“Nova,” I corrected. “That’s a company card.”
“As long as your PINs good, I’m fine with it,” Jenny replied. “You just made my weekend. Mom’s going to be so happy about the paycheck, that’s for sure.”
“You’re living at home?” I asked as she swiped the card. Jenny nodded and handed it back.
“Yeah, I’m in college, taking classes at Oregon Health and Science,” she said. “I’m going to be a nurse.”
“Congratulations,” I said earnestly. “Good luck with it.”
“Thanks,” Jenny replied. “You too, have fun with your purchases.”
I grinned and nodded. “Oh, you know it.”
I left the store and turned right, walking toward the bookstore. As I did, I heard the chimes warning everyone that it was nearly nine at night, and that the mall would be closing soon. Surprised, not realizing I’d spent so much time inside Victoria’s Secret, I broke into a light jog the rest of the way and to the bookstore.
“I’m sorry, we’re closing,” an employee said as I went in. “Please, no more purchases.”
“I’m not, I’m meeting someone here,” I said. I looked around, and saw Kade in the back. I pointed. “Him.”
I understood, it must suck to try and check people out after the store is officially closed. It delayed getting home after a long day.
“What did you find?” Kade asked, putting a book on art and philosophy back on the shelf. He had a shopping basket of his own, which had what looked like eight or ten books inside. “Anything good?”
“Lots,” I answered. “I’ll be happy to show you when we get home, but here’s something I can show you now.” I pulled out a tube of orange scented body scrub and popped the top for him. “Do you like it?”
“It’s certainly you,” Kade replied. “Vibrant, youthful, and very clean. The rest?”
“You’ll see. So what about you? That’s a lot of books for a working lawyer.”
Kade grinned and shook his head. “Only one’s for me,” he said, showing me the cover, a mystery novel it looked like. “The rest are for you.”
I knelt down and looked in the basket, growling and groaning at the same time. “The New ACT Prep Book? The Dummy’s Guide to College Mathematics? Beginner’s French? What’s this for?”
Kade knelt down and took my hands in his. “You’re here to become a university student, right? But you said it yourself, you’ve been out of the academic game for a few years now, so you’re going to be rusty at least. If anything, you need to take the SAT or ACT test again, and re-learn how to be a student. So, that’s going to be your day job.”
I looked into his eyes, and knew that while he was using a gentle voice, there was a command in his words. “Yes, Kade,” I said softly, looking down. “Could you help me with them, though?”
“Me? Of course. My plan was, once you’re settled in, you can come with me to the office a couple of days a week. Get a professional environment around you, and you’ll respond that way. Also, Monica and Vince are great, and would probably be willing to help you as well. Just watch out for Vince, he’s got a thing for models. Although he already asked me to introduce him to Karla McDonald if I ever got a chance. I think it’s the accent.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered back. “I’m already taken.”
“Please bring all purchases to the front of the store to check out, the store is now closed,” the woman at the front announced over the store intercom. “Thank you for shopping with us today.”
Chapter 16
Kade
As we drove home from the Lloyd Center, the air between Alix and me was thick with desire. She rode in the passenger seat with her hands politely in her lap, but twice, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her start to reach for me before pulling her hand back. For my part, I felt the same way, and was glad we’d discussed that rule. For safety’s sake, no touching in the car. At least, not while it was moving.
“Do you really think I can get through these books in time?” Alix asked to distract herself as we drove. “I mean, doesn’t it take a few weeks for you to get your scores back from taking the SAT or ACT?”
“It does, but remember, we can put in the application to a university before you even take the test, then forward the score to them once you get it back,” I replied. “As for the books themselves, I don’t think you’ll even need to. Like the math book: when I looked, at least half of it is stuff you’ll get in freshman or even sophomore classes. I got it, though, because it has lots of sample problems you can work through. I know doing it on a computer would be easier and cheaper, but you have to take the test the old fashioned way with a paper and pencil, so you might as well practice it that way too.”
“Yes, Kade,” Alix answered, sending a warm thrill through me. She knew how those two words affected me, and she smiled.