Page 10 of The Amazing Date

Caitlin and Kelly step to our table, each of them bending over in front of one of the rock twins, smiles on their faces, flirtatious words on their lips. I catch a glimpse of side-eye from Caitlin, an unspoken challenge toward me. When I break from her gaze, her smirk grows wider, her dainty fingers stroking Adam’s shoulder. I don’t care.

“Someday, someone is going to show you what living truly looks like.” Roberto waves his finger at me. “Hey, Hailey, what’s your favorite season?” His finger lands on the iPad, directing her attention to the screen. She leans forward, their foreheads nearly touching.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than winter out at Lake Hope,” she begins. He taps the screen to what I assume is winter on his survey, her favorite now his.

“That’s in Indiana, right?”

“You already know it is. I’ve told you three times.” A playful push lets him know she’s onto him. I force back the memory of me and him sharing playful shoves like this. I sit on my hands to prevent them from doing something childish.

“Well, after the second time, you should’ve known I’m angling for an invite. It sounds beautiful, and I’d love to see it in person someday.” He’s laying it on thick. Does he think she’ll fall for something so blatant?

Her eyes drift from him to me, a brow raised. She edges her seat away from him. “Well, I’m not sure that would be such a good idea.” Though I want to avert my gaze, I can’t. Her guarded stare softens, seeking clarification from me, a history of not being able to trust the words of a man apparently.

Roberto spots her indecision, his stare shooting daggers in my direction. “We’re not…” he begins, but Hailey is already gone, her short stride taking her to the protection of her brothers, who are marching toward the bar with the blondes.

His lips go flat, white from pressure. “Maybe you should go to bed now before you do any more…”

I tilt my head back and laugh. “And miss you getting shot down by every woman in the room? I think that’s three in less than an hour. It’s no wonder you’re still single.”

He blows out a breath and begins swiping on the iPad again. I stand to head to the buffet.

“Miss Troublemaker.”

He’s played this annoying moniker on repeat ever since I’ve arrived, but for the first time, I react. “What?” I’m twenty-four years old, but I sound like a whiny eleven-year-old in this moment.

He quirks his head, his gaze on Gabby, who continues hopping toward the buffet line. “I’m not that big of a jerk, regardless of what you think of me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re fawning over every woman when you should be concentrating on the competition.” My own ears hurt from my pitched tone. He still has the ability to drive me insane with the simplest of actions, and I hate it.

His lingering gaze shifts from Gabby to me. His sunglasses are nowhere in sight, his eyes warm with sincerity. “If you had spent more than two seconds with Adam and Laredo, you’d know their band is a pretty big deal in Indiana. And if you didn’t connect it, Lake Hope is the home to the Forever lodge.”

I still fail to see the connection. The Forever lodge is world-famous, having been featured in the top-grossing romance movie of all time, Forever. “So what? You want to shack up with Hailey in the lodge and go make adorable redheaded babies?”

He shakes his head, and a deep chuckle escapes his lips. “I’ll skip past the part where you said I make adorable kids. But I’m angling for you gals to get a trip there. The lodge has quickly become a go-to destination—the waiting list for rooms is ridiculous. It’s easier to get a seat on Jeff Bezos’s rocket than spend a night in the lodge.” He shakes his head again, and I fail to understand his point. “The management company is run by a local. She understands the importance of family, friends, connections. She has set aside a limited number of rooms just for residents and their visiting guests. I was attempting to get you and Gabby a room there to make up for screwing up your plans.”

I’m left speechless. “Oh wow. I didn’t know.” With all the animosity between us, I forget the heart of gold he has. “That’s so sweet. I’m sorry. Do you want me to go talk to Hailey?” I take half a step in her direction.

“Don’t,” he barks. And raging Roberto is back. “You’ve done enough. Next time, just butt out of grown folks’ business.”

My back stiffens, and I remember who we are. He wasn’t doing this for me. He was doing this out of a sense of guilt and because he loves his sister. I force myself to remember this for the thousandth time. If he does something nice involving me, it has nothing to do with me. A beautiful lakefront room, competing in this crazy race, or giving up his apartment for a week—none of this has anything to do with me. He’s doing it for his sister. I just happen to be an innocent bystander of his generosity.

“We’ll just grab our food and head upstairs. I have to keep your sister off her feet. She’s as hardheaded as her brother.”

He ignores me, his fingers flying across the screen once again.

“Seven a.m. You have the location? Do you need me to call you in the morning?” I offer as a final consolation, hoping to thaw the freeze we continue to exist in after all this time.

He lifts one finger to the sky, his index finger pointing down at himself, not even bothering to look in my direction. “Grown-ass, responsible man here. If I say I’ll be someplace, I’ll be there. Good night, Rylee. Kiss my sister good night for me.”

He frustrates the hell out of me. But at the same time, his aloofness has my heart drumming in my chest. My smart mouth almost gets me in trouble, the words where’s my good-night kiss wanting to slip out.

Then I recall the first time we did kiss. Hidden away in a secret fort, Fort Capron, located on the protected reserve of Bosque Estala de Guánica, which everyone simply refers to as the dry forest. I was there to learn salsa, our seductive dancing making both of us lose our minds, pushing me into impulsive acts, forcing him to lose control.

Our bodies are slick with sweat. Ninety minutes of nonstop dancing has us both panting, our moves doing all the talking we need. Roberto spins me, pulling me back into a tight clench, his right knee between my legs. I bend my knees, knowing he’ll match my move. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite moves—groin to groin, hips thrusting, chest to chest, nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape.

We only met a day ago, but I feel like I already know him. My friend Gabby filled me on all things Roberto over the last few weeks. If only half of what she says is true, he will easily be the sweetest man I’ve known. What she forgot to mention in all those talks was how incredible charming and hot he is.

We are dancing in a secluded, hidden treasure in Puerto Rico. Fort Capron, a tiny lookout fort at the end of a hiking trail. Bushes hide the path to the fort, most people turning around and never venturing up the hill and steps to this hideout. It is our private oasis, where Roberto teaches me how to dance salsa and I chip away at his resistance.

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