Page 36 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

Chris had this way of making me feel guilty about ordering dessert. "You don't need that," was something he said to me all the time. I never knew if it was because he was being cheap, was in a rush, or if he was just calling me fat. Either way, it always made me feel horrible. I loved dessert. Was that really so bad? And how was I supposed to own a bakery if I didn't taste other people's creations and scope out the competition?

And after one bite of a coconut covered brigadeiro, I realized that Bryce wasn't just a great guy. He also shared my taste in desserts. There wasn't a single thing about him that I didn't like. And the more time I spent with him, the more I realized how lacking my relationship was with Chris.

Chapter 14

Monday

Alina

I wanted Bryce to press me against a wall and kiss me again like he had during Operation Red Rip. This time I'd kiss him back. I thought about his tongue tracing my lips. I had wanted it then, before I even knew anything about him. And everything I had learned since then, I liked. Not to mention that I had never been this instantly attracted to anyone in my life. Except maybe Owen Harris.

But Bryce was being respectful. His hand wasn't even hovering on my lower back as we waited for our Uber outside of the restaurant.

"What time is your game tomorrow?" he asked.

"2 o'clock."

"Do you mind if I come cheer you on?" His shaggy hair blew in the warm Brazilian wind. He ran his hand through his hair to get it out of his face.

I smiled. Everything he did seemed to exude sex. "No, I don't mind."

"You can count me in too," Tim said. "Those spandex shorts really do something to a man."

Kristen blushed under his gaze.

"But we might be a little sweaty, because that's the same time that our practice ends."

Kristen whispered something in his ear and Tim smiled.

Alex cleared his throat. "Ubers in Brazil really are fast."

An SUV had just pulled to a stop in front of us. I couldn't deny the fact that I was eager to sit on Bryce's lap again. To feel his fingers on me. Bryce seem

ed equally excited, because he was the first one that approached the car.

He opened the door and hopped in. I was about to join him, but before I could, the tires squealed and the car sped off, nearly running over my foot in the process. I screamed and jumped back. The hasty getaway left the smell of burnt rubber lingering in the air.

"What the hell was that?" asked Kristen.

"I dunno. That jackass almost ran over my foot."

"I guess that explains how he got here so quickly. He's a crazy driver," said Alex.

Tim glanced down at his phone. "I think that was actually someone else's Uber. The map shows that ours is still two minutes away."

"Is Uber Psycho a new service option that they offer?" asked Kristen. "Or is that a Brazilian exclusive?"

I laughed for a second and then started to get worried. "Wait. What if he just got kidnapped?"

"Relax, Alina," said Kristen. "The car had an Uber sticker on it, so it must have been legit. He probably just took someone else's Uber."

I looked around, but there was no one else waiting to be picked up. And her logic about why it had to be legit wasn't terribly convincing.

"Why don't you text him?" suggested Alex.

"Good idea." I pulled out my phone and typed out a text: "Are you okay?"

But there was no response.

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