The Hot Corner Read Free

he left the classroom without another smile. Before I could let myself ruminate on it for long, I stepped outside and he was standing outside the door.
    He was leaning his long, lanky body against the wall, and there it was—he smiled at me again. The girl from class called me a lucky bitch and walked away.
    “Hi,” he said, a slight Southern lilt to his voice that sent a shiver through me. I was a sucker for accents.
    “Hi.” Somehow my voice didn’t tremble.
    “I’m Brad.”
    “I’m Dani.”
    He stepped closer and held out a hand, which I took, but instead of shaking we both just kind of stood there holding hands in the middle of the hallway.
    “Pretty,” he said, and my cheeks grew hot.
    “Uh, thank you.” I patted at my red hair which I was pretty sure was a sweaty mess after my jog across campus.
    He laughed nervously. “Your name, I mean, though you’re pretty, too.”
    Now I felt like a moron. “Oh, yeah. Thanks.” I tried to tug my hand away but he held fast.
    “I mean, you’re more than pretty. You’re beautiful.” His cheeks looked a little pink.
    What did I say to that? Maybe I should tell him he was handsome. It wasn’t a lie, but it sounded weird to me. “You play baseball.”
    He laughed and released me. “Yeah, I do.” He glanced at his watch and winced. “And unfortunately I have to get to the gym.”
    “Oh, great,” I said. “Have a good workout.”
    He hefted his gym bag over his shoulder. “Look, I don’t usually do this but I was wondering if you’d maybe like to get something to eat later?”
    Was I still in class staring at the back of his head, or was this really happening?
    “Or not. Forget I said anything.” He started to turn and I grabbed his forearm. Like an idiot, I’d been mute for so long he thought I was saying no.
    “I’d love to.”
    A smile lit his face. “How about you give me your number and I’ll call you after I finish working out?”
    “Great.” I took his phone and programmed myself in.
    He smiled one final time. “See you later, Dani.”
    “Yeah,” I murmured. I stood in that hallway for God knew how long after he left, just staring after his retreating form.
     
    “She’s totally checking you out.”
    Brad followed my gaze toward the hostess who’d just seated us. She was practically tripping over her own feet because she was too busy staring at my boyfriend to be bothered to walk like a normal human being.
    He shrugged and returned his eyes to me. He always did. He looked at me as if I was the most important person in the world, and it made me feel incredible every time. “She’s going to fall on her ass if she doesn’t cut it out,” he said, and sure enough, she tripped over a waiter and fell in an ungainly heap on the floor. I hid my laughter behind my hand and Brad grinned. “Told you.”
    “Doesn’t it ever bother you?” He got attention everywhere we went. Someone would inevitably come up to talk about his batting average or the incredible play he’d made at third base earlier in the day.
    “Not really. I’m not interested in her, so she can look all she wants.” He flashed that smile again. “I only have eyes for you.”
    “Well, I know someone else who only has eyes for you,” I said, eyeing his shiny, engraved new watch and pouting. ‘B&B,’ it read.
    “That’s the one Bailey sent you, right?”
    His smile was gentle. “Yes. You know she’s my best friend, and I swear, you’d like her if you met her.”
    “She sends you care packages,” I said, resting my chin in the palm of my hand. “I’ve seen pictures of you two, I know how she looks at you. If I had a best friend like that . . .”
    “Shhh,” he said. “It’s you. It’s only you.”
    “Cheesy.” But the words still made me warm.
    “Maybe, but it’s true. I love you. Happy anniversary.”
    “I love you, too.” Six amazing months had flown by. We clinked our water glasses since we were still too young to drink in public.
    The hostess