Page 40 of Anyone But Her

I smile. "You don't need one. You're a way better golfer than me."

"Only because I practice more. I do this full-time. You have college."

"Did you guys tee off yet?" Cal asks, parking the golf cart.

"Not yet," Luke says. "We were waiting for you."

Cal tees off, then I go, followed by Luke. Every time it's Luke's turn, I find myself staring at him. I try to look away but can't. How could I? He has an awesome body. Strong. Lean. Agile. An athlete's body, which I love. Plus he's really talented. He has an incredible swing for someone his age. Other girls wouldn't find that sexy but I do. It totally turns me on and I'm already turned on from Luke pressing his body against mine as he swung the club. No wonder I'm sweating so much.

We continue to play but Cal doesn't take any more bathroom breaks so I don't get a chance to help Luke with his putting skills. I wish Cal would go away, even for just a few minutes, so I could be alone with Luke. I really need to know if he likes me or not. This attraction I feel can't be one-sided. It doesn't seem like it is but I have to know for sure.

By the eighteenth hole, four hours have passed and I'm hot and tired and ready to go home. When I hit the ball down the fairway, it veers off into the trees.

I sigh as I put my club in the bag. "I'm not having a good game today."

"Don't worry about it," Luke says as he goes up to tee off. He's had a great game, better than Cal and me. But then he hits the ball and it takes the same path mine did, landing in the trees.

"What the hell happened?" Cal asks, laughing. "You never hit it in the trees."

"Guess I'm getting tired. You go ahead to the green. Taylor and I will go find our balls and meet you over there."

Cal takes off with the cart while Luke and I walk over to where our balls landed.

"We're never going to find them in here," I say, walking through the grassy brush that surrounds a cluster of trees.

"Then we'll just take whatever balls we find. There's gotta be tons of lost balls in here."

We make our way further into the trees. I look down, searching for my ball, and feel him beside me.

"Taylor."

I look up. "Did you find yours?"

His eyes lock on mine. "God, you're beautiful."

I nervously laugh. "Yeah, that's funny."

"You are," he says, being completely serious.

"I'm a mess. I'm all sweaty and I'm sure my hair's a disaster."

Before I can say any more he leans down and kisses me. A slow drawn-out kiss that starts with his lips brushing against mine, then progresses to a more intense, deep kiss that has my whole body tingling with arousal. It's a feeling I didn't know could come from just a kiss, but it's clearly possible because I'm feeling it right now. Luke's kiss is amazing. Better than I ever thought a kiss could be.

He slowly backs away and looks at me, waiting for me to respond. I don't know what to say but I remember what Birdie told me about how I need to say something. Otherwise, he'll interpret my silence to mean I didn't like the kiss, or didn't want it.

"That was um..." I struggle for the right word, "surprising."

That's not a good word, but I couldn't think of anything else. My mind is mush from that kiss.

His brows draw together. "Surprising good or surprising bad?"

"Good. Definitely good."

He gives me a cautious smile. "Are you referring to the kiss or the fact that I did it?"

"Both." I smile back. "It was a really good kiss."

"I thought so too."

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