“Oh.”Pathetic, Aubrey.
His ball doesn’t stop rolling, even when it pops out on the other side of the pipe and takes the curved path. It doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.
“Don’t look so terrified, Bree. We’ve kissed at least twice in the past,” he teases, winking so quickly I almost miss it.
“I’m not terrified. You just took me by surprise.”
His familiar laugh trickles behind him as he follows his still-rolling ball. The light-washed jeans he’s wearing make it impossible not to stare at his ass when he turns from me completely, bending slightly to watch his inevitable win. It’snearly ass porn, really. And even when I drop my ball to the turf and take a few practice swings to distract myself, I still wind up glancing over.
There’s no way his ball hasn’t stopped yet.
“And that’s what I’m talking about!”
My chest tightens when I turn my head just enough to see him grinning down at the hole that now houses his ball. “There’s no chance that actually went in.”
“Come closer and take a look if you don’t believe me.”
“And risk you cashing in on your kiss already? Not a chance.”
There’s a weird sensation that comes to life in my stomach as I say those words, and I’m quick to swat it away. Clearing my throat, I look away from him and focus on replicating his exact stance and swing. I’m not a good golfer on a good day, and with every hole we come to a stop in front of, I have to mentally prepare myself for my inevitable loss. This time, it seems to be even more embarrassing when I give the ball a hard tap and watch it ping off the side of the pipe and go flying into the small moat with a loudplop.
“Here. Catch.”
Finn’s voice draws my attention back to him once again as he pulls his ball from the hole and tosses it across the course at me. By some miracle, I catch it, gripping it tight.
“This won’t buy you extra winnings,” I warn, the corner of my mouth lifting.
“Nah, consider that a freebie.”
“Lucky me.”
“I thought so. How about you try to get it in the pipe this time?”
My glare is instant, but he wards it off with a loose laugh. Wandering back toward me, he watches my every move, making my skin start to itch.
“Stop staring at me. It’s distracting,” I mutter, setting my feet apart and tightening my grip on my club.
I wiggle my shoulders to free them of the weight of his attention and pull the club back. My attention snaps to the hand slowly closing around mine and the large, firm body surrounding me. Finn’s skin is hot when he gently pries my fingers from the club and guides them up an inch.
“This should be a bit better. Try it now,” he murmurs against the side of my head.
Abort. Abort. Abort.
My inhale catches in my throat. “I can’t swing with you so close.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’re restricting my movement.”
His chest rumbles against my back, and I think my hands must slip from the sweat I’m suddenly dripping because he has to fix my hold again. He doesn’t speak another word before guiding the club back. I let him move me because truthfully, I’m unsure I’m thinking clearly enough to do it myself.
It’s obvious that he’s fully immersed in his next role right now, but I can’t figure out what he’s trying to prove here. Clearly, he knows what I like and what I don’t by now. This guy he’s pretending to be is the best option he’s given me tonight, which should have been obvious, considering his last few roles. Gentle, guiding without mansplaining, and touchy in a way that doesn’t make me want to slap him.
With a relaxed exhale, Finn brings the flat edge of the club back to the ball and gives it a hard tap. The ball shoots off toward the pipe’s opening and glides right inside before popping out on the other side. I lose sight of it for a moment and hesitate to break free of the body wrapped around mine, keeping me held in place. The familiar scent of his cologne soaks into my blouseand the loose curls pressed between us, ensuring I’ll smell it long after this night ends.
Finn’s fingers drop, but he doesn’t step back. I flex my hold on the club before releasing one of my hands and palming my thigh, subtly wiping it dry. My shoulders relax a bit as I prepare to step out of his hold, already twisting at the hips.
“Even if your ball sinks, I still won,” he says as he reaches up to pinch my chin. “I’m collecting.”
