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We only kiss three more times before we finally manage to make it out of my door and into his car. Pretty successful if you ask me.

“So…” I lean across the armrest, unable to stop myself from being as close to him as possible. “Where are you taking me, Mr. Miller?”

“Oh, Miss Pierce”—he puts his car in drive, his glance lingering before he focuses on the road—“wouldn’t you like to know?”

I don’t usually like surprises. I love being in charge and putting together a good itinerary. I love the safe and secure options. But when it comes to Luke, none of that seems to matter. All of my self-preservation and self-control goes out the window the second he steps into my orbit.

“Nope.” I lean back against the leather seat of his Acura SUV and turn my head to take in his profile against the Denver scenery blurring behind him. “I’m just happy to be along for the ride.”

His fingers flex around the steering wheel, and his jaw ticks beneath his trimmed beard. His mouth stays shut, but I can practically read his mind as his thoughts cross his face.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” his raspy voice whispers in the quiet of the car, and his hand finds its place on my upper thigh. “Because there’s nobody else I’d want to take with me.”

The light turns green, and my heart rate accelerates along with the car.

Luke keeps his hand on my thigh, and I stay as still as possible so that he’ll keep it there forever.

His thumb moves up and down near the inside seam of my jeans and every time we hit a bump, it inches closer and closer toward my center, making it so I forget to breathe.

By the time he pulls into the parking lot, my head is spinning and I’ve lost track of time. He turns off the car, and the interior lights flash on beneath the dimming Colorado sky. Thankfully, I don’t think they’re bright enough to showcase just how flustered his touch made me.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he says.

I unbuckle my seat belt and by the time I’m out of the car, he’s right next to me, folding my hand in his as we walk up to the front of a restaurant that I’ve driven past a million times but have never been to.

Campus Lounge has existed for a while, and even if I didn’t know that as fact I could guess as soon as we step inside.

The retro signs and interior make it seem like it’s been around for so long, it’s come back in style.

It screams comfort and fun over romance and class.

Thank god I went with my sweater and sneakers over the black dress still hanging in my closet.

It’s a cool place, but I’d be lying if I don’t start to question whether or not I jumped to conclusions about what’s happening between us.

It’s a Sunday night and die-hard Broncos fans, all sporting their Sunday best jerseys, scream at the TVs and high-five one another around the packed bar.

Luke grabs my hand, wrapping his fingers tight around mine as he navigates us through the orange and blue crowd to a booth tucked into the back corner.

“Fuck. I’m so sorry,” he yells over the crowd. “I can’t believe I forgot there was a Broncos game tonight.”

“This would’ve never happened if you were the sports guy,” I joke. Being taken to a sports bar on game day by accident is still a million times better than being taken to a sports bar on game day on purpose.

“The pitfalls of going out with a curious nerd are never ending. Hopefully my memory for the little things will make up for some of them though.” He hands me a menu across the table.

“I almost took you to Red Robin, but Campus Lounge does a great burger too, and they have something else I thought you’d like. ”

He points to the cocktail section of the menu, and it only takes me a millisecond before I see it.

“Oh my god!” My eyes move back and forth between him and the menu as something warm and fuzzy comes over me. “They have an old fashioned flight?”

“That is your drink?” Nerves look so out of place as they flash across his usually confident face. “Right?”

I haven’t forgotten a single detail of our night together, but I haven’t allowed myself to imagine that Luke hasn’t either.

Even when he sent me Denny’s, I spent more time talking myself out of what it could’ve meant than I did actually enjoying it.

But now, with Luke sitting in front of me, the gentle pride evident on his handsome face, I can’t deny it anymore.

That night meant just as much to Luke as it did to me, and he’s doing everything he can to prove it to me.

“It is.” I don’t even attempt to hold back my smile anymore. We might be in a sports bar, but I was wrong, it does scream romance. “I’ve been on a mission to find the best one in the city and I didn’t even know this place existed.”

His smile triples in size and just like the Grinch, so does my heart.

“Oh, thank god.” He leans back against the vinyl booth cushion and lets out a relieved sigh. “Let’s hope they’re good then.”

Even if they are the worst old fashioneds I’ve ever tasted, they’ll still be the best because I’ll be drinking them with him.

No matter what they taste like, the only thing I’ll remember about this night is the amount of thought this gorgeous man, who could probably get anyone he wants, put into bringing me here.

Of course I can’t tell him that though. I’m so glad he opened up, and I know that we both want to explore this thing between us, but I’m still not ready to show all of my cards just yet.

