And I might’ve lost my head for a moment, getting caught up in the cocoa vanilla sugar scent of her skin. But I snapped back to reality when I saw the two big bruises on the right side of her ribcage.
Gabi wasn’t moving at all. I think she might’ve quit breathing. Which quickened my breathing considerably.
Ignoring my need to kiss down that rock-hard belly, I pressed my lips on the bruises . . . and blew a raspberry.
She shrieked. “Stop! That tickles.”
I straightened up. “That’s what I think of your ‘I’m too sore to bowl’ excuse. Nice try, though.”
She yanked her shirt down and harrumphed. “What gave it away?”
“You’d have to be near dying to admit that you hurt too much to compete with me.” I locked my gaze to hers. “So why don’t you want to bowl?”
“Because I was trying to do something nice.”
I frowned at her. “I’m confused.”
Then she poked me in the chest. “I said I didn’t want to bowl with you because I was saving you from embarrassing you in front of your friends, okay?”
“Wait. Are you claiming that you will beat me so badly that I’ll hang my head in shame?”
“Pretty much.”
Was she bluffing?
Christ. I couldn’t tell by her smirk, but no fucking way was I letting this slide.
I loomed over her. “Find a ball, get your shoes on and meet me on lane seven.”
She shrugged and sidestepped me. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”
“Wait.” I put my hands on her hips and spun her back to face me. “How about we have a little side wager on this game.”
“Like?”
“Like the winner gets to choose what we do tomorrow on our date.”
“We have a date tomorrow?”
“We agreed after the hockey game that once our favor for a favor was done, we’d continue to explore this thing between us.” My eyes searched hers. “Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
“I haven’t.”
“Good.” I trailed my fingers down her face. “Let’s make it official and go out on a date.”
“Okay.” She gave me the sweet, shy smile that just slayed me. “Can’t wait until I get to tell you what I’ve got planned.” She mock-whispered, “It might involve glitter glue and pipe cleaners.”
“Gotta win first.”
She rolled her eyes. “See you down there, loser.”
By the time we were ready to bowl, everyone else had finished. And they all decided to stick around and watch our game.
I half expected Gabi to stroll down to the lane with a monogrammed bowling bowl and her own shoes, such was her confidence level.
“Ladies first,” I said and sat at the scoring console to watch her do her thing.
First frame she left a ten-pin, but she picked up the spare.
My turn. I held the ball close, pushed out, swung back and smoothly released it down the lane.
Strike.
I kept my face neutral as I turned around.
Sweetly, she said, “Beginner’s luck?”
“I never said I was a beginner.”
“But you said bowling wasn’t your thing.”
“It’s not. Doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”
She groaned. “I’m gonna regret taunting you, aren’t I?”
“Probably.” I tugged on her ponytail. “You’re up.”
We stayed neck and neck until the tenth frame. I left a seven-pin, but I picked up the spare. A strike would win the game. Anything less . . .
The ball left my grip a little wonky and I held my breath until all the pins were down.
I’d only beat her by one pin.
But a win was a win.
Gabi offered me her hand. “Good game.”
I didn’t care that we were in plain sight of our friends. I clasped her hand and pulled her body against mine. “The victor demands a hug.”
She melted into me. With her cheek against my chest, she could hear how fast my heart beat and I could feel her smile when she said, “You really do like me, don’t you?”
“Yes, Gabriella, I really do.” I kissed the top of her head.
“What’s the dress code for our date tomorrow?”
“Casual.”
“Ugh. That tells me nothing because I know we have different definitions for casualwear.”
“When I pick you up, I’ll tell you if you’re not properly attired for our outing. Deal?”
Gabi tipped her head back and looked at me. “You wouldn’t rather meet?”
“It’s our first official date, so you deserve the full date treatment.”
“What time are you picking me up?”
“Eleven?”
“That’ll work.”
Just then Mariah and Amy butted in. “You’ve had your turn with her, Lund, now it’s ours and we have plans for the center of our universe.” Mariah’s fingers circled Gabi’s wrist and she forced her to wave. “Bye-bye,