“Oh, nice. Nothing like some family bonding.” He flashes me a bright grin that makes my breath catch. “Do you still play with them often?”
“No.” I wince inwardly. I shouldn’t have brought them up. Because the more I talk about them, the more I talk about my past, the more questions there will be.
And I don’t want to answer those questions. Not with anyone. Especially not with him.
Josh and I aren’t really together. We’re not even friends. There’s no good reason for me to bring up any hint of my past.
Before he can ask why I don’t still play golf with my dad or brother—before I can admit that I haven’t seen either of them since I was in college, I change the subject.
“Wanna make this game a little more interesting?” I ask.
He arches an eyebrow, giving him an even more devil-may-care look. “Oh? I didn’t know you were a gambler too.”
“When in Las Vegas.” I start to relax now that I’ve good and truly changed the subject. “Winner gets to demand one thing—anything—from the loser.”
Heat flashes in his eyes. “Anything?”
My pulse quickens. I know exactly what I’ll ask for when I win. “Anything.”
Holding my gaze, Josh takes my offered hand and shakes. A fresh jolt of heat shoots through me, and it has nothing to do with the desert heat.
“It’s a deal.”
Challenge issued, both of us step up our game. Neither of us holds anything back.
I add a little more hip wiggling to my putting.
He matches by giving me lingering looks with parted lips.
We match each other barb for barb, though they lean more toward teasing than truly heated.
It all comes down to the final hole. If I can get the ball in the hole on this next shot, I’ll tie him. If I miss, well, I kiss my wish of asking him for another kiss good-bye.
“Well, well, well.” Josh clucks his tongue. “It all comes down to this.”
“Yeah, well.” I wiggle my shoulders to loosen up. “Prepare to head to the tiebreaker.”
“What’s the tiebreaker?”
“You’ll see.” I smirk, even though I have no idea what it might be. There’s no point in coming with an idea until I sink this shot.
I start to pull my arm back and Josh says, “Wait.”
I lower my arm and scowl. “No fair. You’re cheating.”
“I’m not.” He moves closer. “But you have something on your face.” He rubs his thumb over my cheek, sending a flutter through me. “Here.” He holds up his thumb to show me. “It’s a ladybug.”
I swallow hard, my body all too aware of his. “Thanks, I guess.”
He grins. “My pleasure.”
Taking several calming breaths, I turn my attention back to the ball, back to the hole. Back to the game. It’s all on this.
I pull back my arm and tap the ball with my putter. It flies forward, inching closer and closer to the hole. I hold my breath.
The ball rolls to the hole, starts to go in, but at last second, spins away.
I groan and clench my eyes shut while Josh gives a whoop. Shit.
