His smile widened, like he knew exactly how flimsy my protest was. “I think you, me, and Calico all know that’s not true.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing myself. Of course he’d bring up Cali. One slip about talking to my best friend about him—and his abs—and now I’d never live it down.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes, shoved past him, and claimed a chair. If he wanted to invade my study room, fine. Two could play at the whole ignoring game. I had plenty of work to keep me occupied. Coding didn’t leave space for distractions.
Or at least, that’s what I told myself.
I started setting out my laptop, notebook, pens, coffee, and water bottle in the exact order I liked as his voice broke through my thin shield of determination.
“Why are you double majoring?”
I snapped my laptop open with a little more forcethan necessary. “Because I want as much knowledge as I can get to land a great job and actually be successful. It’s always been the plan. Always what I’ve wanted.”
He leaned back in his chair, considering me. “That must be nice. Being so sure of what you want to do.” His voice sounded so sincere and contemplative that it caught me off guard. I glanced over at him, his gaze seemingly lost as he stared at his computer screen. “I’m not sure I know what I want to do. Not that I have the option to figure it out for myself.”
Without meaning to, my curiosity got the better of me. “What about swimming?”
“Ah, swimming.” He tipped his head back with an exaggerated dreamy sigh. “The love of my life.”
I snorted. “Didn’t take you for the romantic type.”
His gaze flicked back to mine, something softer slipping past the cocky surface. “You’d be surprised.”
My throat tightened, and I looked away quickly, unprepared for sincerity from him, of all people. I had a feeling there were a lot of things about Talon I hadn’t anticipated.
“Dear old Dad wants me to put swimming behind me and get serious about my future,” he said, moving the spotlight away from whatever had just passed between us.
“But aren’t you trying to make it to the Olympics?” I asked, remembering whispers I’d heard—that he’d just barely missed making the team last time.
He nodded, jaw tightening. “I’m trying. My dad thinks it’s a waste of time since I didn’t make it to thelast Olympics. He’d rather I get a real career lined up since that’s what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.”
The way his shoulders slumped with each word made my chest ache. How could a father not be proud of his son for being one of the best swimmers in the country?
“This might be your last chance, though.” I shook my head. “You’ll have the rest of your life to work. But this? This window doesn’t stay open forever.”
His lips curved. “Look at that. You and I actually agree on something. That, and how amazing my abs are.”
I fought a smile, rolling my eyes instead, though warmth bloomed in my cheeks.
He laughed. “Come on, Livvi. You can let the smile out. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Fine. I let the corner of my mouth curve. “It’s no secret you have nice abdominal muscles.” Then I jabbed a finger at him, schooling my face into seriousness. “But just so we’re clear, I am not like all those other women drooling after you, lining up for their turn.”
His grin transitioned into something darker, more deliberate. A smolder. “Oh, I know you’re not like all the other women. You’re way more enticing.”
My lips parted, no comeback forming fast enough. How was anyone supposed to withstand this? He was temptation wrapped in confidence, laced with charm, and backed by pheromones strong enough to pull women in from miles away. Including me.
This was bad. Very, very bad. I couldn’t let myselfbe distracted by him. Not when I’d worked too hard to build a different life for myself. Not when he was clearly a player who’d left a trail of broken hearts behind him.
I would not be one of them. Even if it meant giving up my favorite study room.
Nothing—and no one—would keep me from achieving the future I wanted. Not even the ridiculously charming, unfairly alluring Talon Everhart.
I told myself that on repeat, like a mantra. Like it could drown out the way his presence altered the air around me. But then he shifted in his chair, leaning closer to the keyboard, and my treacherous eyes betrayed me.
A quick glance, just one, at the flex of his forearms as his fingers flew across the keys, his feathered wing tattoo that always caught my attention making me wonder if there was meaning behind it. Veins, muscle, that careless strength he wore like a second skin. My breath snagged before I yanked my gaze back to my notes, cheeks prickling.
Control. I was supposed to be in control. Not sitting here wondering what it might feel like if those same arms ever?—