Blissful Valentine: A Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

a tutoring program sponsored by the student union. Some of my top students from last semester are involved. I recommend you take advantage of the service, it’s free.”
    I glance over the paper down to the physics section. Tuesday night in the Smithfield Hall from six to nine p.m. Perfect. “Thank you, I’ll be there.”
    He smiles. “Don’t sweat it yet. There’s still time to bring up that grade. I think the tutoring will do the trick.” He takes the manila folder he’s been leafing through from his desk and peruses the papers.
    I flash a quick smile and turn away, hopping up the steps to the exit. So I guess there’s still hope. Maybe if I get to the tutoring session early enough I can pick the Stephen Hawking of the group to work his magic on me.
    I glance at my watch. Almost time to meet Lexie for lunch. I zip up my jacket, pull on my gloves, and push open the heavy door. A gust of frigid wind whips my hair along my cheeks and sends a multitude of snow flurries rushing into my face. I close my eyes, grip my backpack tight, and trudge forward as if I’m taking on a blizzard in the frozen tundra. The cold wind burns my cheeks. Just a few more feet and I’m at the dining hall.
    I open my eyes for a split second but it’s too late. A wall of pure muscle slams into me like a ton of bricks. I fall backwards, my hands flailing in the air for a few seconds before my butt smacks into the hard concrete sidewalk. My backpack flies into a mound of snow and slowly slides down the icy surface to the frozen ground. I blink a few times and try and focus on the face hovering above me.
    “You okay?” Dean holds out his hand.
    You’ve got to be kidding me. Heat spreads across my face like wildfire. First the physics test, now this. Do I dare ask what else is in store for me today? I prop myself to a sitting position and take his hand. He pulls me to my feet with one swoop.
    “Come on, I can’t let my wingman freeze.” He grabs my backpack from the snowy mound and guides me forward, holding open the door to the dining hall.
    I look up at him and lose myself for a minute in his deep blue eyes. The chill miraculously leaves my body. Amazing, how could I have possibly not noticed him first semester? An elbow grazes me as a girl sprints toward the dining hall. I flinch and knock myself back into reality. Yeah, probably because I was studying all last semester, instead of allowing distractions to make me lose my focus. Maybe I should follow my own advice.
    I fling my backpack over my shoulder and head into the dining hall. I sniffle and tuck a few damp strands of my hair behind my ear. “Sorry, blinded by snowflakes.”
    He pulls off his stocking cap and tousles his hair into a perfect mess. “Ah, happens to all the beach girls.” He shakes a few snowflakes off his hat. “Lunch is on me. Least I can do after almost plowing you into a snow bank.”
    I bite my lip. “Let me guess. It’s an unwritten rule that all fraternity brothers have to buy a girl lunch after they almost plow her into a snow bank?”
    He chuckles. “No, but it should be.” He takes a step forward and gestures for me to follow.
    Crap, Lexie’s waiting for me. I reach out and grab his arm. My hand barely gets around a quarter of his hard bicep. A surge of electricity flows through me. Holly hell, he gets more impressive by the second. “Can’t today. Rain check?”
    He nods. “It’s a date.” He winks and takes off down the hallway.
    Wait. I never agreed to a date. My body heat rises a few more degrees, flushing my face. We’re just friends. That’s it. It can’t go any further or it’s destined to end up a disaster. Now, if I keep saying it to myself maybe I’ll believe it too.

    I drag a french fry through the mound of ketchup on my plate, forming a circular design. So I inadvertently made a lunch date with Dean. It’s like my body is on autopilot, doing whatever the hell it wants despite my brain. I stare down at my edible art and try to