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“It’s not for you, so don’t worry about it,” she whispers.

“Why do you keep trying to lie to us both?” She ignores me, pulling back and looking down the bar. “True or False? It’s a dress.”

She slowly faces me, her eyebrow quirking up with the corner of her lips, likely recalling where this game ended the other night.

“True.” I lift my drink to my mouth where the faintest trace of her lips are left around the rim and I welcome it, letting the taste drift through me.

“For the wedding?” I ask, handing the bottle back to her.

“Mmm.” The column of her throat moves up and down and I have to drag my palm down my face, letting my jaw hang open. “You going with me?”

“Like a date?”

“I’m glad you’ve finally agreed.”

“That wasn’t me agreeing.” She shakes her head with a taunting smile. “I was asking.”

I grip the seat of her stool and her lips part when I drag the metal legs across the floor, close enough that she’s practically in my lap.

“Yeah, Nova. Like a date.” Her head tilts to the side and her finger taps her pursed lips. “Keep it up, love, and I’m gonna bite that little finger.”

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” she taunts.

“It could be a promise, would you prefer that?”

She sucks in her cheeks, hiding that perfect smile from me, her eyes narrowing into tiny slits.

“I prefer to go to weddings solo,” she says, hopping from her stool and grabbing her bag. The hairs on my neck stand straight up when she presses her cheek to mine, her breath a warm whisper in my ear. “You never know who you might run into.”

I swear a growl rumbles from the back of my throat but simmers when the lightest touch of her lips graze the shell of my ear.

“And, true. I do like a little biting.”

I close my eyes, inhaling her scent and when I open them again she’s halfway to the door.

Taylor

I pullmy fourth spade card from the deck, discard a Queen of Hearts, and look around the common room. Ryder, Liv, Mr. and Mrs. Browning, Christina—the mom from Italy, and one of her sons are all huddled around the coffee table as we play a game of twenty-five.

“Aw, yes! That's what I needed. Thank you, Tay.” Ryder snatches the card from the pile at the center of the table blowing a kiss in my direction. Liv rolls her eyes, getting defeated but I laugh him off.

“Come on now, Ryder. Give me what I need,” Christina’s thick Italian accent calls out.

Ryder looks over his cards methodically before laying down a two of clubs, and Christina swipes it with a smile. Everyone oohs and ahhs, wondering what it means for the game. The chatter in the room continues but my head goes silent when Knox enters through the front door. His dark eyes find mine, and we stay locked in with each other. I didn’t want to admit to myself that I had been waiting for him all throughout dinner again tonight, especially since I thought it best to try and put some distance between us. After hesurprised me with that horse ride, I surprised myself by feeling something other than physical attraction. I thought we could benefit from a little time apart. But one night in a hot tub later and that obviously didn’t happen. I find myself now more confused than ever.

Knox dips his head in hello before moving to sit in the chair behind me. The heat from his legs engulfs my entire body from behind until he spreads them so they rest on either side of me.

“Your move, Isla,” Ryder taunts his mom. She sits on the couch across from me, bundled in a black long-sleeve shirt and black pants with—what I’m assuming is a homemade—knitted cardigan over top. She studies her cards with an intensity that seems so unlike her but I find myself smiling anyway. There's a dense weight in my chest and my neck heats as I battle the overwhelming feeling of family in this room and my interest in the man behind me. The more time I spend with these people, the more I enjoy them. And worse than that, worse than anything, I find myself hoping they feel the same about me. It’s starting to feel like too much.

I go still when Knox’s hands rest on my shoulders. “What do you got, love?”

“I uh—” I clear my throat, looking around as Knox’s hands slide up and down my shoulders. Everyone is either too focused on their cards or focused on trying to read—or ridicule—the other players. Either way, no one notices the way my body erupts in flames under his touch and whispered words. I pick up a card from the deck pulling up my fifth spade. “Twenty-five,” I whisper as I lay my hand down.

“Son of a—” Ryder slams his fist down on the table.

“No, I was so close!” Christina whines.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Alan smirks and Knox’s grip onmy shoulder tightens. “You sure this was your first time, darling?” he asks, pointing a finger at me.