Page 3 of Beyond Question

Forcing myself to stop watching her like a creep, I focus on the basket instead.

Right. How hard could it be?

She’s never lost this game, but she’s never had me as an opponent. I’m prepared to show Paige that there is certainly a first time for everything, even losing. And I do love a little healthy competition. A baby shower gamecouldfall into that category—if nothing more stimulating is available.

But it isn’t the draw of the competition or the desire to rise to her challenge that has my gaze returning to Paige’s profile. There’d been a hint of something in her eyes, in the tilt of her lips…

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was flirting with me.

And if that lightness in my chest is anything to go by, I quite like the idea.

Rylan returns to stand beside me, drawing my attention away from Paige. She hands me a pen and a small—yellow, of course—notepad, then she reaches for the blanket as she announces, “You’ll each have thirty seconds to review the contents of the basket, then write them down.”

Ah, a memory game. Rylan had been right; this is right up my alley.

I catch Paige’s eye, smirking because she’s about to be beaten at what she calledher game, then I focus on the blanket as Rylan continues explaining the rules.

“Whoever lists the most items…correctly,” she adds with emphasis, “wins the game!”

With that, she lifts the blanket so only I can view the contents within the basket, then starts the timer.

And my lungs deflate on a deep exhale.

With one look inside, it’s obvious that I’ve overestimated my ability to win this game.

The basket contains a pastel rainbow of…baby items.

What the fuckisall this stuff?

My brain goes into full meltdown mode as I try to catalog each item, but all I can think of, on repeat, isbasket, blanket, duck.

Basket.

Blanket.

Duck.

And that is certainly not going to win me the game—or the girl.

Not that I’m trying towin the girl, but I’m certainly not about to impress Paige Matthews withbasket, blanket, duck. She watches me with a smirk pulling at her lips, as if she already knows she’s won. As if I’ve been repeatingbasket, blanket, duckout loud for the entirety of my thirty-second turn.

Chapter Two

Paige

Once everyone has had a chance to look at the items in the basket and write them down, Rylan begins revealing each baby necessity that should be on our lists one at a time. Swiveling my head, I look at Travis, surprised to see that he’s tucked his paper into his pocket and doesn’t seem interested in reviewing his answers.

Wow. Okay. The man is cockier than I gave him credit for.

“Are you really that confident you’ve won?” I whisper, leaning toward him.

Travis snorts. “On the contrary.” He turns toward me and I’m lost for a moment in the pale green of his eyes, then he whispers, “Basket, blanket, duck.”

I pull back, frowning. “What?”

He chuckles, though it’s a defeated sound. “That’s what my paper says.”

Bringing my hand to my mouth, I try in vain to hide my smile. If only he knew just how ironic his statement is. “Stop.”

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