Page 22 of Hard to Lose

“This is insane.” I look around and take it all in. “And so awesome.”

“So you’ll play?” he asks, holding his hand out to me, which I promptly take.

“Was there any doubt?” I ask as he pulls me closer to him.

“Should we make a wager who will get the farthest?”

“That’s probably not a smart thing to say to me,” I warn and push playfully against his chest. “I’m uber competitive and it is our first date, after all. You probably don’t want my ugly to come out.”

“Ugly?” He laughs. “I doubt it, but rest assured, I’m man enough. I can handle a defeat, Chase. I won’t pout or throw a tantrum.”

“All men pout and throw tantrums when they lose.”

“Then maybe you’re hanging around the wrong men.”

Our eyes hold as his smile dares me.

“Fine. Sure. We can make a bet,” I say, “but rest assured I’ll win.”

“Nothing like being sure of yourself.”

“Exactly,” I say as he tugs on my hand to head toward what I now see is a registration booth. “So what are we wagering?”

He stops walking and gives me a shy smile that makes every part of me stop and stand still.

“A second date,” he says, confusing me.

“But . . . that doesn’t make sense. How does that benefit—”

“If you win, I get a second date with you . . . and if I win, you get a second date with me. See? Easy.”

“You’re smooth, Gunner.”

“I know.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Gunner

“You literally tried to bribe that judge. How old was he? Twelve?” I laugh as Chase takes a few steps in front of me and spins around.

“Yes. But he really wanted that ice cream, and I was more than willing to deliver on a triple scoop cone if he happened to decide my design was better.”

I shake my head and laugh, knowing she still delivered, even though the boy didn’t vote for her very odd-looking Tyrannosaurus Rex she built—if you could even call it that.

“I told you,” she says and shrugs. “I have absolutely no shame when it comes to winning.”

“I’ll have to remember that next time,” I say, taking my last sip of beer and throwing it into the trash can beside me.

“Next time?” Chase asks, her smile making the sapphire in her eyes come alive more—if that’s even possible.

“If you stick around long enough, I’m sure there’ll be something else we can compete at sooner than later.”

A little tipsy and a lot adorable, she throws her head back and laughs.

There’s something about her that owns my attention. Was she uber competitive at LEGO building? Yes, but she laughed and joked and charmed everyone she sat next to.

I know, because I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Hell, I probably lost my round against her because I was so busy looking up and laughing at how serious she was and the expressions on her face.