“Then a walk. You can do that, can’t you?”
Wendy glanced at the truck longingly. She wanted nothing more than to agree to all of it and yet she felt the instinctual need to escape with each passing second. “Fine,” she acquiesced.
He chuckled, finally releasing her wrist.
It didn’t seem like he had anywhere specific he wanted to go, so they wandered aimlessly. What did he want? What was he thinking? Her skin itched and the silence was getting to her. She was nearly bursting at the seams, prepared to demand answers to those questions when his voice shattered the quiet.
“You going to Hallie’s birthday next week?”
She stiffened and glanced over to him. Right. They were related. “Yes,” she drawled. “She’s my friend.
He wasn’t looking directly at her, but his knowing smile said it all. They were going to be at another family event, and he was going to take advantage of it. She stopped suddenly, forcing him to turn to look at her. When he gazed at her with question in his eyes, she folded her arms.
“I’m not goingwith you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Tripp lifted a brow and raised placating hands. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to come with me.”
She frowned.
Before she managed to demand to know why, he clarified, “Because if I did, we’d end up married.”
Wendy snorted at that prediction. “As if.”
“I’ve told you once and I’ll tell you again,” he chuckled. “One day. Sooner or later. You’ll fall in love with me.” It was a variation of what he’d said to her before, and she smirked in spite of herself.
“Not if you were the last guy on earth.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tripp tooka sip of the iced tea he’d insisted on bringing to his cousin’s birthday party. He hadn’t done it for her, however. He’d brought the sweet tea for Wendy’s benefit. Ever since he’d seen her that first day it had been difficult to get her out of his head.
Maybe he was crazy.
There were times when he’d thought as much.
Wendy had wanted nothing to do with him and that alone would have normally been enough to dissuade his interest. There was only so much of a chase he was willing to partake in.
He was done trying to figure out the why of it all. At this point he’d allowed himself to let go and enjoy the excitement that this particular chase presented.
She was… everything he wanted.
From her looks to her sharp tongue. Wendy was made for him and he refused to hear anything else. At first, he’d told her that their relationship would inevitably get under her skin. But now?He wholly believed it. One day she’d accept that they were meant to be.
He could hear her laughter from across the lawn. Serenity had said something to her and she’d thrown her head back to laugh without restraint.
Dang, he loved her laugh.
That smile could bring him to his knees.
What would she do if she knew she had this much power over him?
Probably use it against him.
Tripp chuckled under his breath at that thought because the truth was he’d willingly submit to whatever torture she’d wish to put him through if it meant he had her undivided attention.
She wore a pretty pale blue sundress that came to her knees. It didn’t have sleeves, which showcased her perfect, soft skin.
“You’re staring,” Brent murmured quiet enough for only Tripp to hear. It wouldn’t matter if he spoke louder. At this point Tripp could safely assume that all his cousins were more or less aware of his infatuation.
