“Yeah, okay.” She agreed tiredly, and we set off out of the library, only a few students still pulling all-nighters on the near-empty floors.

The campus was pretty quiet as we walked down the main path, and happy that no one was around, I reached down, taking Molly’s hand in mine. At first her fingers stiffened at the action and she flashed a questioning look at me, but seeing my refusal to let go, she just let it be. It felt right having her close, and I liked that if anyone spotted us, it looked like she was mine. That sentiment sat better with me than it should have. I was Rome Prince. I didn’t do commitment with chicks, but Molly being on my arm just felt really f**king perfect.

Halfway home, Molly asked, “Rome?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you have fun when you were away in Arkansas?”

That question caught me off guard, and I glanced down at her head hanging low, wondering where the hell this conversation was heading.

“Not really. Truth be told, I couldn’t wait to get back.” I pulled her to face me, trying to get a read on her mood. “What you getting at?”

Kicking her toes into the grass beside us, she glanced up at me and said shyly, “Cass brought up some pictures of the after-game party you attended, on Facebook.”

Frowning, I asked, “Yeah, so?”

“Well, I saw what some of the guys were doing. You know, shots… Beer… Women… I didn’t see any of you, but…” She trailed off.

Placing a finger beneath her chin, I forced her to meet my eyes again. “You want to know if I f**ked anyone?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Well, I wouldn’t have put it quite so crassly, but… yeah, I suppose I do. I know it’s none of my business, so feel free to tell me to bugger off if I’ve gone too far.” Her eyes fell to the ground again.

“Look at me,” I instructed, and she did so guardedly. “Plenty of groupies made a pass at me. They always do. I don’t really have to try too hard, Mol.”

“Oh.” Her head bowed, and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. It made me beyond f**king happy that the thought of my being with someone else would bother her so much. “But I told them all to f**k off and went home alone,” I finished, and her head shot up.

“You did?” she said with a happily surprised tone.

“Yeah.” I leaned down and smirked. “None of them could argue about utilitarianism for shit!”

She burst out laughing and retook my hand. I finished walking her back home, her hand this time slightly less tense in mine.

It was the first night in a long time I slept right through with no nightmares… nothing on my mind but a certain damn cute brunette.

9

The next day, after early morning training, I showered and threw on my jeans and shirt in record time. Austin and Jimmy-Don glanced at each other from the other side of the locker room, shaking their heads in confusion at my haste.

“Going somewhere?” asked Austin.

Raking my fingers through my wet hair, I replied evasively, “Yeah, catch you later.” With that, I ran to the library and straight up to Professor Ross’s office, trying the handle.

Locked.

Shit.

I checked the time; Molly would be here soon. There was only one thing for it. I’d have to see Ms. Rose. A shudder ran down my spine, knowing that the minute she spotted me, she’d be too excited and all over me like white on rice.

Heading to the desk, I spotted long gray hair, and, leaning in on the counter, lilted, “Hey, Ms. Rose, how’s it going? Looking good. Purple’s your color.”

She turned slowly on hearing my voice and beamed. “Rome Prince! How nice to see you, darlin’!” She approached the desk, her yellowing teeth showing as she pulled back her thin lips in a wide smile, moving to stand right before me. Shit, how she still worked at her age was a mystery to me. She had to be nearing a hundred.

“What brings you here this early?”

Giving her my best seductive smile, I said, “I need a favor.”

She tilted her head, amused. “Now, you know I can’t be giving you any special treatment. Gotta treat all the students here the same.”

“Oh, I know that Ms. Rose, but I thought, well, because we’re such good friends, you’d make an exception. Just this once?”

Patting my hand with her bony fingers, she gushed, “Rome Prince, such a bad boy! And Lord knows I’ve never been able to resist a bad boy, especially one as handsome as you! What do you need, honey?”

It always worked. “Can you open Professor Ross’s private office for me? I’m working in there today and forgot the key.”

Winking, she lifted the counter and shuffled painfully to the elevator. “Let’s go before I get into trouble for breaking the rules.”

Ms. Rose opened the office, switching on the light, and left me to it, but not before firmly patting me on my ass as she passed.

I gaped at her retreating form in shock. Seriously?

Throwing my bag to the table, chuckling at her audacity, I sat down and got comfortable, waiting for a certain Miss Shakespeare to arrive.

Thirty minutes later and the door creaked opened, Molly jumping in surprise at my lazy stance, lying back in my seat.

“It’s about time, Shakespeare. I’ve already written a goddamned thesis waiting on you.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked, the biggest most f**king blinding smile on her face.

Lifting off the seat, I moved to stand before her, saying, “I’m here to assist the assistant. Put me to work. I’m eager to please.” I waggled my eyebrows for extra effect.