“Unless you want to e-mail me the term papers. I figured reading them in person would be more efficient.” I chuckled.

“You really want to help?”

More than anything. “It would be my pleasure. Plus, I’d love to get in the minds of future voters.”

“Um, okay. I’ll text it to you.”

“Great. If it’s okay, I can bring lunch. Do you have any food allergies or aversions?”

“That would be nice. And no, I eat everything.”

“A woman after my own heart. I’ll be there around noon.”

• • •

After impatiently whiling away the rest of the morning, I showered and dressed before I picked up burgers and headed to her apartment.

Ben called as I was on the way and offered to help me plan next week’s schedule, but I told him I had a commitment today. He pushed a little, which was his nature, but I didn’t tell him what or who that involved. The guy had my best interests at heart, but if I told him I was spending the day with Lucy, he’d dig into her past and tell me everything about her, and that wasn’t an option. I’d like to be surprised for a change, to have a relationship with someone that developed naturally, like regular people.

When Lucy opened the door, I might have stopped breathing. Her long hair was piled on top of her head, and she wore tortoise-shell-framed glasses on her heart-shaped face that complemented her beautiful brown eyes.

“Hi. I’m here at your service.” Holding up the warm, fragrant paper bag I was holding, I added, “And I bring gifts.”

She opened the door wider and smiled. “Come on in.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off Lucy as she walked into the living area. Her black yoga pants hugged her perfectly rounded ass.

“I think we should eat first,” I told her. “Traffic was a bit heavy, and I’m sure lunch is getting cold.”

“Can’t you do something about that?”

She stepped into the kitchen and rolled on the balls of her feet, stretching her lean legs as she reached in the upper cabinet for plates, which made her pink tank top rise enough for me to see the smooth, taut skin of her back.

Distracted, I said, “Do something about what?” as I took the burgers out of the bag and ripped the bag the fries were in so we could share them. One thing about this burger joint—their fries were the best, and there was always enough to share.

She handed me a plate, and we sat at the table.

“About the traffic,” she said as she reached for a French fry. “It’s horrible.”

A laugh escaped me. “Yes, it is. I’m not sure if I can do anything about that, but I’ll see what I can do.” I winked at her, and her pale skin pinked in an adorable way. “So, tell me about yourself, other than the fact you like greasy food.”

She moaned and rolled her eyes, obviously enjoying the burger she’d just bit into, and the sound she made turned me on. She held up an index finger until she finished chewing.

“There really isn’t too much to tell. I’m twenty-nine and love to teach.”

“Really? That’s it?” I took a bite of my sandwich, but kept my focus on her.

“That’s it.” She shrugged, but something flickered in her eyes that had me curious. “Tell me more about you,” she said, reaching out for a couple more fries. “I’m sure you’re much more interesting than you’ve let on.”

I finished the bite I was chewing and grinned at her. “Well, I’m glad it was your class that I came to visit.”

Her eyes narrowed and her head tilted to the side, but she said nothing.

“Don’t you believe me? Not all politicians lie.”

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “No. I didn’t mean to imply you were lying. I never said . . . I mean . . . I didn’t intend for you to feel that way.” She took a deep breath. “Sorry.”

Averting her eyes, she balled up the foil that had wrapped her burger as she stood to clear off the table. I began to help, but she waved me off.

“You seem nervous, Lucy.”

She stood at the sink, washing her hands, and froze for a second. “Wouldn’t you be if you were with a government official?” The messy bun on top of her head bobbed as she moved.

I leaned up against the counter and watched her. I could do that all day and not tire of it. She had a grace about her, and something told me she had no idea how attractive she was.

Crossing my feet at the ankle, I said, “No. We’re just normal everyday people. It’s not like I’m a rock star.”

“But you’re famous enough to have your picture in the paper,” she shot back.

Oh, so that was the issue. Knowing full well what she referred to, I glanced over to the coffee table in front of her sofa and saw the Post. A woman after my own heart.

“Did you see my picture in the paper this morning, Ms. Washburn?”

Lucy wiped her hands on a towel, grabbed the soda that I’d brought her, and went into the living room. “I did. She’s beautiful.”

She sat down at a small table that apparently she used as a makeshift desk, and I sat as well, but not before I picked up the newspaper and looked at the black-and-white photo she was referring to.

I tightened my lips, trying to contain my smile as I said, “My parents will thank you.”

Her eyebrows drew together, and two cute creases formed between them. “Your parents?”

“Yes, that incredibly lovely woman I took to the fundraiser is my sister, Gretchen.”

I’d never seen someone blush as quickly as she did. “Oh. I didn’t mean to imply . . .”

“Yes, you did.” When the rosy color on her cheeks faded, and her usual alabaster skin paled a shade lighter than usual, I said, “It’s okay. I’m glad you were curious.”

“I wasn’t curious.” She pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin slightly, obviously lying.

“Yes, you were.”

Lucy cleared her throat and picked up a stack of papers that had to be about three inches thick. It looked like an unbound phone book.

“The assignment was to interpret an event in US history that helped form laws in today’s society. They needed to have at least seven resources cited, and an integrity form had to be signed at the end to ensure they didn’t plagiarize.”

I slid on my black-rimmed reading glasses and flipped through the papers. “Aren’t term papers assigned earlier in the year?”

She stared at me before replying. “They were assigned back in December. I wanted it done correctly and not rushed. They had ample time to complete this assignment.” Her authoritative and slightly annoyed tone made me well aware she was one of those teachers who looked sweet, but was all business. “Each paper should be approximately fifteen pages long, and before you ask, no one complained. Any questions before we start?”

“Yes, one.”

She glanced up, and when our eyes met, I asked, “Are you single?”

CHAPTER 3

~ Lucy ~

All my thoughts flitted away when Drake asked if I was single. You’d think my mind would be racing, but it wasn’t. Oddly, a sense of tranquility washed over me, which gave me the ability to look this stunning man in the eye and answer him.

“Yes.” I couldn’t contain my smile when his dimple appeared at my response. “I’m single.”

His chest rose, making his black T-shirt tighten over his expansive chest, and it was difficult to focus on much else.

“I’m glad to hear it.” He clicked the top of his red pen and marked the paper in front of him. He looked even sexier in glasses, while I was sure I looked like a total nerd in mine. So unfair.

My calmness dissipated as my pulse quickened. Why did he ask? Was he single? If he normally took his sister to events, I could only assume it was because he didn’t have a girlfriend, but I wasn’t certain. Maybe he had a girlfriend who hated the limelight, and that was something I could definitely understand.

“Are you really single like you told my class?” My voice practically cracked, but I tried to keep it as steady as I could.