Free Seductive in Stilettos 2: New Adult Romance by Nana Malone Page B

fault. This is just my luck."
    He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Does it help that I wish things were different?"
    One side of her lip tipped up in a small smile. "Not really."

Chapter 2
    " D ude , Tris, how could you please the shoe gods but anger the serendipity gods?" Sydney whispered as they took their seats in the classroom. This was one of the smaller sectionsjust ten of them. Xia had a photo lab, so her section was in the morning.
    "Are you asking me? I called one of my aunties last night just to see if she believed in juju magic," Tris said.
    Syd sighed sympathetically. "Well, maybe it won't be so bad. I mean, you said he was cool right?"
    "Yeah, he's cool. Doesn't really help though, because now in addition to being the first guy that...doesn't freak me out"—she slid a gaze around—"he's also my RA and my TA. So double whammy. If I switched sections, that wouldn't even solve it. I'd have to move too."
    Syd nodded. "I guess that is overkill just so you can get some."
    "It's fine. I'm here to learn anyway. And I’m taking up running, so I’ll be busy."
    Syd grimaced. “Are you still serious about that? I mean, I’m behind you if you really want to do a run, but maybe you should start small, you know, with a 5k or something. No need to sign up for a marathon.”
    “Come on, Syd. Have a little faith. I mean, sure, I’ve never been super athletic.” At her friend’s raised brow, she sighed. “Okay, so I’m not athletic at all, but it’s something Mom always wanted to try, so I’m going to do so in her memory. I think I saw there were student discounts on Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon registrations.”
    “You’re insane.”
    Tris shrugged off the fear of future aches and pains. “Yes, but the way I figure it, between school and training, and a future job that I need to get, I’ll be too busy to think about Shane.”
    "Yeah, but you’re also here to have some fun. You didn’t fight your father for your freedom just to bury your face in a book. Remember, say yes. It's okay. Between Xia dragging us to various activities and my total lack of shyness about anything, we'll find you someone else even hotter and better."
    Tris raised an eyebrow.
    Syd had to concede. "Yeah, okay, maybe not hotter."
    Tris’s body overheated just thinking about Shane. With his strong jaw, his dusting of stubble, and all that inky black hair paired with his piercing blue gaze, they'd be hard pressed to find someone hotter.
    When Shane walked in, the class went dead silent, and he grinned. "Relax, you guys, I'm not going to bite."
    "Pity." Came a voice from the back.
    Everyone, including Shane, laughed, breaking some of the tension.
    "I'm Shane Atkinson, and I'll be your TA. Some of what you'll be asked to do by Dr. Gifford will be uncomfortable. Some of it will be fun. Some of it will be emotional. Some of it will challenge your beliefs about sex and sexuality."
    As he talked, he didn't look at her once, and that worked perfectly fine for Tris. The last thing she needed was him looking directly at her as he talked about sex. Because if he did, she might spontaneously combust.
    He continued. "So, I know this morning's lecture talked about the theories of attraction. Why don't we start first with some of the globally accepted things that we see in the media as attractive in a potential mate."
    They all called out answers. "Tall."
    "Good body."
    "Intelligence."
    "Symmetrical face."
    And so they went until he stopped them. He pointed to a red-headed girl blinking up at him with doe eyes. "Okay, Amber, if you were to describe your perfect-ten guy, what would he be?"
    She fluttered her lashes. "Six feet, at least." She eyed him more carefully. "Actually, more like six two. Athletic. A six-pack is a must. Stubble is so super sexy, a cleft chin, strong jaw line."
    Next to Tris, Syd made a gagging noise, and Tris bit back a giggle. Not like she could blame the girl.
    Amber continued. "Bow-shaped mouth, white teeth."
    Shane smirked and