Free Games by Wanda B. Campbell Page A

treated him like a son. To add to the windfall, Brian was going to be a lawyer.  If she was careful, she’d be Mrs. Pennington before Brian took the bar exam.
    The sound of a ringing cash register and floating dollar signs filled Shannon’s head. She’d finally hit the jackpot. Shannon had to blink her eyes to stay focused. From working in the admissions office, she knew the financial status of most of the students’ families.  She clearly remembered processing a cashier’s check from Reginald and Julia Pennington for full payment of law school. She was so curious about the writer of the check, that she’d Googled their names on the Internet and learned that Reginald Pennington was the pastor of True Worship Ministries and his wife Julia Simone-Pennington was the founder and CEO of Pinnacle Developments, the driving force behind the revitalization of Emery Bay.
    Shannon could barely contain herself. Her main goal in life was to find someone who could take care of her and give her a life of luxury. She viewed working on campus as a means to accomplish this. She would find a man with a bright future and lure him in. Brian was the perfect candidate, especially now since he didn’t have a girlfriend.
     

Chapter 17
    Shay sat in a booth at Olive Garden with Rhonda and Jason celebrating the completion of their project. When Jason sat down next to her, Shay second-guessed her decision to enjoy an evening outside of her apartment. She wasn’t interested in Jason outside of class assignments, but she sure could tell he was interested in her. 
    The entire two weeks they’d worked together Jason tried without success to get her telephone number. At first he used the project as an excuse. When that didn’t work, he plainly told her he would like to spend time with her.
    “I don’t have time for dating,” is what she told him.
    “Neither do I, but I think you’re worth making time for.”
    Instead of blushing, Shay fought to keep her displeasure from showing in her facial expression. She was certain she’d frowned. “Look, Jason, I’m not ready to date and if I were, I wouldn’t date you. So let’s just focus on finishing this project, please.” She thought she’d said enough to hurt his feelings and make him back off, but she was mistaken.
    “That’s because you don’t know me,” Jason persisted. “You only know me as a college student, outside of school, I’m really quite fun.”
    “It wouldn’t make a difference, trust me,” she said, without blinking.
    Jason backed off and didn’t press her again until tonight.
    He started by sitting next to her although there was more room on Rhonda’s side of the booth. Shay rolled her eyes at him when he “accidentally” placed his arm around her shoulder. He promptly removed it when she picked up her knife and waved it in his direction.
    Jason grinned. “At least you didn’t cut me.”
    Shay pursed her lips and replaced the knife on the cloth napkin, but before they placed their drink orders Rhonda’s cell phone rang.
    “Sorry, guys, that was my job. I have to go in,” Rhonda announced after a brief phone conversation.
    Shay’s eyes bulged as she mentally searched for a solution. Being left alone with Jason Alexander was not an option. “I thought you were off tonight?”
    “I was, but one of the other waitresses called in sick and I can really use the money.”
    Shay was about to offer to pay her a night’s salary, or even a week’s salary to keep her from leaving her alone with Jason. She just couldn’t figure out how to do so without coming across as a snobbish rich girl. In the time it took for her to figure it out, Rhonda had grabbed her coat and left the building.
    Jason interrupted her thoughts. “Looks like it’s just you and I this evening.”
    “Maybe we should do this another time, when Rhonda can join us. She worked just as hard as we did and she deserves a chance to celebrate,” she said just as the waitress asked for their drink