Excitement stirs low in my tummy, sending a fast and fluttery thrill through my very core.
I replay the kiss once more, the way he looked at me as he leaned in, the feel of his warm breath on my skin, when suddenly I’m reminded of the reason I didn’t want to like Braxton—his brother is my sister’s new love interest, and that could come between them.
It won’t,I assure myoldself, who was obviously overreacting and looking for a reason not to risk falling in love. New Meagrees with Kirsten on this point—if things don’t work between me and Braxton, we’ll leave it at that. No big deal.
I’m surprised by how much joy this outlook brings. I feelfree—for the first time in a long time—to really, truly put myself out there.
I creak open the door, ready to make a run for the Coffee Loft entrance, when something catches my eye. There, hanging on the outer handle of the caboose door is my umbrella. I picture Braxton racing into the shop to get it for me and give in to the dopey grin that forms on my face.
Braxton hopes we win tonight’s event and get the romantic date for two, does he? I’m hoping for that very thing.
Maggie
It takes everything in me to pay attention to the storytellers on the stage. I’m seated beside Braxton, whose work boot barely grazes the side of my shoe. The energy that urged us on hours ago is still revving hot.
I crossed half-a-dozen things off my to-do list while waiting for tonight’s event, but throughout it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about the slightly rough feel of his fingertips on my neck. That confident, bad-boy gleam in his eye, and the blazing heat that replaced that gleam when his gaze dropped to my mouth.
I barely closed my eyes in time to take in the bliss. Bliss that still races through me at the memory alone. I haven’t exactlylookedat Braxton since I sat down beside him, but I can feel him daring me to in his spot beside me.
“Let’s give these guys a hand, everyone,” JJ says, gaining my attention and letting me know that I missed the couple’s story completely.
I fight off a wave of embarrassment as Brinley and Mason take their seats to my left. “Good job,” I say.
Brinley grins. “Thanks. Good luck!”
“Now, let’s welcome our final couple of the night. This pair really caused a ruckus last week. You know who I’m talking about, let’s hear it for Braxton and Maggie.”
Oh, my gosh. What in the world am I going to say this time? I’ve been so distracted by thoughts of Braxton’s kiss that I haven’t even considered it.
Braxton’s arm brushes mine as he comes to a stand. He offers me his hand and leans close to my ear. “Beau and Kirsten just walked in,” he says under his breath while pulling me to my feet. “It’s their fault we’re up here. I say we usetheirstory to get us through. What do you think?”
I glance over to see Kirsten grinning widely at me in excitement. Beau helps her remove her coat, and the two take comfortable seats in the crowd. I move my gaze back to Braxton and give him a nod. It’s genius!
“Greatidea,” I say, relief flooding over me already.
“Nice to see you two up here again,” JJ says. “This time, we’ll let Braxton take the lead.”
A hush settles over the crowd. “Once upon a time…” the woman says theatrically, then hands the mic over to Braxton.
He lifts the mic to his mouth. “There was a man named Braxton who was married to a woman who loved nice things. They had a son named Peter, who was very good at soccer. Oneday, Peter and a fellow teammate started to notice something odd between Peter’smomand the teammate’sdad.”
Oohs and ahs sound over the crowd. Kirsten’s eyes go wide in surprise. Beau looks more amused than anything. A half smile appears on his face while he shakes his head.Touche,he says without saying it.
JJ turns it over to me with ading,and Braxton holds out the mic.
When I move to take it from him, he resists long enough for me to look at him in question. A grin tugs at one side of his lips, and the mischievous look in his eye reminds me of the delicious secret we share. No one else knows that Braxton and I shared a kiss in the caboose this afternoon, and something about that excites me.
I force my thoughts back to the story. It’s where Parker and Jack kept telling Beau and Kirsten that something wasn’t right.
I blow out a shaky breath. “That teammate’s dad had a devoted wife named…” I stop myself from using Kirsten’s name. “Maggie. With the help of their observant sons, Maggie and Braxton began catching on to suspicious behavior. Each time Maggie’s husband had an out-of-town work trip, Braxton’s wife happened to plan a girls’ trip. Something was fishy.”
The crowd buzzes.
Ding.
This time, as I hand the mic over to Braxton, I enjoy the sense of camaraderie. He gives me an approving smile.
And as he tells the next part of Kirsten and Beau’s story, how they set up a sting op and spied on the cheating couple toget proof of the affair, I try very hard to focus so I can pick up where he leaves off.
