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“They’ll be finished in the kiln and ready for pickup in a few days. We’ll call you,” she says as we check out.

Luca tries to pay, but I push him aside and swipe my card.

“Come again,” the instructor says as we head out, and I wave over my shoulder.

Luca takes my hand as we walk back to his car. “That was fun,” he says as he opens my door.

“Ready to admit defeat?”

He grins. “Not yet. Where now?”

“Dinner. There’s a barbecue place right around the corner.”

He nods and closes my door. We drive to the restaurant and pull in. It’s packed and smells delicious. My mouth waters as we stand in line, and Luca’s stomach growls.

“Hungry?” I ask.

“Starved.”

“Me, too,” I admit.

We wait a few minutes to be seated. Looking over the menu, we decide to split a few plates so we can try everything. I let Luca order and lean back, taking in the place.

Dinner passes in a flash. We joke, rank the meats and sides by our favorite to least favorite, and learn more about each other.

It starts to rain again as Luca and I argue over who gets to pay the bill. I win since it’s my date, but Luca grumbles as I put my debit card down with a victorious smirk.

“I should have paid,” he complains as we leave the restaurant.

I laugh. “It was my date.”

“Still.”

Lightning streaks across the sky, and I jump at the loud boom of thunder that follows.

“Let me get the car. You wait here.”

I wait beneath the awning while he brings the car around, then dash through the rain to the passenger door and slide inside.

“Now where?” Luca asks.

“Home.”

“Mine or yours?”

“Mine.”

The rain splatters against the roof and windshield as we drive back to Wolf Valley. We pull up to my apartment, and I turn to Luca.

I intend to ask him who won the date or maybe suggest a third date as a tiebreaker, but when my eyes clash with his, all thoughts leave my head.

His eyes drop to my lips, and we both freeze, the moment suspended in time. My body heats, and my core clenches. I lean forward, my body swaying toward his.

“Blake.”

That single word—my name on his lips—sends a shiver down my spine. It’s low and rough, like gravel and longing, and it wraps around me tighter than any embrace.

I lean in without thinking, the space between us charged and electric. His hand lifts, hovering near my cheek, and then he cups my face gently like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he moves too fast. I don’t. I can’t. I’m already lost to the pull between us.