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My eyes widen as I realize she’s correct.

“Lincoln is a popular guy, whether he appreciates it or not,” she muses.

Something swirls in my stomach, and not in a nice way. She’s right…he could have anyone. And I’m leaving.

“Hattie,” Blair says, her tone soft. “If Lincoln wanted one of these women, he’d already be with them. But he only has eyes for you.”

I take a deep breath, but it does nothing to ease the pit in my stomach. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Just then, a spotlight turns on, lighting up a large dunk tank a few yards behind the school’s booth. Lincoln steps into the light, looking tense and uncomfortable under all the attention. He waves and attempts to smile, but it’s not the crooked grin he gives me when it’s just the two of us.

The one that creeps onto his handsome face without him even realizing.

I relax at the thought. Eat your heart out, ladies of Honey Badger Creek…I’m the only woman here getting those real Lincoln smiles.

Lincoln climbs up the short ladder to sit above the dunk tank, and my eyes travel across his white tee, then down where he has a pair of black sweats hanging low on his trim hips. He’s sexy in anything, but this is like lingerie for the female gaze. And I’m not the only one here appreciating the view.

The group of women cheer and whistle for the sexy cowboy…my sexy cowboy.

“You’d think he was doing a striptease. Not a dunk tank for a school fundraiser,” Hank grumbles.

Otto snorts a laugh.

The first woman in line steps up, and a volunteer takes her two tickets, replacing them with two beanbags to throw at the target.

She misses the target both times and Lincoln heaves a relieved sigh. I smirk…look at him putting on a show.

His luck runs out quickly, and soon the man is sopping wet, and probably freezing cold. Hank and Otto hit all their targets, but Blair only hits it once.

Finally, it’s my turn…I’m the last one in line. He’s probably been dunked thirty times already. I’m not complaining about the way his thin white tee clings to his abs and biceps, though. Or the unobstructed view of the tattoos running down both arms.

I meet his gaze, and that crooked smile I love creeps onto his face. There’s something in his eyes that sets me off kilter, though. I can’t decide what it is, but he almost looks…sad.

I shoot him a saucy wink, ignoring the pit in my stomach that’s back again. I toss my first beanbag, and it barely misses. I get the next two, though, and Lincoln looks grateful when the next dunk tank volunteer arrives to take his place.

Poppy strides over to him and hands her brother a fluffy beach towel. It must be Tripp’s, because it has Spirit on it. Lincoln reaches back and tugs his wet tee over his head, earning a wave of applause from the ladies and eye rolls from Hank and Otto.

He dries himself off as best he can, then hands the towel back. Poppy tosses him a hoodie that matches Tripp’s and Lincoln tugs it over his head before disappearing behind a curtain, presumably to get dressed.

“Goodness, what a show,” a woman nearby says to the group of ladies she’s with.

One of the other ladies giggles. “Right? I was cold when I got here, but I’m plenty hot now.”

Blair wraps an arm around me, spinning me away from them and a few yards away so we can’t hear their conversation. “Apparently, the redhead theories are correct. A fiery personality, and a jealous streak that’ll burn up their enemies.”

Her comment makes me laugh, then sober and blow out a breath. “I can’t really blame them; he is hot.”

She studies me. “He is, but that’s not why you love him.”

My heart skips a beat. “Love is a strong word, Blair.”

“I know. But it’s written all over your face every time you look at him.”

I glance away from her, worried she’s right. I’ve never been in love before. I don’t think I’ve even come close. But the way I feel about Lincoln seems to take over my entire mind, my whole body. When he stands next to me, my brain turns to mush. He touches me, and I light up.

A familiar deep voice echoes behind me. “Hey, Princess.”

I spin on my heel, and a smile stretches across my face. Lincoln changed into a pair of Wranglers and boots, but he still has the orange Marmot Elementary hoodie on. His hair is damp, and my fingers itch to run through the wet strands.