Page 32 of Fighting Chance

“Kieran!” she screams, her eyes flaring.

I put all my weight on her, chuckling to myself. She grunts, trying to wriggle out from beneath me as I lift the water gun and aim at her heart. “Any last words?” She lifts her chin in defiance, making one of my brows cock. “Damn, you’re stubborn.”

Her chest is heaving, her breathing labored as a blush spreads across her cheeks.

“What’s the matter? Liking this a bit too much? One of your many dreams of me coming true?” I tease shamelessly.

If I thought she was blushing before, it’s nothing compared to the scarlet traveling up her neck now.

Wait, has she dreamed about me?

She grits her teeth trying to buck me off, her sudden movements making my thoughts float away. I’d get off her if I knew she really wanted me to, but I can tell she’s having fun with this. Despite the determination in her gaze, her lips are twitching as she fights a smile.

“You’re insufferable!”

I lower my head, savoring the way her breath hitches. “Did you mean dashing? Charming? Sexy?”

She snorts. “Did I stutter?”

“No, but judging by your breathing, you’re close to.”

“Ugh!” She sucks in a deep breath, no doubt about to call for backup, and that’s when I take my shot. Squirting her stomach with the water gun, she cries out, goosebumps now lining her skin.

Yanking myself off, my laugh turns manic as she lifts her water gun, aiming at me. “You’re going to pay for that.”

With a lopsided grin, I hold out my arms. “Do your worst, sunshine.”

Layla practically stalks toward me until she’s right at my chest, so close I have to look down and she has to tip her head back, searing me to the spot with those gorgeous, heart-stopping, drop-to-my-knee-and-marry-her eyes.

“You like toying with me?” I taunt.

“With you?” she says slowly, her voice lowering to a soft whisper. “Always.”

She doesn’t even seem to notice the way her hand falters, her body swaying forward.

“For someone who despises my advances, your body sure seems to like getting close to mine.”

She sneers, lips parting.

Screams suddenly ring out as Bambi and Emmy come barreling through the trees, her little chest huffing and puffing. Her big brown eyes are ignited with such enthusiasm the moment between Layla and me dies a swift death.

Crouching low with my arms out ready to catch her, I swoop her into my hold right as Bella appears between the trees, skidding to a stop beside Layla. “Get him!” she yells.

Layla doesn’t hesitate. I step out of the line of fire just as the girls lift their water guns and hit Grayson the moment he rounds a tree, knocking him over on his ass. Bella and Layla burst into a fit of giggles alongside Emmy, whose little body starts to shake not only from her chuckles but the cold water. Bambi runs between her parents, barking every now and then as if she has no idea who to go to, her loyalty torn.

“I think it’s safe to say the girls won,” Bella declares with a smug grin.

Layla looks over her shoulder at me. “Isn’t that right, Kieran?”

I choose to go along with it, even though knowing I won’t get my date—for now. I heft Emmy up higher on my hip. “We lost, buddy,” I say, turning to Grayson as he sputters out a cough.

Bella whoops, high-fiving Layla, and they cheer at our demise.

“Where the hell did you get these water guns from?” Grayson grumbles. “I swear when we were kids they didn’t have this type of kick.”

“You’re telling me, I think I’m going to wake up with bruises in the morning.” Walking over to him, I hold out my free hand and help him up. “I’m going to call it and take Emmy inside to get her warmed up.”

Grayson nods, peering over my shoulder, and by the heated look that fills his eyes, he’s staring at Bella. “We’ll do the same at ours. The guys should be done unpacking the new furniture but if you need a hand later just let me know.”