Two days later fate intervened.
Mr. Dalton's English literature class.
"Alright," the teacher announced. "Semester project partners."
Students groaned.
Names began pairing off.
Then—
"Luca Hayes… Autumn Cole."
Silence.
Autumn froze.
Across the room Luca lifted his head slowly.
Their eyes met again.
And this time he smiled.
Not the cocky grin he gave everyone else.
Something softer.
Something curious.
He grabbed his chair and dragged it beside hers.
Up close, he was overwhelming.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
That dark alluring hair falling into those bright blue eyes.
"Hey," he said quietly.
Autumn swallowed.
"Hi."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"You're the girl from the hallway."
Her cheeks warmed.
"And you're the boy who stares."
A slow grin spread across Luca's face.
"Well," he murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips.
"I guess we're even."