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My eyes drop to her lips, and her tongue darts out to lick them. I groan at the sight, and then I’m leaning in to kiss her.

It’s soft at first. Testing. Then she sighs against my mouth and grips my shirt, and everything in me unravels. She kisses me back like she’s been waiting her whole life.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathless.

“Well,” she says with a dazed smile, “This is going to be a tough bet to win.”

I smile, my eyes dropping back to her mouth. “Do your worst.”

She laughs and tugs me down for another kiss.

Either way, I know I’ve already won.

FIVE

Blake

“How’s this?” I ask Jade, stepping out of the bathroom wearing outfit option number five.

“Ohh, sexy!” she gushes.

I smile, twirling around in my dark wash jeans that mold to my legs and ass like a second skin. My flowy tunic-style shirt floats around me as I spin, and I laugh as I get dizzy and stop.

“I think this is the one.”

“Definitely! You look hot,” Jade agrees.

I sit on the bed next to her and pull on a pair of socks and my boots.

“What time are you picking him up?” she asks.

“He’s picking me up in an hour.”

“And what did you have planned for tonight? It needs to be good if you want to win the bet,” she says.

“Oh, I’ve got this in the bag,” I say confidently. “We’re going to the pottery studio up in Maple Creek and then out to dinner at that new barbecue place.”

“Sounds fun. Call me tomorrow and let me know how it goes,” she says as she stands and gathers her things.

“I will.”

She hugs me and smiles reassuringly before she heads out. I take a deep breath and look around my apartment. I spent all day stress cleaning it, so the place is spotless.

My palms are sweaty, and my heart is racing as I wait for Luca to pick me up. I need something to distract me, but I’m all caught up on work, and there’s nothing else to do here.

Entering the bathroom, I brush my hair until it shines. I twist it up into a high ponytail and then splash cold water on my face.

Calm down! I order myself. It’s a date. Not even our first date. It will all be okay.

I dry my face and hands and pace my apartment, my eyes glued to the clock.

Finally, four o’clock rolls around, and Luca knocks on the door.

“Hey,” I greet him as I open the door.

“Hey. Wow, you look amazing.”

“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.”