PROLOGUE
The weight of the box in his hands suddenly no big deal, Steven Proctor stood in the doorway to his new office, still in shock that he’d been the one appointed to the highest position at the college after the big scandal the spring before. Now fall had arrived and he was facing the biggest challenge of his career, and still not sure that he was happy about the turn of events. There’d been no possibility of turning down the opportunity to become the Dean of the college, but that meant leaving behind the eight young men who had become so important to him.
He knew without a doubt that the clan wouldn’t be pleased with this unexpected turn of events either, and he dreaded the phone call that he would have to make later that day to break the news to them. It wasn’t his fault that the former Dean of the college had been nothing more than a gangster dressed in nice clothing, nor had it been his choice to get involved with the clan’s latest scheme to protect themselves, but that didn’t mean that he wasn’t going to take the heat for everything that had gone wrong in the last six months.
“Are you sure you don’t want some help unpacking?” his new assistant asked, breaking into his thoughts. “I don’t mind. It’s part of my job, you know.”
“Thanks for the offer, Mindy, but I just have this one box today,” he said, looking around the huge office. “I don’t think I’ll have any trouble finding room for everything.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Mindy said, then hesitated. “Dean Proctor, I just wanted to say that we’re all so pleased to have you here. Things have been a bit difficult the last few years, and well…we’re just glad to have you in charge now.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence. I just hope I don’t disappoint you,” he said, then smiled at the young woman. “I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“Anything you need, just ask, Dean Proctor,” Mindy said, smiling at him. “How about a nice cup of coffee? I can run down to the breakroom and grab you some.”
“That’s okay, I can get my own coffee, and I really would like you to call me Steven, at least when we’re alone,” he said, walking over to his desk and setting down the box. “All this formality makes me even more nervous.”
“You’re going to be a great Dean, that’s why they picked you,” Mindy said, her voice full of reassurance. “I’ll go get that coffee and let you get settled in. It’s going to be fine, you’ll see.”
“Mindy, you don’t have to get me coffee,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m a grown adult, I can do it myself. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
“I know you can do it yourself, I just thought this one time…” she said, her words dying away, then she grinned at him. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll get the coffee this time, and you can do it the next time. I like mine with lots of cream and sugar.”
He laughed, some of the tension draining away. “That’s a deal,” he said. “You drive a hard bargain, Mindy.”
“That’s why I’m good at my job,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
When she was gone, he walked around the desk and sank down into the big leather chair, feeling instantly like he didn’t belong. He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. He was the Dean of the college now, the students were depending on him to pull the school out of the mess the last man who sat in the chair had made while pursuing his own personal ambitions. He hoped he was up to the job, prayed that he could run the school and still have time to keep an eye on the boys as they navigated their senior year of college and discovered the truth about the real reason they’d been brought together at Parkhurst College.
CHAPTER 1
***JACKSON***
Jackson pushed open the doors to the science building and walked inside, savoring not only the sound of excited conversation around him, but the smell of the old building. He’d always loved the first day of school and had looked forward to it for weeks before it arrived, and this year was no different. As always, he was thrilled with the prospect of moving one step closer to his goal of becoming a doctor. Years of hard work had brought him here, and he could almost taste his acceptance into medical school. All he had to do was make it through his senior year.
Sometimes it was still hard to believe that he’d come this far, especially after spending the summer with his parents on the farm working his tail off all day, planting, tilling, and sweating under the hot sun. Not that he minded working hard, his parents had given him a great childhood, but working the farm had never been his passion. For as long as he could remember, all he’d ever wanted to do was heal. For most of his childhood, he thought he wanted to be a veterinarian and had spent years tending to not only the woundedand sick animals on the farm, but any creature he found in distress in the forests around home.
It wasn’t until high school that he realized that his passion for medicine was going to take him down another path, and his dreams of becoming a doctor were born. At the time, he’d been unsure how he would ever be able to afford all the years of schooling, and knew that he’d have to work harder than he ever had before to get enough scholarships to fund his education. Then, to his shock and surprise, the clan stepped in and gave him a generous scholarship, and he’d never looked back. He had taken the opportunity given to him and made the most of it.
Parkhurst College and the money had changed his life, and he would always be grateful. He would never forget where he came from. He’d vowed then and there to give back, use his talent to help anyone less fortunate than him, and share the wonderful gift he’d been given with anyone in need of healing.
“Jackson, there you are,” a voice called from down the hallway. “I was afraid that you weren’t coming back after everything that happened last year.”
Smiling when he saw Harry’s head sticking up above the rest of the students, he headed down the hallway toward him. “I wouldn’t miss this year for anything,” he said, slapping his friend on the back. “I’ve busted my butt to get here, there’s no way I’m starting over someplace else.”
“That big fat scholarship you got doesn’t hurt either,” Harry said, grinning at him. “You’re buying lunch today.”
He laughed, “My scholarship isn’t that big,” he said. “I’ve seen how you eat. Maybe we should have lunch at the house instead. Hattie’s already been cooking up a storm.”
“You’re on. I’ve been dreaming about Hattie’s biscuits all summer,” Harry said. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
“We have to go to class first, so don’t start salivatingalready,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got biology this morning. Where are you headed?”
“Hey, me too,” Harry said. “Maybe we can be lab partners. I always end up with someone lame.”
“That works for me, but don’t be thinking I’m going to carry you all semester,” he warned. “I’ve got a lot on my plate this year.”
“Hey, that was one time, back when we were freshmen,” Harry said, a frown on his face. “You can’t hold that against me now.”
