I clear my throat. "I've been giving a lot of thought to the upcoming draft and I think I should enter it this year. There's no point in delaying the inevitable." Even though I don't tack on-because we need the money, the words hang in the air.His brow furrows as if he doesn't understand why I'm bringing this up. "We already talked about this. You need to finish college first and get your degree."My gaze bounces around the interior of our dilapidated house. What I see is all the improvements that could be made if I were to get picked up by a team this spring. It's all but a certainty. I've been scouted since I was a freshman in high school. I red-shirted my freshman year of college, which means I practiced with the team but didn't play in any of the games so I could retain four years of eligibility at the college level. I've only used up two. I could technically stay at Barnett for another two years if I wanted to get more experience under my belt.With Cullum looking to a

My memory of her from that night doesn't do her justice. She's a woman who can definitely rock the whole hot teacher vibe. My guess is that more than one of her student's fathers pop wood while sitting across the desk from her at conferences.That night at O'Brien's, she wore something simple like jeans and a sweater. Today she's got on a cream-colored blouse that buttons up the front. The top one has been left undone, exposing a hint of flesh beneath. Even though she's covered up, I can see the soft curve of her breasts as the silky looking blouse molds to her body before getting tucked into a tight-fitting black skirt that hits above her knees. The outfit is topped off with a pair of black heels.Her long, dark hair is piled high on top of her head with a few loose tendrils left to escape down her slender neck.Yup, sexy as hell. I keep an eye on the allotted amount of time we've been given for our presentation. Right around the thirty-minute mark, I wrap things up, knowing

Gia's blue gaze widens as it collides with mine for the second time in the span of a few short hours. A satisfied smile tugs at the corners of my lips.Looks like I've surprised her.Again.Oh, Ms. Monroe, did you really think I was going to let you slip through my fingers again? No way. Not after I've been thinking about you for three solid weeks. Ever since you warmed my bed with that hot little body of yours. We're not done just yet.It's almost laughable the way her feet grind to a halt in the parking lot. Instead of closing the forty-foot distance between us, I lean against the seat of my bike. My legs are stretched out in front of me as if I've got all the time in the world.Even though my gaze never falters from hers, I take in every detail of her appearance. The ebony-colored hair, the delicate bone structure of her face, and the full lips that are in the shape of a cupid's bow. Not to mention, those gorgeous blue eyes that are framed by thick, sooty lashes. She can't

"Well, well, well...what do we have here?" Harper saunters into my classroom with a can of Diet Cherry Coke dangling from her fingertips and her lunch packed in a stylish hot pink cooler. Unable to wait, I've already spread out the contents of my lunch on the horseshoe shaped table I use when working in small groups with the kids.I give her a-I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it look, which she promptly dismisses. "I see that you're not-so-secret admirer has sent you yet another gift." A sly grin spreads across her pretty face.Instead of commenting, I focus my attention on twisting off the cap from my bottle of water.When I remain silent, she forges ahead with another question. "So, that would make every day this week that you've received something?"I don't know why she's bothering to ask. We both know the answer without me having to admit the truth. If she's attempting to make a point, I don't know what it is. She settles across from me before pulling out a small salad, sandwich,

As soon as she opened the door and my gaze slid over her, my heart stuttered before beating into double time. And-if you can believe this-my palms broke out in a sweat.I know, right?Completely ridiculous.I don't think a chick has ever tangled me up like this.It only makes me realize how much I want her to give me a chance. I don't want this to end before it even begins. After sending her gifts all week long, hoping to ensnare her attention or-at the very least draw out her curiosity-I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve unless I want to scare her with some borderline creepy behavior.Now that her hand is secured in mine, there's no way I'll let it go. I've been thinking about Gia since I saw her last Friday afternoon."Let me grab my purse and lock up before we go," she says.Does that mean I have to relinquish her hand in order for that to happen?Because she's staring at me like it does.Fine, I'll let her go. But as soon as I hear the lock click into place, I'm stealin