Feels Like Love (13 page)

“So
you’re one of those?”

She
mimicked his nod. “Those contributing members of society who take far too many
credits so they can graduate early, get a master’s degree, and go change the
world. Yes, I am.”

His
deep chuckle came again, warming her almost as much as his touch. “If you won’t
tell me your name and you won’t come to my game, I’m going to have to make up a
name for you and stalk you.”

“Now
that sounds inviting.” She scowled at him. “No stalking, but I’d like to hear
what name you’d make up for me.”

“Natalya.”

“Natalya?”
She shook her head. “Why Natalya?”

“You
have an exotic look to you.”

“Dirty
blonde hair and green eyes are exotic?”

He
smiled down at her with a look that was already becoming familiar and something
inside her thawed more than just from coming in out of the cold. “Golden locks
like a princess, eyes of emerald, and skin so smooth, just aching to be
touched.” He brushed his long fingers down her cheek.

Kazlyn
caught a breath, tingling from his touch. “Okay, um, now I’m just,
like…disconcertiated.”
What did I just say?

“Disconcertiated?”
He laughed. “Didn’t know that was a word.”

“When
you spend your life in the library, you get to make up your own vocabulary.”

He
grinned.

“I’ve
got to go to work.” Kazlyn backed up a step. She had to get out of here before
she tripped over her own tongue again.

“Can
I walk you?”

She
shook her head. “Absolutely not, I don’t need to be teased.” She turned on her
heel and left. Of course, he was right by her side.

“Why
would they tease you, because I’m black?”

“No.”
She turned, wondering if he was being serious. Everywhere they’d walked other
students tried to get his attention and were over-the-top friendly with him.
Did he also have some who discriminated because of his ethnicity? Just the
thought made her want to go to battle for him. Like he needed her protection.
“They’d tease me because a man with giraffe legs tried to walk me to work.” The
truth was; they’d be shocked to see her with anyone of the male variety.

“Okay,
Natalya, I won’t embarrass you, if you’ll promise to come to my game tonight.”

She
stopped halfway down the hallway from her office and gnawed on her lip. “I have
a ton of homework.”

He
tilted his head to the side regarding her. “Could you at least come for a few
minutes?”

“Is
it so important for you to show off to me?”

He
blinked. “I’m not…trying to show off. The games are just a lot of fun and you
seem like you could use a break.”

“A
lot of fun because you’re the star?” How did he know she could use a break? Did
stress just radiate from her or was it something she’d said?

“No.
The students make them fun. We have the best spectators in the nation.”

She
rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard they’re the meanest.”

“They
don’t try to be mean. They’re just having fun and supporting their team.”

“If
you went to play at another school where the fans where cheering like ours,
what would you do?”

“I’d
think it was hilarious.”

“You
would!” She shook her head. His easy grin attested to the fact that he was
telling the truth. How would it feel to be that confident?

“Yeah,
I would, but I know it’s hard on some. My mom’s philosophy is, ‘If you can’t
handle getting razzed, get off the court.’ I know that sounds harsh, but we’re
collegiate athletes. We’re mentally tough and don’t let a little teasing bug us.”

“I
never thought of it like that.”

“If
you can’t laugh at the fans and the refs, you’re going to have a pretty
miserable time playing.”

“That’s
probably a good attitude.”

“So,
you’ll come for a minute tonight?”

She
tilted her head to the side, regarding him. “What was your end of this deal?”

“I
won’t come into your office and tell everyone you tried to tackle me this
morning so I would ask you out.” The sparkle in his dark eyes was irresistible.
She could see why women flocked to him, but she didn’t want to be another
number.

“You
wouldn’t dare!” Kazlyn folded her arms across her chest and stared him down, or
rather up.

“Try
me.” He arched an eyebrow.

“Okay,
okay. I’ll come by…for a few minutes.” Kazlyn wasn’t sure if she believed him
or not, but as much as he’d teased her, she wouldn’t put it past him.

“Come
at the end of the game, so I can talk to you after.”

She
shook her head. “You’re lucky I’m coming at all, no demands.”

He
held up his hands. She marveled at the size of those palms and couldn’t resist lifting
her own hand to trace his index finger. He visibly shivered and she dropped her
hand in embarrassment.

“Is
it a requirement of basketball players to have plate-sized hands and giraffe
legs?” she asked.

“Nice
to know I’m so attractive to you.”

Kazlyn
blushed furiously, not sure how to respond to that. He would be attractive to
anyone who called herself a female. She gave him a quick smile before turning
and walking toward her office.

“See
you tonight,” he called after her. “If you smile like that at some of the male
students, they’ll help you sit down close so I can see you. If I knew your name
I could get you tickets in the patrons’ section.”

“No
demands and no names,” she shot back at him.

He
held up those plate-sized hands again and gave her one more tempting grin. Her
mouth watered and not just because she’d skipped her granola bar to talk to
him.