Page 194 of Fighting Chance

Grinning wickedly at me Kieran drawls, “All the way, sunshine.”

“Careful what you commit to.”

Shrugging, Kieran opens the door for me, letting me walk in first. “I’m not the one afraid of commitment.”

Before I can call him out on that little jab, he claps his hands. “Cindy and O’Connor said they have costumes sorted so they’ll meet us there.”

Bella squeals. “A triple date, how cute!”

Glowering at my best friend I hiss under my breath. “Bella.”

“What?” She flaps her hand at Kieran and me. “You’re going to be wearing matching costumes.”

“That does not equate a date.”

Kieran throws his arm around my shoulder. “Before you stab my heart again, let’s go pick out a costume.”

Grayson laughs to himself before pulling my friend away. “Leave them to have their lover’s spat.”

“It is not a lover’s spat!” I protest.

Bella arches a brow at me over her shoulder as Grayson all but drags her down one of the store’s endless aisles of costumes. “The look in your eyes says otherwise.”

She just laughs at me gaping at her before Grayson lifts her into his arms and takes off down the aisle.

Spinning on my heel, I all but stomp my foot and huff. “We arenothaving a lover’s spat.”

Kieran holds his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I wasn’t the one who said it.” Before I can protest further, he smiles, the one that makes his dimples pop out—identical to Emmy’s.

And suddenly, the frustration that was bubbling through my blood dissipates.

Curse him and that gorgeous smile.

“What do you want to go as, sweetheart?”

“Don’tsweetheartme.”

“My apologies, my fine madam,” he teases.

“Not that either.”

“Fine.” He clears his throat dramatically. “What do you want to go as, sunshine?”

I narrow my eyes to try and feign annoyance but in reality, my heart is pounding.

And he knows it.

Superpower.

His brow cocks as he leans against the wall. “Well, well, well, you do like the nickname after all.”

Rolling my eyes, I turn and take off, strutting down an aisle to try and give my heart enough space to calm down. “You’re insufferable.”

His quick steps ring out behind me as he catches up. “We’ve been over this before. I know that when you say that, you really mean,Kieran, I adore you so much and I want to suck your face off.”

I gasp, spinning so quickly Kieran runs into me. “That is not what it means!”

He just rolls his eyes before laying his hands on my shoulder. “Of course it does.”