“What? No way!”

“You are so naïve, Sophie.” Mel rolled her eyes as they pulled up in front of Sophie’s school.

“I’m not naïve and I really have to go, I’m late. Thanks for the ride, we’re going to talk about this Corbin situation later and stop smoking, already.” Sophie ran up to the front door of the building.

When Sophie walked into the classroom she intentionally kept her eyes from traveling toward the center of the room where Ashton and the other model were posed. “Sorry, sir,” Sophie called to her professor, Mr. Walters, as she took her seat.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. You are only cheating yourself of time spent on your painting,” he responded as he watched her settle in her seat.

“Yes, sir,” Sophie replied politely as she readied her supplies to begin. She gave herself a moment to greedily take in Ashton’s gorgeous hard body that looked as if he was carved of stone. Every part of his body looked powerful and delicious. What am I thinking? Sophie squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus on her painting.

A strange heat settled in her core, making her mouth water and her attention waver to sensual thoughts. The canvas in front of her blurred as her mind was solely fixated on Ashton’s body. She remembered how his hands felt upon her when they were on the dance floor. The heat of him pressed against her.

Sophie raked her hands over her face. She needed to pull herself together—she was losing her self-control. Sophie forced her attention to the painting in front of her, reminding herself how important this was for her final mark. Taking a deep breath, she began working with the paint until she finished the girl’s likeness to her satisfaction. Instead of painting Ashton, she decided to make a bold move. The painting became an image of the woman embracing an identical image of herself. One of the reasons she loved art was the creativity to step outside of rules and structure. She was pleased with the final product and could only hope that Mr. Walters would appreciate the angle she chose.

“I hope that everyone has had enough time to view the models. They will not be joining us again, but should you need more time, next class is open to finish the paintings,” Mr. Walters announced at the end of the sitting. Sophie hadn’t realized how much time had passed. She was startled when Ashton leaned around her canvas to view her painting.

“I’m disappointed…you stared at me long enough and you didn’t even paint me. Though, I must say I do like where your mind is.” He smiled wickedly at her.

“Actually I had to improvise because every time I tried to paint you I would feel nauseous,” Sophie replied, dismissing him by busying herself with packing up her supplies.

“You’re meaner than I remember,” he stated with a humorous tone.

“Well, you are just as mean as I remember,” Sophie spat out.

“And you still want me so bad you can taste it,” Ashton declared arrogantly with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t fool yourself. Not every girl that sees you wants you, Ashton.” Sophie couldn’t hide the color in her face.

He shrugged his shoulders in the same careless way she had seen him do so many times before. “But you do.”

Sophie huffed. “Why are you even doing this?” She waved to her painting. “Don’t you have something better to be doing with your time?

“And miss this wonderful exchange between us?”

“Was it the model girl?” Sophie’s question was met with a bored look. “It was, wasn’t it? You were trying to get laid.” Sophie rolled her eyes when he didn’t try to deny it. “Well, the rest of us live in a world where we have to work toward our future, not waste it away doing pointless things for a thrill. Please don’t let me get in the way of your fabulous time you have planned between the two of you.” Sophie waved him away toward the other model, who was still lingering around the room.

“Are you jealous?” The humor in his voice was too much.

“Bite me,” Sophie snapped.

Ashton raised his eyebrow. “I can do that.” His words pulled at an invisible cord that tied to her inner heat. The way his lip curved up made her want to taste them. “It explains the kiss the other night.”

Heat raked across her face. “In your dreams, Ashton.” Sophie grabbed her things and headed out of the classroom, not looking back. I am a confident, grounded woman and I will not let that pompous ass get to me!

As soon as she was a safe distance away, she found a place to sit and pull herself together before heading to her next class. Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to Jack. It was the first time in her life she’d opened up to a guy and right now she needed him.

Sophie: Ashton is such an ass.

 

Sophie smiled when he responded almost immediately.

Jack: What happened?

 

Sophie: Just because he’s hot, he thinks that every girl wants to do him, and he is a big fat jerk.

 

Jack: Do you want him?

 

Sophie: Not the point. The point is that he is an arrogant jerk ball.

 

Jack: Point taken but…

 

Sophie: But nothing…so when are we going to hang out or are we just going to have a textual relationship?

 

Jack: Haha. I like that. I’m away on business. This is all you have for now, but I do miss your beautiful face.

 

Sophie: Okay fine. Strictly textual for now.

 

Jack: Let’s devise a plan to get back at him for being a jerk ball, as you call it.

 

Sophie: Where have you been all my life? I think I just fell in love with you.

 

Jack: Gross…girl cooties.

 

Sophie: Best kind. Any ideas for revenge?

 

Jack: Sleep with him.

 

Sophie: Remember that comment I made about falling in love with you? I take it back! That is the most ridiculous plan ever.

 

Jack: Let him think you are into him. Sleep with him and then give him the cold shoulder. It will drive him crazy.

 

Sophie: Don’t like that plan. Something else.

 

Jack: Let me think…

 

Sophie: You do that. Gotta go to class. Talk later.

Chapter Seven

Sophie made her way through the rest of the day. Without Ashton’s disruptive presence she was able to regain her focus and turn her day around. The bus pulled up to her stop and she hopped off just as her phone began to ring.

“Hey Hon, I’m glad I caught you. Are you all done your classes for the day?”

“Yep, heading home to change before I head to my new job.”

“Peter already knew who Margaret Darcy was. She is a very reputable woman in the community and apparently very well-to-do,” her mother said dreamily on the phone. “She comes from old money and was quite the socialite in her day.”

“Yeah, I didn’t really get the axe-murderer vibe from her.” Sophie rolled her eyes.

“Better safe than sorry. I’ll let you go so you won’t be late,” her mother said excitedly. “But first, what do you think of a black and white wedding with touches of red? I was thinking your dress could be red and the rest of the bridesmaids could be black. How do you feel about that?”