Read Online What She Wanted by Julie Anne Lindsey - Free Book Online

“What about college?”
    “I’m working on it.”
    “Yeah, but why move out then move again in a month?”
    “It’s complicated.”
    Dean stretched his legs in front of him, apparently mulling it over. “Ray’s isn’t a nice place, you know? They’ve had some serious bar fights. People have been hospitalized. There are rumors he allows prostitution, probably in the room you’re about to rent. Mom’s tried to close it a bunch of times for good reasons.”
    “I know.”
    “Why not stay here for the summer? What’s the rush?”
    I gritted my teeth against the stress of the day. “What’s your major this year? Criminal justice?”
    “Funny.” He repositioned himself, elbows on knees, and relented. “My major’s actually undecided. Mom wants pre-med, but I’m studying agriculture.”
    “Farming?”
    “Not just farming. I’m looking for better ways to utilize our resources.”
    I struggled to unite my ideas of Dean with what he’d confessed. Farming? “Elaborate.”
    He clasped his big hands together and braced them on his head. “Okay, for example, there has to be a more efficient, cost-effective way to grow produce. There are too many regions in the world where farming, like we know it, is impossible. I feel like there has to be a work around. Something feasible, not science fiction.” He sat straighter and dropped his hands to his lap. “Distribution is key right now. Did you know we have enough produce rotting on vines in areas like ours to end hunger for thousands of people? We just can’t get it to them.”
    His sad little smile looked a lot like embarrassment. “Sorry. That sounded like a rant, didn’t it? I’m supposed to be distracting you from your worries about Mark, not burdening you with world hunger.”
    I repeated his monologue internally. Who was this guy? Honestly, I’d figured him for a life in underwear modeling or reality television. The fact he had a brain and a heart was ridiculously endearing and one hundred percent dangerous. When I’d assumed he was hot and dumb, I had no problem forgetting him periodically. I didn’t need another reason to crush on Dean. He should go . I braced my feet to stand, but my body ignored the request.
    He dared a look in my direction.
    “I don’t know,” I said. “Even if farmers donated the portion of their crops they anticipated going to waste, and you set up a solid distribution network for the free resources, there’d be the issue of how to pay the workers moving the product, plus gas for trucks and planes, customs issues, refrigeration, etc.”
    A smile spread across his handsome face. “All true.”
    I settled back in Mark’s chair. “How’d you get my number?”
    “Your friend Heidi’s cousin goes to my school. We ran into each other after a game, and I bribed him for her number. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you.”
    “She did. I wanted to know if you’d lie.”
    “Why would I lie?”
    “Excellent question.”
    He laughed.
    I finished my pizza and my lemonade, thankful for the easy conversation and curious how it would end.
    My phone erupted with a fresh round of texts from Heidi.
    “Is he still there?”
    “What happened?”
    “Tell me everything.”
    “What was he wearing?”
    Dean stretched onto his feet. “I’d better get going.”
    “Okay.” I walked him to the door, wishing for a reason to keep him longer. “Thanks again for the pizza.”
    “Anytime.” He stepped onto the front porch and turned back. “How about tomorrow?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I can bring dinner again tomorrow if you don’t have plans.”
    I stared. That would definitely give Heidi something to freak about. “I have conditions. You have to let me cook, and you have to thank your mom for the casserole.”
    “Deal.” He stretched a hand in my direction.
    I slid my fingers over his huge palm and sighed. “Deal.” The roughness of his hand stirred heat in my core. Images of those broad palms grazing my ribs made my toes