Page 43

She lifted the jar and spun it, watching the pink, blue, white, yellow, and orange gumballs roll around inside. He’d issued another dare, and like the last time, she was determined to prove to him she could win.

“You’ll see, Black,” she told the multicolored candies. “My willpower is pure steel.”

Joanie and Clive’s 1900s-era home was in a charming, older neighborhood where the houses practically sat on the sidewalk. The brick home had good bones, and was probably more structurally sound than any house that had been built in the last fifty years.

Lily shuffled through the leaves lining the sidewalk, smiling up at a cherry tree that took up most of the Camerons’ minuscule front yard. A black wrought iron fence surrounded their property, the kind with little pointed finials.

Her nerves had been jumping like jackrabbits at the prospect of being here with Marcus tonight. Especially when she thought of his challenge about her not keeping her hands off him.

Hmph.

She could control herself. Could he say the same?

She heard a car door close. Heavy shoes approached from behind her, crunching leaves as they grew closer. She ignored them as she opened the gate and walked up the porch steps.

She still hadn’t turned as she stood on the front porch, eyes facing forward, hand poised to knock.

When he came to stand next to her, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and faced him. She’d opened her mouth to say hi, but the word didn’t come. She ate up his wide frame, dark hair, and piercing whiskey-colored eyes. He looked good after hours—too good—wearing a pair of black pants, a button-down pale blue dress shirt, and carrying a bottle of wine. His hair was slightly damp like he’d just washed it and he smelled…wow. Heavenly. Like autumn itself.

“You brought wine,” she said instead.

“It’s customary in our culture to show up to a dinner party with a gift.” Those eyes scanned her blouse and skirt, down to her wedge heels and up again. “You look hot.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you going to knock?”

“I was, but then I realized that we’re early. Joanie said if I was here early I could watch her plate the food.”

He grimaced.

“Exactly.”

“Let’s take a walk. Let her finish up.” He took her hand and guided her down the steps and past the gate. On the sidewalk, he laced his fingers with hers. A cool, gentle breeze lifted her hair.

“I love this time of year.” She inhaled deeply.

“Me too. Football. Bonfires. Beautiful redheads wearing fall colors.”

She smiled up at him. “I don’t know about the football, but I’d never turn down a bonfire.”

“Another thing to like about you.” After a few more steps, he said, “Talk to me, McIntire.”

“Um.” She thought for a second. “How’s the speech going?”

He slid her a look. “Talk to me about something else.”

She grinned up at him. “Are you still nervous about that?”

“Yes. Know what else I’m nervous about?”

Her heart mule-kicked her chest. Her? Them? Getting her to admit that she missed him more now that she’d slept with him? She hadn’t known what she’d been missing, and now she did. And missing it…well, sucked.

Also, she was slowly losing the bet he’d made yesterday, she thought as she looked down at their joined hands. Technically, though, he’d reached for her first.

“What are you nervous about?” she asked.

“Seeing you here. Tonight. After…everything.”