Alpha Me Not by Jianne Carlo

a definite disadvantage, so she stood. The atmosphere in the room radiated a palpable tension.
    “Could be better. What with the recent news,” Grant said.
    The men finished shaking hands right as Dean O’Reilly joined the group.
    Grant greeted the chancellor. “Dean O’Reilly, good to see you. How was Ireland?”
    “Full of us Irish, Grant. It was good to see the relatives again, though.”
    The man had quintessential Irish good looks, a cherubic smile, eyes as green as she imagined the hills of Dublin to be, and a shock of blue-black curls, too long and too perfect for an academic leader. Broad shouldered and stocky, he stood a couple of inches shorter than Joe and had a hint of a beer belly.
    “Dean O’Reilly, meet Susan White. Susie’s a graduate student and new to Hallie.” Joe’s narrowed eyes focused on Susie.
    She should not be thinking of his cock or his mouth or his tongue. She should not be creaming her panties. Her cheeks shouldn’t be overheating. Her pulse shouldn’t be doing erratic fits and starts. And damn him for making her palms damp. Trying to be surreptitious, she dragged her sweaty skin over her skirt and gave Dean O’Reilly’s outstretched hand a firm shake. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”
    Grant cleared his throat. “We were heading over to Barb and Kieran’s. I know you’ll want to help in the search for Petey. Want to follow us there?”
    Joe stamped Grant with a stare so intent, Susie shivered.
    “Something’s happened to Petey?”
    “He went missing three days ago. Disappeared between school and home.”
    “Three days? Kieran and Barb must be frantic.” Joe dragged both hands through his curls and trained a ferocious scowl on Dean O’Reilly. “You never said a word, Sam.”
    “I thought you knew.” Dean O’Reilly scanned the group, pausing when his gaze fixed on Susie. His glance flickered to Joe and then back to her.
    Susie gritted her teeth against the urge to hunch her shoulders and slide under the table. Had the Dean noticed the chemistry between her and Joe?
    “I’ve been out of the country. Didn’t get back until yesterday morning. Anything else happen I need to know about?” Joe barked the question at O’Reilly.
    “I figured you’d already done what you could. Sorry, Joe. My bad.”
    How often did a president of a major college apologize to a mercenary?
    Rumor had it that Dean Samuel O’Reilly had headed some hush-hush government department before his appointment as dean of the university.
    Did Joe know the man through his unusual job as a mercenary?
    “I have to get over there.” The grim line of Joe’s mouth sent a frisson of fear rippling over Susie’s nape.
    “Of course. I understand. Go. Do what you can.” Dean O’Reilly heaved an audible sigh. “I spent yesterday morning with Kieran and Barb and their parents. The authorities aren’t optimistic.”
    The two men knew each other well, Susie realized.
    She felt Joe’s subtle hesitation, saw the slight flare of his nostrils, the imperceptible shift in her direction, and preempted whatever he intended to say to her. “I’m late for a meeting with Dr. Surgue. Excuse me.”
    While the two men had been talking, she’d collected her files, purse, and shopping bags. “Nice meeting you, Dean O’Reilly. Grant, Charlene, Joe. Nice seeing you again.”
    She just about sprinted to the cafeteria’s entrance, raced through the doors, and darted around the building’s corner. Why had she cut and run in a panic? What on earth made her think Joe had hung around the university waiting to drive her home? Home? Lordy, she’d better get a grip fast. She didn’t want him to think he was responsible for her transport, and he obviously needed to go to his friends’ aid.
    Surgue’s office was clear across the expanse of the lawn facing Johnston Hall. Her stiletto heels sank into the soft grass and dirt, impeding her progress, and she arrived at the professor’s door, perspiring and panting, only to