Page 54 of Truck You

“I won a prize for you at that ring toss game I played.”

She crosses her arms, and it pushes her breasts together. Her cleavage rises above the collar of her sweater and my pants suddenly feel too tight in the crotch.

“You gave my prize away.”

“To a little girl whose dad couldn’t win. She was going to cry. I saw the way you looked at me after that. You ate that shit up. Because it was romantic.”

“No, that was hot. It was hardly romantic.”

“Oh, come on. It was too.”

She laughs, and suddenly I’m laughing, too. This little debate broke the tension between us, and I finally feel relaxed.

“Sorry, Mac. I’m afraid you’re going to have to work harder than that.”

I meet her gaze for a moment, then I flip on my turn signal and follow Garret into the parking lot of the restaurant we’re eating lunch at before we head out to the cabin. Once I’m parked, I turn to Sophia.

“I hope you’re ready, Red. ‘Cause I’m going to prove to you just how much I know about romance. Don’t move.”

I rush around the back of the truck before Sophia can open her own door. If she wants romance, I’ll show her romance.

I hold my hand as an offering to help her out. She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What are you doing?”

“I’m being a gentleman, which most women find romantic.”

She rolls her eyes but takes my hand. I ignore the way my body tingles when her hand slides into mine. As soon as her feet hit the ground, we both pull our hands away from each other.

I make sure I’m the first to reach the restaurant door so I can hold it open for her. She shakes her head as she walks past me. Before I step in behind her, I catch Garret, Chase, and Ash watching us from the sidewalk with knowing grins on their faces. Instead of addressing them, I flip them off.

A few minutes later, a hostess shows us to a table. Before Sophia sits, I pull her chair out for her. She glares at me like I’m annoying her. I just grin.

My smile grows when she takes the seat and lets me push her chair in.

When I choose the seat next to her, she looks at me like I’m crazy. I don’t care. She challenged me. Now I have to prove her wrong.

“What in the hell happened during that ride?” Ash asks as he sits across from me. “Did you two kiss and make up?”

“I think they did.” Chase grins. He sits back in his chair, his eyes darting between us. “Looks like this little weekend retreat is the push they needed.”

“There’s been no kissing assholes.” I pick up my menu and study it. Only my eyes can’t seem to focus on anything it says. I’m distracted by the redhead sitting next to me.

“He’s trying to prove to me he knows how to be romantic,” Sophia says.

“Might help if he stops acting like an asshole,” Garret says as he plops into the remaining empty chair.

I wad up a napkin and throw it at him. “I like you better when you don’t talk.”

The table erupts with laughter. Even Garret’s lips turn up in a smile.

Thankfully, the server comes, gives us each a glass of water, then takes our order before anyone else jumps in and picks on me. By the time everyone has ordered, they seem to have forgotten about my bet with Sophia.

“Are you close to your family?” Garret asks Sophia, and we all freeze and stare at him.

She takes a long drink from her water like she’s stalling. When she sets it down, she’s frowning. “I used to be. I’m close to my cousins in New York, but things have been strained with my parents for a while.”

“Is that why you moved here?” Ash asks. “You’re from Cincinnati, right?”

“I am, and no. My parents had nothing to do with where I moved to. I wanted to learn from the best, and well, you guys are some of the best.”

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