me something?”
Christ, had she actually said this kind of thing at a bar? The college guys would have been eating out of her hand. Or any guy, really. He was eating out of her hand. Fuck.
He cleared his throat. “Well, I suppose I could show you my thesis. I’ve been told it’s very impressive.”
Her lush breasts pressed against his back. He shut his eyes, holding back his groan. His thickening erection tented his sweatpants.
Her breath coasted over the back of his neck. “Is it long?”
The thesis.
“Long enough.” Tugging her wrist, he pulled her around to stand between his knees. “And very hard.”
She laughed softly, gaze wandering lower. “I bet it is. Did the committee drill you on it?”
“Let’s just say I’m not one to back down from an oral examination.”
