Page 16 of The Girlfriend Zone

I graze my thumb along her jawline. “I will. I’m the guy who was going to keep coming back to the shop just to run into you.”

“So you’re about as subtle as an anvil too.”

Damn, she can keep me on my toes. “I like to think of it as determined. I had a plan to ask you out.”

“What was your plan?”

“I didn’t ask you that first day because you got a call.”

“My dad. I was having lunch with him that day.”

I smile. It’s nice that she’s close to her family. “I figured I’d keep showing up till I saw you again. Hell, I was going to show up the day of Birdie’s photo shoot if I had to.”

“Fine, fine. You’re determined.”

I take that as the compliment that it is. Determination has brought me to where I am in life. Grit, too, has powered me through a nearly career-ending ACL tear when I was with Vancouver, and given me a second chance with a new team after Vancouver saidsee you later. So, yeah, determination is my strong suit. “I’m not afraid to go after what I want,” I tell her, then nod to the path. “Now, we’d better get moving becausesomeonevery much wants to be kissed.”

She narrows her eyes at me as we resume our pace. “Tease.”

“And you like it.”

“You’re the worst,” she says.

“You like that too.”

“You’re not at all subtle.”

“Also, you like that,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh my god, do you have to win every conversation?”

I smile smugly. “Says the woman who turned geocaching as a team into a competition.”

“Your fault. You took me geocaching.”

“For someone who wants to be kissed so badly, you’re taking an awfully long time finding the next cache.”

“You and your opinions.”

“You like them too. Almost as much as I like yours.”

“Fine, you win.”

We continue on the path, wandering across a footbridge, then walking along the small stream it arches over.Leighton spots our quarry, a small, metal lockbox hidden next to a rock near the water. “There’s a lock on it,” she says, crouching down.

I join her. “Smart. They don’t want just anyone picking it up,” I say, checking the app for the code. I punch in the combination, and the padlock clicks open.

Leighton’s breath hitches as she pulls out a silver chain with a vintage heart locket, holding it up so the heart’s swinging back and forth. “It’s beautiful,” she says softly, wonder in her voice. “Can I open it?”

“Go for it.”

She flicks the locket open, and a folded piece of paper falls out. I catch it before it hits the ground.

“Fast reflexes,” she says, impressed.

“Yup.” I don’t mention they’ve been honed over a lifetime of sports, including a decade in the pros. I unfold the note and read it out loud.“A treasure for a treasure.”

Her blue eyes widen. “They want us to take it?”

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