I pull up to the Coffee Loft curb, and she promptly emerges, strutting over to the truck with her shoulders pulled back. When she opens the passenger door and peeps her head in, her huge messy blond bun drawing my attention, for just a moment before I level my gaze with hers. “I have no idea what you're up to." There’s a chuckle braided into her words. “But I’m prepared to win.” She slides into her seat and gives me a playfully haughty grin. "So you better be ready to lose."
“You think so, gorgeous? Remember, I’m the reason you won karaoke.” I give her a solid thirty seconds to explain exactly how she thinks she can beat me at anything. She slowly straps the seat belt over her lap, not saying a thing, but her top lip is trapped between her teeth when she smiles. I struggle not to stare at her because she’s so stunning. My pulse rockets throughmy veins, and I do my best to shift the truck back into drive and steer toward the mountains.
“I do think so,” she finally replies, her eyes reflecting the last of the sunlight streaming in through the windshield. “I did my vocal warm-ups, my leg stretches, and I even skipped lunch in case this is an eating competition.”
She could continue her smack talk, but my lips bend down from the guilt of not giving her at least a little hint. I sure didn’t want her to walk around all hangry. “Not an eating competition. If you’re hungry, we can grab an early dinner?”
“I’m good,” she affirms, her eyes laser focused on where I’m driving to. “Depending on what the competition is, I may not want a full stomach.”
I take a sharp left and steer up the narrow gravel road that leads back to my place. “I thought it would be fun to show you a little game I like to play when I’m bored at work.”
“Game at work?” One of her feathered brows rises above the other until her face is a state of frozen confusion. “Aren’t you a lumberjack?” The other eyebrow shoots up to match the height of the first, and she exclaims, “Tell me we are throwing axes! I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Oh, I don’t know if I could trust you with an ax.” I release one of my hands from the steering wheel and run it over my whiskers, and I teasingly give her a side-eye. Here’s the thing, I’ve been throwing axes since I was the same height they were. There’s no way she could win, but that’s part of my plan. I’m going to set her up to lose, so I can win what I want.
“It’s my surprise, isn’t it?” She leans toward me, her eyes pleading.
“I thought it would be fun.” I shrug, downplaying how excited I am to do this. “If you think you’d want to try it, I’m game to teach you.”
“Oh, I’m game, but you don’t have to teach me. I’m a natural at winning everything.”
“We’ll see about that.” Pushing my tongue to the roof of my mouth, I raise my chin and take a sharp left onto the steep dirt road. The tires rattle in the worn ruts. Out of my peripheral vision, I see El casually grabbing the door handle.
“You really live out in the middle of nowhere.” Her head moves in all directions as she scans the thick evergreens and steep sloped mountain banks.
“It may seem like that but it’s not too far from my parents’ house and my brother’s. We all live on the same acreage, and it’s honestly all I know. It’s not that far from town, but out here in the mountains, it feels like I’m in my own world.”
“It’s so different from what I’m used to in Boston.” Her gaze never leaves her window, and we round the last bend in the road, taking the turn to a clearing in the trees, which opens into my place. “This is not your house.” Her gaze darts to me.
I press the brake to roll to a stop and shift into park in front of my garage. “I built it so I think that makes it mine.”
“I thought you said you had a mountain cabin.” Her gaze shifts from me to the house. “This is a mansion.”
“It’s bigger than I need, but I figured I was only going to build once and might as well have some room to grow.” I grab my door handle and push open the door, calling back, “I can give you a tour if you want, but I’ll admit about ninety percent of the house isn’t even furnished yet.”
She quickly hops out of the truck, and I wait for her to meet me by the walkway. We stroll up the pebbled path together. When I look over at her, walking by my side, my heart skips a beat. Usually, it’s windier here than it is in town, but it’s a rare moment where everything in nature is still, and to me it feels like a collective pause, as even the usually noisy birds are watching El—more than likely they are as mesmerized by her as I am. Itfeels awfully natural to have her next to me. Even if I am a little nervous to welcome her into my home. I never have guests, and I certainly don’t entertain, but a niggling in the back of my head tells me this girl is different.
“Here’s the plan.” I motion to the back of the house, the side with the perfect view over the valley, where I have my practice target set up. “You can have as many practice shots as you want, but once we start the round, there’s no starting over.” My boots plod over the worn path. “It’s not a competition unless we have a wager. What do you think we could bet?” I give her my mischievous smile, because I already know what I’m betting.
When she looks at me, it’s pure magnetism, and I would probably agree to anything she’d say. My heart pounds against my rib cage, strong and steady. She hovers close by, bouncing her gaze to the target and then to me. “I don't need a practice shot.” She raises her chin, appearing to analyze the target, but I suspect it’s an act.
“Okay.” I stare down into her eyes, and my heart flutters as I hold my breath. God made me a sizable man. It’s not something I usually think about, but when I’m standing next to her, my body dwarfs hers. She’s so stunning, I can’t resist putting my hand on her lower back. When I’m this close to her, I just need to touch her. “And what should we bet?”
“If I win, you have to make me dinner.” Her nose crinkles into the cutest pattern as she passes a sassy smile in my direction.
“I’ll make you dinner if I lose.” I nudge her shoulder, and I am instantly stilled by the spark that ignites in me.
“I won’t complain about that.” She gives me a gentle nudge back. “What happens if you win?”
So, I know what I want. I’ve never been so sure of something before that it’s bizarre.
Standing outside my house with this woman I only recently met; a week ago, I’d have sworn I’d die a reclusive bachelor. AsI stand here locked in an unwavering gaze with her, there’s only one thing I want to do. It’s something she put in my head days ago when she served me those sweet kiss coffees. With one brow cocked, I rub my hands together, drumming up the anticipation. “If I win,” I lower my voice into a low rasp, “I get to kiss you like you’re my girlfriend.”
One of her hands smooths over her cheek, and she tucks her hand into her wild heap of hair, all the while her cheeks fire a bright pink wave. “El,” I say softly, my tongue heavy, and her lack of reply causes my stomach to knot. “If you don’t want—”
“Bet.” She extends her hand like this is a boardroom negotiation. I take her hand in mine, knowing I’m going to win. This is clearly a setup. As I search her face for clues of unease, there are none. If anything, her gaze heats, and I’d say she’s having as much fun as I am.
“Ladies first,” I say through playfully gritted teeth.
