The Survivor - Cristin Harber Page 0,42

out of the way when they reached the Student Center. Even though she’d forced herself to join Halle for lunch, Mandy realized that she hadn’t forced herself to laugh or have fun. It was as if Halle didn’t care who she was. Mandy had never appreciated someone’s disinterest so much before.

By the time they’d polished off the chicken nuggets and side salads, Mandy didn’t want the conversation to end. A guy approached their table. She focused on her tray and a balled napkin. He was cute, but she didn’t want a random saying hello like he knew her from wild stories in newspapers and on trash TV.

But he greeted Halle instead.

Mandy blushed, feeling foolish, then realized they didn’t just know each other—they were close. “I’ll catch you later.”

“Wait,” Halle said. “Lemme introduce you to my friend. Then you’ll know almost as many people on campus as me.”

“I’m that transparent, huh?” Her palms sweated as she tried to laugh. “Hi.”

The boy stepped from Halle. His smile shifted in a way that she couldn’t describe, as though from comfortable to purposeful. In any event, it made her weak in the knees. “I’m Mandy.”

“William Taylor Morris. My friends call me Billy.”

Unnerved by the way he looked at her, Mandy picked up her tray. “What should I call you?”

“Whatever you want.” He lifted the tray from her hand and then took Halle’s. “My vote’s for Billy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The air conditioning blasted over Hagan as he crossed the threshold into the lobby. The place smelled as nice as it looked. A far cry from where his team lived. Though, one day, maybe Titan’s lobby would shoot fancy air at their guests once the place was up and running.

He caught sight of Amanda in the far corner of the lobby even though she wore a headscarf that partially obscured her face. She waved and crossed to meet him, suddenly Hagan doubted his ability to focus on work. This very public lobby had done nothing to quell the urge to get her alone.

“Thanks for coming over,” she said. “I could really use your help.”

Hagan shoved his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know that I gave you that much of a choice.”

She laughed and fell into an intentionally vague explanation of her project as they moved toward the elevators. Once they were traveling to her floor, she fell quiet, but as soon as they stepped out, her explanation started again. It was far more interesting than he expected, and he had to admit, watching her explain her work with such passion did something to his insides. Sexy and smart. That was a killer combination.

They stopped outside a hotel room door. She paused and glanced at him as though she just recalled they had a very new history. “This is where I work.” She unlocked her door and walked in.

Hagan whistled. “Not a bad office.”

She pulled off her head scarf and laughed. “It does the job.”

If she’d been uncomfortable, it quickly passed. She returned to her explanation, but this time with far more detail, raising his curiosity about what she might uncover for the Lebanese.

For the next hour, they reviewed footnotes. Then they ordered lunch, and Amanda walked him through what she thought and guessed. Dinner time rolled around. He didn’t want to leave, and she didn’t seem ready to kick him out, though she eyed him when Hagan checked his watch. “I don’t want to keep you all day.”

“Your work’s pretty cool,” he admitted and grinned. “Almost as much as you.”

The tips of her ears turned red, and a blush followed over her cheeks. “Well.” She gestured. “It’s never dull. Different clients. New projects. But it’s not that interesting. Don’t feel like you have to stay.”

“I don’t feel anything but hungry.” He pushed out of his chair. “What about you?”

“Really, Hagan.” She tugged her lip between her teeth. “You don’t have to stay. Two meals in one day’s a lot.”

“If you want me to leave so you can work alone, that’s fine.” Hagan winked. “I’ll survive.”

“No. I mean—Gah! I’m not good at this.” Amanda groaned and rubbed her hands over her face. “If you can’t tell.”

“I’ve learned it’s best not to try to read your mind after our first introduction.”

She groaned again. “I’ll never live that down.”

“Besides, I want you to explain.” Hagan stepped closer. “What do you mean by this?”

She rolled her eyes. “You! As if you don’t know how nervous you make me.”

“Shit.” He cocked his head and chuckled. “That can’t be good.”

“You know what I