Tame the Beast (Ever After #1) by Allison Smith Read Free Book Online

always wear your hair pulled back?”
    “Usually,” she replied before swatting his hand away. “It’s just easier.”
    “But you didn’t the night of the party,” Adam said as they found an open table.
    For a moment, she looked confused. “That was Rose’s doing. Why the fascination with my hair?”
    “No. I’m not.” He tried to brush it off. “Just making small talk. Actually, I need to ask you a serious question?”
    “You wanted to know if you spent too much time on your own hair?”
    “No!” His hand pulled at his brown strands. He didn’t think a little styling wax was too much, but her sudden comment made him feel like he overdid it. “Umm … no. I was wondering if you would be willing to tutor me?
    Clara’s big brown eyes froze as her smile fell. “Wait, seriously?”
    “Yes. I would pay you, of course. A little extra cash couldn’t hurt, right?” Clara seemed lost for words. Adam pushed on. “I would fully compensate you for your time.”
    “What’s the catch?”
    “No catch.”
    “I don’t buy that. You seem like the type of guy who comes with a catch.”
    Adam’s brow rose and his mouth stretched into a lazy smirk. “Judging me before you know me?”
    “Just calling it like I see it.”
    He should have acted offended, but the fiery look in Clara’s eyes caused his pants to tighten in response. He loved a woman with a little fire in her. Women like that were equally entertaining in the bedroom. The image of Clara lying on his bed with the same burning look in her eyes provoked him more.
    Matching the heat in her eyes with his own, Adam said, “I thought you weren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover.”
    To his disappointment, Clara only shrugged as she took another sip of her coffee. Damn. He was hoping for a much more heated response. Instead, he was the one left craving more.
    “So what do you say? Be my tutor?”
    Clara thought about his offer. Adam desperately wanted to know what went on behind those beautiful brown eyes. Instead of agreeing, she asked, “You need a tutor for creative writing?”
    “Not exactly. I need a general tutor. You know, for all subjects. I’m dumb or anything, I just—” Adam stopped himself before he talked his way into a hole. “Look, I’ll be honest with you. My mother has kind of put me on lockdown this year. I need a tutor who will help make sure I stay ahead of the curve.”
    “You don’t need a tutor. It sounds like you need an assistant.”
    A sharp snort escaped his lips. He couldn’t tell her that having an assistant was what got him into this mess. Sending her the most charming smile he could muster, he asked, “So will you help me out?”
    His heart rate accelerated as he waited for her answer. It was maddening not knowing what danced beyond her brown eyes as she thought about his offer.
    “Fine,” she said in one long, hesitant breath, “but let’s talk more about this compensation.”
    Adam grinned ear to ear. “Whatever you’d like, Teach.”
     

Chapter Six
     
    Clara waltzed into her dorm room as if she were dancing on clouds. She felt like she was the queen of the campus. She could finally save up some money to help her father get out of debt. Ever since her mother Mary became ill, the family finances had fallen into a rather large hole. It did not matter how many pennies they poured into new medicines. Nothing could defeat her mother’s leukemia. With the loan sharks nipping at Gorge Wright’s ankles, Clarabelle knew her only chance to help her father was by attending Beaumont University on a full scholarship.
    “And why do you look so happy?” Rose asked the moment she noticed Clara’s chipper mood.
    “No reason,” Clara replied.
    “Liar. Something put that huge smile on your face, and I doubt it had anything to do with class. Unless it involved a cute guy in your class. Did it? Oh please tell me it did!”
    “It did, but not for the reasons you think. I swear you have such a one track mind!”