Page 44 of A Whole New Trick

From the way she cheered for me when I beat Mason in the second round of Mario Kart, I’m pretty sure I’m right. But I know better than to get my hopes up when it comes to the stunning brunette who stars in most of my dreams as of late.

“Are you sure?” Miles steers into gold coins. “Because, no offense, but Morgan sucks. You could do better.”

“You’re such a jerk!”

“Agree to disagree.” I steer onto a ramp and soar in the air, landing right in front of Morgan’s car.

Yes!

I scoot forward on the couch and lean my elbows on my knees, hyper-focused. There are three laps left in the game. I can do this.

“If this isn’t a hostage situation, what do you like about her?”

Miles is still trying to distract me, but I get the sense he’s also using the fact my guard is down to get information out of me. This is a test. And it’s one I’m eager to pass.

“Aside from the obvious, Morgan’s smart and thoughtful. She’s driven, and she calls me on my bull shit.” I steer left to avoid a turtle shell that Miles fires from behind me.

“The obvious?” Morgan questions. Her shoulder presses against mine slightly as she tilts her body to match Princess Peach’s turn in the game.

I take my eyes off the screen to find her glancing between me and the TV. “That you’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Her eyes widen. She focuses her attention back on the screen, but she can’t hide the color creeping over her cheeks.

“Ugh.”

“Gross.”

“Shut up, man. That’s our sister,” Matthew groans, but the amusement in his voice is hard to miss.

I laugh. “Sorry.” I look at the screen and scowl when I see Miles has taken the lead.

“How did you guys meet?”

If Miles had asked the question, I would tell him to shove it. But since it’s Matthew, I answer, “We met at a club a few months ago.”

“A club?” All three brothers speak at once.

“Yes, a club,” Morgan replies. “I’m an adult, you know. I can go to clubs.”

“I assumed you guys met at work,” Mason says.

“Nope.” I turn on the inside of the track and drive past Morgan, who cries out in annoyance. I grin. “We met before she started working for the Ranchers.”

“But you just started dating, right?” Mason asks.

“Yes,” Morgan clips. I get the sense she wants this conversation to end, but I don’t look away from the TV to see her expression. I want to win.

“Why?” Mason presses, either uncaring or undeterred by his sister’s tone.

I shrug, keeping my eyes on the screen. “I didn’t know Morgan worked for the Ranchers until recently.”

“Wait.” Matthew rejoins the conversation. “Why not?”

I could blame the game for not thinking through what I say next, but that would be a lie. The truth is, I’ve been dying to have this conversation with Morgan since I walked into her boss’s office and saw her sitting there after months of not seeing her.

“Because Morgan gave me a fake number the night we met.” I force my voice to remain easygoing, hiding just how much it stung when I texted Morgan shortly after leaving the club that night, only to be ignored.

I texted her again the next morning, asking if she wanted to meet for lunch. I’d been so eager to see her again—eager to speak to her away from the club’s loud music and flashing lights after months of waiting after I missed my chance at Carter’s barbeque.

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