Page 121 of The Plus One Contract

I’m losing my mind.

“Tell you what,” he says, eyes gleaming with amusement as he finally stands to his full, unfairly tall height. “I’ll be back later, and we’ll start an ice cream heist.”

A chorus of gasps.

One boy, who wasn’t even playing before, yells, “You’re the coolest!”

Nathan winks.

Winks!

I yank him away before the kids can propose a lifetime contract.

As we head toward our table, I hiss, “What was that?”

“What?” he says. “I’m good with kids.”

I glare up at him.

He grins, sliding his hand against my lower back. “You’re just mad they like me more than you.”

I scoff. “I am not.”

“You bribed them.”

“I tried to bribe them. There’s a difference.”

He leans in, his voice a deep whisper against my ear. “Don’t worry, baby. You’re still my favorite.”

I trip.

I actually trip.

Screw this man and his ability to make my brain short-circuit.

He catches me before I go down, his grip tightening. I need to start carrying a medical alert bracelet for moments like this.

“You okay there?” His lips twitch.

I shove his arm, but it doesn’t budge. “Shut up.”

He grins again, and I hate how much I want to kiss it right off his face.

“I was going for a walk. I wanted to know if you wanted to join me?”

“Why didn’t you just say that?”

Oh, for the love of God.

“Let’s…walk.”

He offers me his arm like a gentleman from an old film. I try not to smile too widely as I hook my arm through his. The crowd of wedding guests doesn’t pay us much mind. They’re too busy doing the Macarena or something equally horrifying.

We slip out of the ballroom doors into the resort’s lobby, quiet now except for a couple of staff tidying up, before we exit onto the terrace that overlooks the beach path.

It’s a relief. The night air is cool against my cheeks, the hush of the ocean soothing my frazzled nerves. My heels click against the tiled walkway as we descend toward the sand.

“You really are good with kids.”

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