I step in behind her, wrap an arm around the back of her seat, and murmur low enough for only her to hear, “You keep wearing that skirt, and I’m gonna start swinging like Tiger in ’05.”
Her lips twitch. “Guess we’ll see how much pressure you can handle.”
Game on.
We’re three holes in when the cart girls roll up—sun-kissed, all legs and lip gloss.
One of them—the blond, tanned, too-much-lip-gloss type—grins when she spots me. “Well, damn. It’s The Wall. Who let the rugby boys out to play today?”
She twirls her pen between her fingers, eyes dragging a little too slowly over my body. “Anything I can get you? Water, snacks, something a little stronger?”
Magnolia steps down from the cart and loops her arm through mine. “Could I get a water, please?”
I don’t miss a beat. “This is my fiancée. She’s the one I’m trying to impress today.”
The blond’s smile flickers for half a second. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Magnolia replies, sweet as sin. “He’s a keeper.”
The girl redirects to Elias, who’s already halfway through unwrapping a protein bar, unconcerned.
Laughter ripples through the girls, their attention landing on Elias. The blonde tilts her head, smiling. “You got a fiancée too?”
Elias leans on his club, unfazed. “No fiancée.”
The brunette perks up. “That’s interesting.”
He shakes his head, grinning. “I’m only here for the golf—and to beat my brother. Everything else is background noise.”
They laugh, still intrigued, but he’s already turning back to the green, more interested in his swing than their flirtation.
The girls roll away on the cart, laughing as they go.
Magnolia glances at me over the rim of her drink, lips twitching. “You were quick to introduce me as your fiancée.”
“Didn’t want there to be any confusion.” I press one more kiss to Magnolia’s temple before sliding into the driver’s seat. “C’mon. Let’s go see if I can keep my lead before seeing you in that damn outfit throws off my swing.”
She lets out a content little sigh as we cruise toward the next hole, hair fluttering in the breeze. “Okay, I admit this is kind of fun. Peaceful. And very cute to watch you two compete like oversized boys.”
“You’ve never played?”
“Never so much as held a club.” She glances at the bag behind us and the green ahead. “But it’s sort of calling to me.”
“You want a set of clubs, favorite? I’ll get you a set of clubs.” I nudge her knee with mine. “Custom. Pink. Rhinestone headcovers if it makes you happy.”
Elias groans. “Please don’t be that couple.”
Magnolia laughs, then leans in and kisses my cheek, lingering for just a second longer than necessary. “You’re being extra sweet today.”
I glance down at her, a smile tugging at my mouth. “You’re being extra sexy today.”
Elias makes a gagging noise. “Jesus. Get a room or at least wait till the turn.”
Magnolia beams as if she’s already halfway in love with the idea of her own clubs. I tuck it away in the back of my mind—she’s getting a set.
No rhinestones, though. She’s not that kind of girl.
We’re halfway through the seventh when Magnolia twists in her seat, eyes on Elias as he lines up his next shot. “So…” she says, drawing the word out just enough to make it suspicious. “What’s going on with you and Violet?”
