Free Fighting Heart: Fighting Heart Erotic Bad Boy Romance Series Book 1 by Nicole Hamilton Page A

timid smile.
    “Thanks, Cody. I don’t deserve your encouragement, not after I was so ungrateful…”
    “Come on Ashley. It’s okay.”
    “Study buddies?” she said, repeating my words.
    “Yeah. If you’re taking on mission impossible, you’ll need help from another special agent. Here I am, Special Agent Cody Barnes. Consider me to be your inside track, your revision tool, whatever. I can help you.”
    “You would do that? On top of your own study? What’s in it for you?” she asked with wide eyes.
    Ashley was suddenly a little guarded, which threw him off track.
    “Just the milk of human kindness and the pleasure of your company,” he replied with a smile. Her eyes were hard for a second, and then her whole body language softened like she’d just relented to the decision to trust him.
    “Study buddies. I think that could work. I mean…uh, thanks,” she said.
    “No problem. But you need to be honest with me, Ash. If you let me in, I can help you.”
    “I don’t need therapy, Cody. I just need a friend,” said Ashley.
    Cody had to nod and accept that as her final say. He sipped his cappuccino and let the froth stay on his lips just to be the clown and make her smile. It work just for a second then she stood up and took a white envelope from her bag. It had the University stamp on it and it had already been ripped open.
    “I just need to go and take care of something. I’ll be right back,” she said as she moved.
    He was confused, but Ashley was so highly strung she was damned well going to do what she wanted anyway. He assumed she was taking the letter into the University building.
    “But the college offices are closed! It’s Saturday,” he said with some confusion in his voice.
    “Yeah. I know. I just need to read this properly. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said.
    She made a fuss of getting past the table, clambering past the table leg, and the letter spilled from her hand. Envelope and letter parted, and the paper glided out and landed on the corner of the table just in front of him. The text was clear on the cream paper and the letter was very concise. It was signed by the Dean. He had no desire to invade Ashley’s privacy – well maybe just a little – but the whole letter was in his brain before she could swipe it back, looking at him with a hard and defensive look as she did so.
    “Did you read that, Cody?”
    “Ashley. I’m sorry. It landed it right in front of my face. I couldn’t help but read it.”
    “That is my business, Cody.”
    “Ashley?”
    He could see the beginnings of tears glisten in her eyes. This college dream meant everything to her. And just like he asked of her, he knew almost the whole of her situation. The college had agreed terms for her to pay, and now they had changed those terms. Because of her lack of attendance in week two, and because of her lack of payment, the Dean had taken a view that Ashley was a bad risk. They wanted the first instalment up front with 7 days or they were going to shut down her place on the course.
    “Ash?”
    Ashley sat back down. The tears never came. It was like her inner resolve claimed them back before she could appear weak. Man, he liked this girl.
    “What do you think, Cody?”
    “What do I think? It’s mission impossible, Ashley. But I believe in you. I know you will find a way.”
    “Brilliant. Fantastic. Great advice. You know I will find a way . I guess I had better go and find that way then, right?” she said.
    “Ashley. I am not your enemy. I’m your friend.”
    “Friend? You don’t even know me, Cody.”
    “But I think I do, as crazy as that sounds.”
    Ashley nodded. “Yeah, that sounds crazy, all right.”
    “Ash,” she had riled him and he was biting. He didn’t want to, but how many times can a guy take a hit without getting upset? “You are one hundred per cent focused on the debt. I see that. And the college are being bastards, I see that too. But you need some help here with your academic