After an hour of walking around campus, they went to the campus center and stopped in the little café. After picking up their beverages at the counter, they sat down and relaxed for a few minutes.
“It’s eleven now,” Trey said, looking at his watch. He turned to Tasha. “We have a meeting with Dr. Gemina at noon. You can ask her about the different programs you might like to apply to.”
“It was great she agreed to spend time with Tasha,” Suzie said.
Trey smiled. “One of the perks of working at the university. Making great contacts to help your kid sister sort out her future.”
Tasha smiled, then took the last sip of her strawberry frappuccino. “I’d like to head to the bookstore now.”
Trey stood up, his coffee in hand. Danielle finished her tea as they walked past the other tables, and dropped her empty cup in the garbage near the door as they left the café.
“I’d like to buy another sweatshirt,” Suzie said. “The one I got last time is really comfortable, but it’s wearing out.”
“That’s here in the campus center store,” Danielle told her. “Do you want to stop there first?”
“No, you all go ahead to the bookstore. I’ll meet you over there later. I’d like to browse for a bit.”
“Do you want me to show you where it is?” Danielle asked.
“No, I remember. I’ve been here a bunch of times. Really, I just want to poke around at my own speed.”
“Okay, Suzie. See you later,” Trey said.
A knock sounded at Jake’s office door. He didn’t have any appointments this morning. It was probably a student wanting to ask about marks or maybe help understanding the latest essay assignment.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Suzie, Trey’s sister, popped her head in the door.
“Hi, there,” she said.
“Hi. Come on in. What are you doing here?”
Suzie stepped into the office and closed the door behind her. She carried a couple of blue plastic bags he recognized from the campus stores.
“Trey thought it would be a good idea to show Tasha around campus today. Tasha is meeting with a Dr. Gemina at noon.”
She sat down in the guest chair facing his desk and placed the bags at her feet.
Jake nodded. “Good idea. She’ll be able to help Tasha figure out the best program for her and advise her on what courses to take. She can also suggest scholarships she might be eligible for.”
“So . . .” She smiled, looking slightly nervous. “I wanted to stop by and tell you I had a good time last night.”
Uh-oh. “Yes, it was fun. The four of us get along well together.”
“Sure . . . but I mean specifically . . . I enjoyed being with you.” She perched on the edge of the chair. “I felt that there was . . . a bit of a spark between us.” She glanced down at her hands, which were clasped in her lap, then back to him. “I don’t mean to be forward but . . . I wondered if you might like to get together for dinner one day this week . . . without Trey and Danielle, or Tasha. Just to see if there might be something worth pursuing.”
He sighed and stepped out from behind his desk, then perched on the edge, facing her.
“Suzie, I really like you. . . .”
She smiled. “Good.”
“But . . . Well, I’m seeing someone.”
She stood up and stepped toward him. “And this someone . . . is it serious?”
“Well, uh . . .”
Damn, if she only knew the truth. It would send her running at lightning speed.
She stepped a little too close and her hand brushed across his cheek. “It sounds like the jury’s still out on that. So maybe there is a chance for me.” She stared at him with her dark brown eyes. “You know, ever since I first met you, I’ve had kind of a crush on you. I’ve always wanted to explore the possibilities, but . . . there’s never been a chance. I just thought that . . .”
As she stared at him with wide eyes, his gut clenched at having to turn her down. Here she was putting her feelings on the line and . . . he hated having to do this.
“Suzie, you’re a very attractive woman and—”
Before he could finish his sentence, she leaned in and kissed him. Her soft lips caught him by surprise, and he tried to jerk back only to realize that her arms were encircled around his neck, holding him immobile.
He stood up, which only served to bring their bodies tighter together. Nooo! This couldn’t be happening. This was Trey’s sister.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Suzie pulled back and stared around at a very angry-looking Trey standing at the door, Danielle peering in from behind him.
Sixteen
Shock pummeled Danielle at the sight of Jake kissing Suzie. “Oh, Jake, how could you? She’s Trey’s sister.”
Suzie stepped back from Jake and turned toward Trey and Danielle. “If Jake and I want to—”
Trey’s fists clenched at his sides. “Suzie, don’t. You don’t know what you’re getting in the middle of here.”
She straightened her back. “So maybe you should tell me.”
“It’s not up to me.” He glared at Jake. “And it’s not the time. Tasha has an appointment in ten minutes and I thought you wanted to be a part of that.”
Suzie sighed. “Yes, of course.” She turned to Jake. “We can talk later?”
Jake nodded, knowing he’d have to set her straight.
She walked to the door.
“Tasha’s going to meet us there, but we’d better hurry.” Trey glanced around at Danielle, who still
