Read Online Sweet Chemistry by September Roberts - Free Book Online Page A

there was a knock on his door.
    “Can I have my hoodie back?” Her jaw was tight.
    “Come in.” James didn’t know what he was going to say, but he couldn’t stand the thought of her leaving.
    When the door closed, she said, “This whole time? You thought I was a cheating slut this whole time?” Her face was pinched. “Who does that?”
    “My ex-fiancée,” he whispered. The old wound bled a little as he admitted the truth about his past.
    Kate froze. “Oh.”
    “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything, okay? I shouldn’t have been such a dick that first day after class, and I shouldn’t have assumed the worst about you.”
    She took a deep breath. “What about Angelica?”
    “What about her?” James remembered their argument at the first study group. “What? Me and her?”
    Kate nodded.
    “No. As in never going to happen. Ever.”
    Her forehead smoothed and her shoulders relaxed.
    “Thank you for showing me how to make lemon bars. My brother and his wife really enjoyed them.” He nodded to the picture on his shelf.
    Kate’s gaze followed his and she smiled. “I’m surprised you had any left to share.”
    “Well, I did eat the other half. If you keep teaching me how to cook I’m going to get fat.” He chuckled. “Maybe next time we should make something that doesn’t have a half pound of butter in it.”
    She blinked. “Next time?”
    “If you’re willing.” He had never wanted anything so much in his life. “If you’re free next weekend that would work for me.”
    “I, um, have plans.”
    “Right. Halloween parties and stuff.”
    “Yeah. I promised Meg.”
    His shoulders fell. “Maybe some other time.”
    She put her hand on the doorknob.
    “Don’t forget your hoodie.”
    “Right.” She tucked it inside her backpack, and then her footsteps echoed down the hall.
    James stared at the empty spot in the doorway where she had just been standing.
    * * * *
    The next time James went to the research lab, he noticed Sam’s bench was decked out with Halloween-themed art projects.
    “You should see my office. It looks like a Halloween explosion. My kids keep giving me stuff. How many jack-o-lanterns do kids make in school these days?”
    James laughed. “I like the fangs on that one.”
    “My eight-year-old is going as a vampire this year, so it’s fitting. I love how warm it is here during Halloween. In the Bronx, where I grew up, it wasn’t unusual for us to have to tromp through snow to trick-or-treat. Nothing ruins a costume faster than having to cover it up with a coat and moon boots. My kids don’t understand what it was like.” He shook his head. “What do kid-free adults do with themselves on Halloween? It’s been too long for me to remember.”
    “I’ll probably go to a bar.” Even though he had an invitation to Jeff’s friend’s party, James would stay in town, just in case. When Kate mentioned her promise to go out with Meg, he hoped they would be going to the costume party at Addiction Saturday night.
    “Maybe you’ll meet someone.” Sam’s eyebrows jumped up and down.
    “Maybe…” James wasn’t interested in meeting someone . He was interested in making things right with Kate.
    “Hey Dr. Baker, sorry I’m late!” Michael called out as he wound his way through the lab. “Hi Dr. Bellevue.”
    Sam pulled out his lab notebook. “Let me know how it goes.” He winked at James.
    James laughed. “Sure thing.” He turned to Michael. “Are you ready to run your gels today?”
    Michael nodded. “Let me get the microfuge tube out of the freezer.”
    With Halloween still fresh in his mind, James asked, “Hey, do professors dress up here for Halloween?”
    Michael shook his head and Sam piped up, “The only faculty I’ve ever seen in costume are the ones from the theater department. But that’s not exclusive to Halloween.”
    “Sometimes students dress up,” Michael added.
    If Kate came to class in costume, he might not be able to resist her. He