There goes my facial, she thought, picking up her purse and plunking it on her lap. Unzipping it, she retrieved her wallet. Dominique counted out two hundred dollars in cash and handed it to her sister. “If you don’t get an A in your algebra class, you’re dead!” she joked.
Staring down at the money, Jenna licked her lips as if a sixteen-ounce steak had just been placed in front of her. “Can I get a pair of jeans, too?”
“Don’t push it,” Dominique warned, concealing a smile. Because of her two jobs, she’d missed out on spending quality time with her sisters, and as she watched Jenna rummaging around in her closet for something clean to wear, guilt consumed her. Now that her dad was gone, she was the head of the family. So she had to do a better job of keeping in touch with Jenna, because it was clear her kid sister needed her support. “Jenna, I told Mom you’d phone her tonight. Don’t forget. She’s expecting your call after dinner.”
“All right, all right. I’ll call her.” Jenna grabbed a towel from her drawer and put on a plastic shower cap. “Will you be here when I get back?”
Dominique put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Of course, you’re taking me to lunch after this meeting!”
The sultry August heat was unbearable, and as Dominique trailed Jenna into the large state-of-the-art building, she dabbed at the perspiration on her cheeks. The campus library was thronged with students and faculty, but when Dominique stepped through the beveled glass doors, Marcel Benoit was the first person she saw.
Peering around the checkout desk while still remaining concealed, she tried to get a better look at the sexy heartthrob. Dominique couldn’t remember ever being this enamored with a man. Marcel had a confidence about him—a strong, compelling presence that couldn’t be denied or contained. The sleeves on his button-down shirt were rolled up, displaying arms rippling with muscle.
Growing aroused, she removed every sinful thought from her mind. Get a grip, girl. You’re too old to be drooling over a guy! The library was filled with dozens of cute brothers, but Marcel stood out from the pack. He wasn’t tattooed or pierced, and his pants weren’t hanging off his butt like the other guys strutting around. Marcel obviously took pride in his appearance, and she liked a man who knew how to dress.
“You’re going the wrong way,” Jenna said, taking her by the arm and leading her through the main floor. “The Adult Literacy Program group meets at the learning center at the back of the library.”
Dominique’s heart raced. Now they were heading toward Marcel. Excited to see him again, she picked up her pace. He glanced up from his textbook, and Dominique’s legs froze. His lips clamped together; he wore a serious, almost guarded expression—one that said she wasn’t welcome. “Do you know the guy sitting at the round table?” she asked, glancing at Jenna. “The one in the collared shirt and tan pants?”
“Yeah, that’s Marcel Benoit. His fiancée’s in my study group and—”
“Fiancée!” Seething inwardly, she told her sister about the bachelor party she worked at last week and her conversation with the soft-spoken Frenchman. “He told me he was single.”
“No, he’s definitely engaged,” she said, nodding her head. “Girls are always flirting with him, but he only has eyes for Sarita. He’s completely devoted to her.”
Effecting an air of nonchalance, Dominique pretended not to notice Marcel watching her. He actually had the nerve to glare at her. She didn’t need this. It was a warm, sunny day, and she had better things to do than hang out at the campus library with a womanizing cheat. Spending time with Jenna was important to her, but if Marcel started any mess or made any snide comments, she was hitting the road.
To squelch a sudden wave of nausea, she breathed in deeply through her nose.
Marcel slowly got to his feet, and his lips curled into a wide smile as he approached. “Hi, Jenna. It’s been a while since I saw you last. How was your summer?”
“It was great but way too short,” she said and laughed. “Hey, Marcel, this is my sister, Dominique. I told her the literacy program was short of tutors, and she offered to help out.”
His gaze bounced between them. “You’re sisters? I never would have guessed it. You look nothing alike, and your personalities are so different.”
“In other words, Jenna’s cool and I’m a snob.” It amused Dominique to tease him, but when he averted his eyes, her heart sank. Was that what he thought? Just because she liked dating accomplished men didn’t mean she treated people like crap. She didn’t.
“Marcel, can you pair Dominique up with someone?” Jenna asked, looking over her shoulder. “I need to talk to the girls in my study group, but I’ll be right back.”
His eyes darkened, but he said, “Sure, I don’t mind. In fact, I was about to head back there and see how the groups are faring.”
As they passed the information center, Marcel told Dominique more about the Adult Literacy Program. “There aren’t many groups like this around, and even fewer are geared toward adult learners.” Having reached a row of desks, he stopped and handed her a stack of thin paperback books.
Dominique read the titles out loud. “But these are all children’s books.”
“Most of the adults who come to the program are reading at a fifth-grade level. They can’t read To Kill a Mockingbird or War and Peace yet, Dominique.”
“I understand that, but Maria and the Bully isn’t going to hold their interest.”
The muscles in his neck were pulled tight. “Why don’t you just concentrate on tutoring and let me worry about choosing the right reading materials for the participants?”
Not wanting to overstep her bounds, she apologized. “I’m sorry, Marcel. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re not doing a good job.”
His smile returned, so she continued.
“City University of Seattle offers a similar program for French speakers, and my comprehension improved dramatically once I joined. We watched movies, listened to music and even read popular magazines and comics.”
Marcel shook his head. “That would never work here.”
“How do you know unless you try?”
“Touché,” he said, with a nod. “Maybe you can tell me more about it over coffee.”
“I’d love to.” Guilt rained down on her. What was she doing? Marcel had a girlfriend—correction, a fiancée—and if he was her man, she wouldn’t want him having coffee with anyone but her. “It would probably be easier if I just emailed you the information. I don’t want to take up any of your free time. You’re probably busy getting ready for the fall semester.”
“Nope, I have the rest of the afternoon free. I’ll come find you when your tutoring session wraps up.” The matter decided, Marcel beckoned to someone in the back cubicles. “Zabrina, come over here and meet your tutor for this afternoon.”
A curvy woman with fine features approached.
“Hello, I’m Dominique. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Are you ready to get started?” Once seated, she selected one of the chapter books and turned to the first page. “Now take your time reading the passage. If you come across a word you don’t know then just sound it out.”
“I don’t want to read this,” the woman said, wrinkling her nose. Glancing around, she opened her purse and stealthily pulled out the August issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. It was the annual sex issue, and Dominique knew it well. She’d already read it twice and had plans to read it again.
“I want to be—” she paused, her eyes narrowing in concentration “—how do you say it in English…the sex kitten? Yes, that’s it. Can you help me read the article on page eighty-seven?”
“But