Page 42 of Sing For Me

“Are you sure you’ve never played this before?” River asks, scowling as he pushes his pile of peanut shells—the Ransome cousins’ version of poker chips—towards me.

I grin happily as I add the shells to my pile. “Beginner’s luck, I guess.”

“I think Will is helping her cheat,” Fox mutters. “Pathetic attempt to get in her pants, man.”

Will reaches over and smacks the back of his cousin’s head without saying a word. I snicker, even as I blush at the idea of Will wanting to get in my pants.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs in my ear, voice a low rumble only I can hear, breath hot against my skin. “I’m not getting ahead of myself. First goal is to convince you to go on a date with me.”

“You want to go on a date with me?” I blurt out, surprised and way too loud. All the cousins turn and stare at us. Will looks like he’s trying hard not to laugh as my cheeks flush crimson. “Sorry,” I whisper, mortified.

He’s grinning broadly as he slips an arm over the back of my chair, fingers just brushing the skin of my shoulder. He looks completely at ease as he faces his gaping cousins. “Yes, you guys. I want to take Eva out on a date.”

“Really?” Fox asks in a dry tone. “You did such a good job of playing it cool.”

Everly gives me an encouraging smile. Alex looks like she’s biting back laughter. River and Rose share a glance I can’t read.

And Will sits confidently next to me, fingers brushing my shoulder lightly, seemingly oblivious to their stares and teasing. I appear to be his sole focus at the moment.

And I’m realizing just how nice that feels—to have the undivided attention of Will Ransome. So nice, in fact, that I link my fingers with his, squeezing gently.

“Name the time and place, Tattoo Boy,” I say, unable to wipe the grin from my face. “I’ll be there.”