Page 20 of The Game Plan

“One of the hazards of living so close to the ‘country music capital of the world.’ A lot of artists come to Knoxville to get away, so the paparazzi follow them here,” Sam quipped from the front seat.

“What if we do a photo in the car?” he asked.

“What can we do?” she asked, looking around. “There isn’t much space or anything. Do you want to take a selfie or something?”

“How about this?” he said, holding out his phone to her. He turned on the overhead light. “Passcode is 2017.”

She took his phone and unlocked it with the passcode. “Now what?”

“Give me your left hand.”

She held it out to him, and he took it in his and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Now take a picture.”

“Oh, okay,” she replied. He held her hand close to his face as she snapped a couple of photos, trying to ignore the warmth creeping through her at her hand in his.

When she had a few she thought were good, she handed the phone back to him.

Before he released her hand, he turned it over palm up and kissed the pulse at her wrist, then released it and grabbed his phone.

She clasped her hands together in her lap and took a couple of deep breaths to calm her racing heart, grateful that he turned off the overhead light so he couldn’t see her flushed face.

She watched him flip through the photos, the light from the streetlights catching his face as they drove. One of the lights washed over him, and she caught a disappointed look.

“Are the pictures no good?” she asked, scooting close to look at the screen.

He leaned over and showed her the screen. “I’m not sure. What do you think?”

She flipped through them. “They’re okay, I guess.”

He sighed. “Okay? Hmm.”

“Let’s try again. This time, maybe I can kiss your cheek instead,” he said, flicking the overhead light back on.

“Okay,” she said.

He turned on his front camera and held it out, making sure he could get the two of them together.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded nervously, and he leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek, taking a couple of photos along with it.

He didn’t move but opened up the photos to look at them.

“You look scared,” he said, looking up at her.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a little nervous,” she replied.

“It’s okay, let’s try again,” he said. He turned on the camera again and held it out. “Try a smile.” She smiled, and he chuckled. “You still look so scared.”

He put the fingers of his free hand under her chin and turned her face to his. “Don’t be scared. I don’t bite.”

His hazel eyes warmed. “Hard.”

Sutton’s jaw dropped a little, and he ran his thumb over her lips, leaning closer to her until there was barely any distance between them.

He moved his hands to cup her cheeks, the phone forgotten between them somewhere, and leaned in to bring his lips to hers.

She sat still as he kissed her, the lines blurring between fake and reality as time slowed.