“So what are we playing?” Lindsay asked.
“Scum,” Hugh answered.
“No. Why?” Maizie complained.
“Because it’s fun to see you lose,” Christian taunted.
“You aren’t winning this time, city boy.” Maizie narrowed her eyes at him.
“We’ll see,” he said, resting his arms against the table like he owned the place.
But he won. And after he won twice, they switched games.
Maizie always won Monopoly Deal. But she had yet to play against Christian, who seemed to be good at every game. Thirty minutes later she had two full properties and over ten million dollars, but Hugh and Christian somehow wiped her out in one round.
“You have to be kidding me!” She threw her hands up. “This is the stupidest game ever! I quit!” She threw the remainder of her cards at the beaming boys’ faces and stormed out of the dining room.
“Told you she’s a sore loser,” Hugh said.
“Am not!” she yelled before escaping into the cool night air.
* * *
Christian gotup from the table and strode out the door where Maizie had disappeared moments before. “That was entertaining,” he whispered behind her.
She jumped and spun towards him. “Hugh might be right about one thing. I’m a terrible loser.”
“Yes, you are. I’m sure I would be too if I ever lost.”
She pursed her lips, looking ready to fight but instead shook her head. “I’ve now made it my life goal to beat you at something.”
Christian stuffed his hands into his pockets and smirked. “That’s a terrible life goal,”
“Scratch that. I think I just want to shut you up.” She glared at him.
He was walking a fine line now, but it was too tempting.
He stepped closer, towering over her small frame.
“I can think of a few ways to accomplish that.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her lips parted but nothing escaped. He was drawn to those lips.What would it feel like to press his lips to hers?
“You—” she started.
“Hey, guys!” Hugh bellowed from the house.
Maizie jumped back from Christian, her eyes wide as if she had just been caught doing something she shouldn’t. And a very rebellious part of Christian wished they had been caught doing just that.
“We’re sick of playing card games. Time for the real stuff,” Hugh said.
Christian didn’t know what that meant, but he followed the group anyway. They drove to Maizie’s house and straight to the basketball court across the street.
Rob walked beside Maizie. He’d been by her side like a begging puppy all night. It was ridiculous how in love with her he was, and Maizie was completely oblivious.
“I don’t—I—” Maizie hesitated at the door of the shed.
Rob whispered something in her ear and placed a hand on her back, gently nudging her forward. Maizie nodded her head and joined the rest of the group.