“They have a bananas Foster one,” I point out instead. “There’s no way that could be bad.”

Despite the rowdy crowd, the service is still quick and wonderful. The waiter comes over and takes our order—two whiskey flights, one campus burger with sweet potato fries for me, and a brisket French dip with tots for Luke.

“Tater tots are the only acceptable choice if you’re not going with sweet potato fries.” Or onion rings. Never plain fries and never, and I mean never, a side salad. That’s an offense I think should be punishable by jail.

“I’m glad you approve.” He smirks over the rim of his water glass, which they brought us while we wait. “I’ll give you a tot if you give me a fry.”

“Deal.” I extend my hand over the table and he shakes it. Unfortunately for me, this zaps my body awake, and I remember that the thing I’m most hungry for is the man sitting across from me.

Another thing that should be punishable by jail? Turning someone on by shaking their hand.

It’s just bad manners.

“So”—I tuck my hands beneath my legs to keep them from fidgeting—“should we discuss my findings from the last meeting?”

The other perk about a place like this is it’s the last place I could ever picture Jacqueline spending her Sunday—or any—night.

Campus Lounge has whiskey flights and beer on tap.

Jacqueline gives off more cosmopolitan and champagne vibes.

And I say that with zero judgment because I also love champagne and cosmos.

They’re delicious and I’d challenge anyone to attest otherwise.

“Oh, yeah.” He rubs his hands together, and a sly smile tugs on the corner of his luscious mouth. “I’ve been dying to see this video you’ve been teasing me with.”

“It’s worth the wait.” I grab my phone out of my purse, and as I’m pulling up the video, the booth dips and Luke slides in beside me. “I’ve watched it so many times and I swear, it seems more absurd every time I watch it.”

“Where was the party again?” His thigh rubs against mine, and he drops his arm across the booth like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Nora’s house?”

“Oh no, no, no, Mr. Miller. Nora hosted it, but it wasn’t at her house.” I hand him the phone, almost giddy knowing what he’s about to see. “Just watch and see.”

He hits play, but instead of watching along with him, I stare at his face so I don’t miss a single reaction.

“Is that…wait.” His eyes narrow as he starts to process what’s going on. “Are you at a doctor’s office? Is she a…oh my god. Holy shit. What the fuck?”

I choke back my laughter as he drops f-bomb after f-bomb, and by the time the video comes to an end, his eyebrows have nearly touched his hairline.

“That was…”

“Freaking insanity!” I finish his sentence for him. “I couldn’t believe what was happening when I was there. I was the only one who seemed shocked by it. I seriously felt like I was in another dimension.”

He finally turns his face away from the phone, but I can’t read his expression. “Do you know what this means?”

“What?” I thought it meant they were a bunch of no-good liars, but the look on his face makes me think it’s even more.

“The Raquel she mentions?” He gestures to the video playing again.

“She’s talking about Raquel Alessio, the president of Petunia Lemon.

She’s saying this isn’t just something a few representatives in Denver are doing; this is a directive coming down from the very top to encourage lying and fraud to lure customers in. ”

“Holy shit.” I repeat his earlier sentiment as the seriousness of what I caught registers. “I knew that name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it until right now. I can’t believe they let me record this.”

Not that I asked, but you’d think they’d announce a no cell-phone policy or something.

“They’re so convinced that nobody would ever leave that they aren’t careful when they’re in a room full of members,” he says. “A few people have told me they realized the products aren’t what they advertise, but they never explained what they meant.”

“I’ve always used drugstore products, and I thought it was just me, but I haven’t noticed a difference in my skin at all.

” I take my phone from him and email him the video so he can have a copy to do with as he pleases.

“If they’re encouraging their members to get medical procedures, I wouldn’t be a little bit shocked if the ingredients they’re pushing aren’t what they claim either.

Is there a way you could get their products tested to see if they’re really what they say? ”

“Damn. That’s such a good idea! Why didn’t I already think of that?” The arm draped across the booth falls to my shoulder, and he pulls me in for a hug. “You might be the best inside man who’s ever lived. How the hell am I ever going to pay you back?”

“I’m not sure, but I trust you to figure something out.”

A million and one dirty thoughts cloud my mind, and by the way his eyes go dark and he pulls his lip between his teeth, I think he can read every single one of them.

Or at least I hope he can.

I might be playing with fire, but for once, I’m not afraid of getting burned.

I’m just excited to feel the heat.