Save the Last Dance by Roxanne Rustand Read Free Book Online

private condo in some exclusive area near the campus…unreachable by the likes of her.
    “I—I don’t know where he lives, honest.” Scooping up her change and the pizza, she hurried to the door. “I’ll tell him if I see him, though.”
    Outside, she scanned the darkened street. Could he still be close by? Her heart lifted at the possibility. She’d have a chance to relay the message, then maybe they’d talk awhile. Though a small, inner voice reminded her that they couldn’t be more different, the thought of his smoky silver gaze and deep laughter warmed her clear to her toes despite the crisp October chill in the air.
    A half-dozen college girls ambled down the sidewalk together, each with a backpack slung over one shoulder, laughing. Across the street, a young couple walked hand in hand through a drift of autumn leaves.
    But Jared was nowhere to be seen.
     
    K ATE LOOKED FOR HIM on campus the following day, then asked Deanna and several friends if they knew where he lived. No one seemed to know anything about him, the college refused to release contact information, and there were no phone book listings that were even close.
    Finally—as a last resort—she crossed the commons in front of the Student Union and intercepted two of the girls she’d seen at the party where she’d first met him. Oblivious, they swept past her, deep in conversation over some gaffe by a fellow sorority member.
    “Wait—please,” Kate called after them.
    They turned as one and stared at her faded jeans and medical pullover smock emblazoned with the vet school logo, each with a single eyebrow raised in elegant disbelief at the intrusion.
    If Kate hadn’t needed to talk to them, she would’ve rolled her eyes at their clonelike supercilious air and gone on her way.
    “You… need something?” the tall blonde asked, glancing at her watch.
    “I saw you. At the fraternity party a few weeks ago. And…um…Jared Mathers was there.”
    “ You’re the one who was chasing him after Hilary dumped him!” She gave her friend a triumphant look. “See? I told you. Hilary was livid when she heard about it.”
    “Why would she care if she dumped him?” Kate felt her face warm. “He looked upset. I just went over to talk to him.”
    The two girls exchanged glances, then the shorter one snickered. “R-i-i-ght. Not like he’d be a target for every last gold digger on campus, or anything.”
    The temptation to fire back a sharp retort nearly consumed Kate. “I just need to tell him something,” she said evenly. “Today. Would you know where I can find him?”
    “Believe me, sugar, you don’t stand a chance, so don’t waste your time.” She glanced above Kate’s shoulder, and her eyes lit with amusement. “The Mathers family would see to that. Right, Jared?”
    Laughing, the two girls strolled away.
    Kate felt the warmth in her cheeks turn to fire as she slowly turned and found Jared dismounting from a sleek ten-speed not more than three feet away. He’d probably heard every last word.
    She froze, unable to speak, wishing she could simply die right on the spot.
    But instead of finding disgust or mockery in his eyes, she only found sympathy, and embarrassment that nearly matched her own. “I…wasn’ttrying to find you so I could hit on you or anything,” she managed after an awkward pause.
    “I know,” he said wryly. “You’ve made that pretty clear.”
    “I mean, you seem like a great guy and everything. I’m just not really looking right now, with school and my job and homework and all. I—” Babbling. I’m totally babbling here. Really cool, Kate.
    She took a deep breath to steady herself, then caught a glimmer of a smile tilting his mouth. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually run on like that. What I needed to tell you was that guy at the store plans to press charges if you don’t show up tonight to pay for the merchandise or work it off.”
    His smile faded. “I plan to be there, just as I said.”
    “He sure