Steve nodded. “You don’t have to worry about Jen. I’ll be there to protect her.”

Tracy sipped her coffee. “You better.” She kept eye contact with him, daring him to look away first.

“I will.” He stared her down.

Tracy crumbled under the intense stare and turned to Jennifer. “He is hot, though. Eye candy.” She smiled at him and headed out of the kitchen.

Heat filled his cheeks and he studied his coffee. A quick glance at his watch told him he had to hustle. “I have to go, Jen.” He still needed to clean up and get his stuff for class. “We can talk after class?”

* * * *

Jennifer nodded and walked him to the door, kissing him and watching until the elevator closed. She shut the door and walked to Tracy’s room. Without knocking, she threw the door open. “I can’t believe you did that again.”

“Don’t worry; he didn’t even give me a second look.” Tracy peeked out of her closet carrying an outfit in her hand. “I had to make sure he wasn’t just blowing smoke to get you into bed.” She held up the dress and looked in the mirror. “Aren’t you glad you know?”

“Tracy, I knew the moment I saw him. I didn’t need you to do that.”

Tracy turned. “But I needed to know. I needed to know he loved you enough…,” she trailed off and looked out the window toward the lake. “Enough to protect you no matter what.” She looked back at Jennifer and headed into the bathroom to clean up. She had an eight o’clock class and had to get moving.

Jennifer went into her room, drew the shades and lay back down in the darkened room. She didn’t have to be anywhere until her eleven o’clock class. She drifted to sleep.

The closet door silently swung open, red eyes glanced over her longingly from the darkness within.

Chapter 21

Steve pulled his car into the frat house and threw it in park, looking up at the building. He stretched before sliding out to head inside. He almost made it to his room before a hand grabbed him, spinning him into the wall.

“Who do you think you are?” Bill growled. His breath stunk of beer and his eyes glossed with bloodshot drunkenness. He’d obviously partied all night.

“Let go, Bill.”

“No!” Bill pushed his forearm harder against Steve’s chest, holding him in place for the moment. “You stay away from Jen,” he muttered belligerently.

“Last warning,” Steve said, his voice low as anger coiled, ready to strike.

“I’m gonna mess you up,” Bill slurred. Balling his hand into a fist, he swung.

Bill’s fist never connected. Steve blocked the punch, grabbed the arm holding him, and spun Bill around, making him trip. before slamming him into the floor with his arm bent behind him. Steve put a knee in the middle of his back and leaned over. “I warned you,” he said in Bill’s ear. “Are you going to cut the shit?” He pulled on Bill’s arm, causing Bill to let out a protest of pain.

“Are you?” Steve asked again.

Bill nodded.

He let go and stood, taking a couple steps back as Bill slowly got off the floor. The bastard had the audacity to glare at him as he got up. Steve tensed, ready to inflict damage if Bill came at him again.

Bill leaned against the wall unsteadily.

“Bill, you’re drunk. Go sleep it off.”

“Stay away from her,” Bill muttered and stumbled into his room, slamming the door.

Steve glanced at the few who had seen the altercation, and shrugged. “I don’t get it. He’s the one who set us up on a blind date,” he said to the nearest fraternity brother.

“It’s not the dating part that he’s pissed about,” Joe Dalton pointed out.

Steve raised his eyebrows in question.

“He’s pissed that you’re sleeping with her,” Joe explained.

“That’s really none of his business.” Steve continued toward his room.

“It is his business,” Joe interrupted. “He and Tom were best friends.”

“And that has to do with this how?”

“He’s been looking after Jenny since Tom died.”

“And?” Steve pushed.

“And I’m not sure he expected Jenny to fall for you.” Joe looked down the hall toward Bill’s room. “I’m not sure he expected her to fall for anyone Tracy set her up with.”

Steve followed Joe’s gaze toward Bill’s room. “He doesn’t…,” he trailed off and looked back at Joe. “But he’s with Tracy.”

Joe nodded and wandered away, leaving Steve dumbfounded in the hallway and looking at the other fraternity members. Steve shook his head and went to his room, grabbing a towel before heading off to take a shower. He let the water wash over him, praying he’d done a convincing acting job. He wanted everyone to think he had no clue until today that Bill wanted Jennifer. He finished cleaning up and put on clothing, glancing at his watch. He had a half hour before class and needed some food. The apple Jennifer gave him wasn’t enough to keep him until noon.

When he walked into the kitchen, the room went silent. “What?”

“Everybody knows you don’t mess with Jennifer,” Adam said.

“Well, nobody told me that. He punched me because I didn’t want to date her, now he’s going to punch me because I am?” Steve went to the refrigerator to see what was inside. Nothing appealed to him and he turned his gaze toward the group at the tables.

“No. He’s gonna take you out because you slept with her.” Adam took a sip of the coffee in front of him. “Was she worth it?”

Steve stiffened and swung a glare toward Adam. “Worth what?”

Joe shot a warning glance at Adam and slightly shook his head. Most of the members of the fraternity were looking at Adam with wide shocked eyes, their mouths hanging askew.

“Nothing, never mind.” Adam recovered quickly and looked at his coffee.

Steve glanced around the room and decided this was not the place to eat breakfast. He headed out of the kitchen and paused in the doorway. “If anyone else asks me anything related to sleeping with Jen, I’ll kick your ass. Understand?” He didn’t wait for an answer.

Chapter 22

They watched Steve leave and heard the car start and slowly fade into the distance.

Joe glared at Adam. “You stupid son of a bitch.”

“What?” Adam shrugged.

“Don’t worry. You’ll all get your turns with her too,” Bill said as he appeared in the back entry to the kitchen. “As soon as I’m through with her. She’s the sacrifice this year,” he said, stunning everyone.

Joe looked toward the front of the house and wondered what Steve would do if he knew his girlfriend had just days to live. He shook the thought out of his head and focused on what her skin would feel like against his. The slow smile that spread across his lips was identical to that of every other fraternity member in the room.

Chapter 23

Jennifer woke at quarter to ten and wandered into the shower. The hot water beat down on her, clearing out the cobwebs. Waking up with Steve had felt so right, his strong arms around her, keeping her safe and warm. It was definitely something she could get used to.

Wrapped in a towel, she crossed to her closet; she dropped the towel before stepping inside. She flipped through the clothing, debating on what to wear. A slow smile spread over her lips while her fingers ran over the fabric. Her eyes scanned each outfit before pushing it aside. She wanted to look perfect today. Her gaze landed on a pale pink sundress with dainty spaghetti straps and a fitted bodice. He’d love that.

She reached for the dress and the closet door swung closed, catching on the towel. The light flickered and Jennifer looked up, her brow furrowed in annoyance, her hand inches away from the garment. I changed that damn thing yesterday. Cool air drifted over her from the rear of the closet and she shivered, casting a glance at the back wall. There was no air-conditioning duct that she could identify.