His Fractured Girl (“HIS” #4)

Chapter 4

4

Travis

I t’s the strangest feeling: getting nervous for a date. Something I’m definitely not used to. But my stomach is actually buzzing as I knock on her door. I just really want to make a good impression tonight. She’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. It usually isn’t until I’m a couple months in that I start seeing the facade start to peel away and glimpses of truth are revealed. Then I learn that the girl I was falling for was nothing but a lie.

“Torre, can you get that?”

The sound of Sophie’s voice from within already has me smiling. She sounds nervous, too.

“Hey, Travis!” Torre greets me with a smile as she opens the door, but then her voice drops to a whisper and her smile smooths to a thin line. “If you hurt her, I’ll have Lukas kill you in your sleep.” I have to bite back my laughter. She and her brother are two peas in a pod. He practically gave me the same warning on my way out the door. Neither of them has anything to worry about though. It’s different with Sophie. My goal isn’t to get her in my bed. My goal is to see if that crazy spark I’m feeling could actually ignite a future together.

“I like her, Torre. I promise my intentions are honorable.” For the first time, I’m vested in my heart’s interest and not just what my dick wants. Although, my dick is definitely in want of the girl. It gave me a hard time all afternoon.

Torre steps to the side, finally allowing me to enter. “I’m not sure how you got her to agree to this, but I’m rooting for you, Travis.”

That makes two of us.

The bathroom door opens and out walks the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

“Wow, gorgeous. You look hot.” Torre whistles, nodding her approval. I’m feeling mine right between my legs. “I’m heading out to meet Willow. You two have fun tonight.”

I barely get my “goodbye” out as my attention is stolen by my date. Red is definitely Sophie’s color. And those skintight jeans… All I can think about is having those full, thick thighs wrapped around my waist. But I need to keep those thoughts tucked between my legs. Sophie has made her stance on sex very clear, and I want to make sure she knows I respect that.

I step up to her, struggling to keep my hands at my sides. I’m itching to grip onto her curves and pull her in for a kiss. “The packaging you’ve chosen for tonight’s date, Ms. Adams, has definitely gotten my attention.” I smirk. “So that’s three points earned on your assignment for choosing the perfect color to draw in your audience.” I’m sold on looks alone. Now I want to know every little detail about the girl.

Her brow lifts, and I can see the sparkle twinkling in her eyes. I’m ready for her pretty mouth to open up and give me her sassy retort because it’s already dancing on the outskirts of her smirk. “Only three? I feel insulted, Mr. Hunt. A three out of twenty is a failure in my eyes, so maybe you can explain your grading scale .” God, she’s incredible.

“You actually scored a three out of zero, because what you wear doesn’t matter to me. But you certainly exceeded any expectation I could’ve had.” My heart rate is picking up speed. She’s already getting to me. Hooking into me with those soulful eyes.

“Maybe you should explain your grading rubric upfront, so I know what’s expected of me for this assignment.” In truth, her grade isn’t riding on this date. That’d go against school policy and I’m very much a rule follower. But it was the only thing I could think of to get her to agree to go on this date with me. I intend to tell her the truth over dinner, but I’m rather enjoying this game.

“You just received three points for your product packaging. If you explain your brand’s history, where you came from, and what makes you uniquely you, that will be another four points. The last three will be given for effort and time spent. The longer the date, the more chance you’ll have of earning all three points.” And the smile she’s giving me now has earned her all twenty.

“That’s only ten points, Mr. Hunt.” She steps in a little closer, stealing the air from my lungs as her soft scent wraps its way around my senses. God, she smells good. “Are you going to share exactly what it is I have to do to earn back the other ten?” The way she’s looking at me, I think she’s assuming I have nefarious motives, but that’s not the case with this girl. I actually care what she thinks of me. And I respect her stance on sex more than she knows. It shows me that she’s interested in getting to know me and not just interested in fucking the quarterback to earn a social trophy.

“The rest can be earned on subsequent dates, Ms. Adams.”

Her pretty lips struggle not to rise, but she can’t hide that cute little dimple or the blush now forming in her cheeks. For as much as she doesn’t want to like me, she does. And I really hope by the end of the night she likes me enough, or I should say trusts me enough so I can give her a kiss.

“I may be okay with a ninety.” She smirks. “We’ll have to see how the night goes.”

My pulse starts to race faster. It’s already been the best date I’ve ever had and we haven’t even made it out the door yet. I can’t wait to see what the night has in store for us.