“Ha. The only way this is going to end is if we both go back to using our non-dominant hand.”
“You were winning when we were doing that.”
I grinned. “It just seems like the best way.”
“You really want me to attempt to bake a pie, don’t you?”
I folded my arms. “Listen, Bennett. If you think for one second that I am just going to let you loose in my grandmother’s kitchen by yourself, you’re crazy. When the lights come back on, we will both be making that pie.”
He laughed. “That does make me feel better. Alright, switch hands.”
He went to serve before he stopped. “Wait. What if the electricity doesn’t come back on today? What else are we playing for?”
“Nothing! Aren’t you tired?”
“I could do this all day. How about we play for a secret?”
My eyes narrowed. “What secret?”
“I think you know.” The soft voice, his teasing smile made my heart flutter. “I need to know why you kissed me.”
“I can’t believe you’re still thinking about it after all this time.”
“I gotta admit, I hadn’t thought about it for years, but now with you here again and smelling really good…I just have questions that won’t ease up.”
“Well, sorry. That’s a secret I’m taking to my grave.”
He studied me for a moment, mischief in his eyes. “Alright then. We play for a kiss. If I win, you do it again, only this time, we’ll see if you can hit your mark. And if you win…I’ll show you how it’s done.”
I could only stare at his mouth. My eyes could see nothing else but full, luscious boy lips. I no longer had a stomach. Or, I did, but it was lodged somewhere between my throat and chest. My cheeks burned, my nerves were zinging, all the while desperately trying to play it cool. Which is something I had never been able to pull off.
“Those seem like pretty high stakes considering that until yesterday I hadn’t seen you for eight years.”
Studying me for a moment he added in a softer tone, “Yeah, but…it doesn’t really feel like it’s been eight years, does it?”
I could only agree with him. Perhaps this connection between us felt weird to him too. Thissomethinghumming between us was only getting stronger, which made me nervous because we lived two separate lives. In two different states.
He continued. “How about this? You lose and you can cash it in anytime before I leave. From the looks of the storm, I might be here a few more days.”
Reality came flooding back at his mention of the storm, however. Somehow, down in this damp, cozy cave, I had allowed myself to push all storm thoughts aside. The thought of him leaving us alone on this ranch scared me, even though twenty-four hours earlier, he hadn’t been a thought in my conscience. But nerves aside, I had to see this through. If this was my last chance to prove myself, then…well, I’d better do it.
“Deal.”
His eyes lit up. “Really?”
“You’re going to lose so it won’t matter too much what your end of the bet is.”
“I’d like to think that if I won, we would both win.”
I was swooned into silence. Mercy, Dusty Bennett as a man did different things to my senses than as a boy. When I noticed the smile on his face, I asked, “Is that your plan? To get me all flustered so you can win? Cheap shot.”
“Are you flustered?” He looked intrigued at this idea.
What was happening? I had never had this easy of a relationship with a man in all my life. How was it happening like this? So easy? And with Dusty? My sister’s childhood crush. Thankfully, she was happily married at the moment and not secretly pining for her long-lost crush. At least I sincerely hoped she wasn’t.
“Serve the ball, cowboy.”
He laughed and moved into position, both of us having switched hands. The game went slower this time as we each lobbed the ball back and forth, playing more defense than offense, waiting for the other to make a mistake. Which I did. And, for the record, it was alegitmistake. I returned the ball too softly and it landed in the net. Happens to people all the time.
