Page 96 of The Enemy Face Off

And who knows? Maybe it could be the start of something more.

She knows I'm retiring and staying in Comfort Bay.

She knows I like her.

We've taken the first very tentative step toward a relationship.

Everything seems to be falling into place…I just wish the stars would hurry up and align already. All this waiting and anticipation is making my stomach churn. If all love is this stressful, I have no idea why Beth enjoys reading romance novels so much.

We walk past a ring toss. "Want me to win you something?"

She smiles. "Sure. Just don't get overly competitive about it."

I scoff. "As if." We walk over to the ring toss, and I tip my head toward the wall lined with prizes. "What would you like?"

She scans the options. "The stuffed pink bear holding a book," she says, pointing her finger toward the bear.

"Coming right up." I hand the attendant a twenty and smirk cockily at Beth. "This is going to be a piece of cake."

Ten minutes—and one hundred forty dollars—later, Beth's the one smirking.

"You don't have to keep going," she says softly so that no one can hear.

"No. I think I've figured it out. The perfect wrist flick to directional precision ratio. I'm so close I can feel it."

"If you say so."

Sweat is pouring down my back as I focus all my concentration on tossing the five rings over the targets.

I will win her that bear if it's the last thing I do.

Trying not to let my frustration show, I line up for my gazillionth attempt.

With a flick of my wrist, I toss the first ring. It lands securely around the neck of the first bottle with a satisfying clink.

I repeat it again and get the second bottle.

Then the third.

I'm not getting too excited just yet. I've been here several times before.

I take a breath and toss the ring again. It sails through the air and…makes it.

Yes!

I'm on a roll. Just one more to go.

I glance over at Beth and am treated to one of her beautiful smiles. It fires me up, and I know—I just know—I'm going to land this one for her.

I throw the ring.

It glides smoothly, hovering momentarily before dropping down and encircling the bottle in a perfect fit.

"Yay!" She claps then throws her arms around me.

The attendant, a spotty-faced teenager, hands me the stuffed pink bear with a look that clearly screamsweirdo—can't argue with that—but I don't care.

The look of happiness on Beth's face is worth it.

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