Sunshine In The Morning (Spring-Summer Romance Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

Aarin said, taking a seat, “I’m used to being the wrong age. Graduated from high school when I was sixteen and went to college with kids your age a couple months later.”
    Kids her age. Their age difference grew larger. “And hockey?” She shoved it aside.
    “I detoured from my plans to play hockey, something I’d done growing up in Minnesota.”
    “You’re from there?” she asked.
    He shook his head. “California, actually. But I spent five years in the frozen north on a Junior League. Went back to Cali after, but missed hockey. So when I had the chance to play, I took it. I was forced to quit when I injured my hand.”
    Her gaze strayed to his fingers.
    “It’s better today,” he said, “more tolerable.”
    They quieted, consumed for a while with eating their food, then Lydia rose and gathered the dirty dishes, setting them in the sink. She plugged the drain and filled the basin with soapy water.
    “You don’t have to do that,” Aarin said to her back.
    “No, I do. My mom once told me to show appreciation where it’s due, and I know you wouldn’t want to go against that.”
    “I guess not,” he replied. “She raised a good daughter.”
    Up to her elbow in suds, Lydia let his compliment hover in the air between them and heard him rise and put away the other things. She was struck in the silence by the domestic scene, that what should be difficult wasn’t, but had an easy contentment.
    “I’ll be right back,” he said.
    After rinsing and drying the plates, she washed out the sink and wiped off the counter. She wandered into the living room and stared at the mess they’d left the night before. With time on her hands, she straightened that, too, and was facing away from him when he returned.
    He coughed, and she whirled.
    “Look at you,” she said. “You’ve gotten your shirt done up crooked.” Walking up to him, she fixed his collar, adjusting it to hang straight, and his face creased with amusement and something else—well-being.
    Her hand at the base of his neck, her palm warmed and, in a flash, her face as well. “I … I should go.” She reversed, not bothering to look behind. Her knees bumped the arm of the couch, and she crumpled. Sitting there, one leg propping her weight, she followed his gaze down her extended limb. His jaw tightened, and he made of fist of his good hand.
    “Let me help you up,” he said. He stood her to her feet, holding onto her fingers. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
    A spark lit in her brain, a glimpse of something she shouldn’t entertain.
    See him in class, where she’d have to pretend none of this had happened, that she hadn’t spent hours in his house, slept in his spare room, that he hadn’t made her breakfast. Nor held her hand, however brief. Nor stared at her like he was now. Where she’d have to deny she’d considered him someone other than her professor.
    “Tomorrow, yes,” she said, reclaiming her fingers. She curled them into her palm.
    “I think, for our next meeting, we’ll discuss what order the subjects should go in. I’m pretty set, but there’s a few places where I could shift things earlier or later. I’m free Friday if you like. I have some late night meetings and can’t get free until then. Unless you have a date?” he asked.
    Lydia swallowed on a dry throat. “No,” she shook her head. “I’m all yours Friday night.”

CHAPTER 3
     
    The leftover disorder of the previous day welcomed Aarin into his classroom, the imprint of his students evident in scuffed tile, smeared hand prints, and the presence of a dropped pencil. He surveyed the scene, a king in his kingdom, then proceeded forward, dropping his briefcase in his desk chair. The cushioned seat released a whuff of air and the seat rolled backwards a few inches.
    “Mr. Kai, I was hoping to catch you before your first class.”
    Aarin turned his gaze toward the college dean. Augustus Bloom was exactly what you’d expect to find working college admin.