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“Damn, maybe I should lose this round.”
As if I need another incentive to muddy the waters. I bounce on the balls of my feet to relax the clench in my lower belly. “All right, let’s do it. Burn off this excess energy.”
Victory shines from his expression. “I’ll give you a head start. Consider it a beginner’s boost on the course.”
“Don’t do me any favors.” I drop into a squat to prepare my muscles.
Garrett watches me stretch like the simple movements are pornographic. “Trust me, soulmate. The chase is purely for my benefit.”
That’s what he thinks. But it’s not like I’m going to admit that the idea of him hunting me is a major turn-on. Warmth is pumping through me fast enough to provoke a spontaneous combustion. I’ve never felt this urgency before. There’s no harm in exploring this new fantasy.
“Where’s the end?” There’s no chance of seeing over the wall. Instead, I try to peek through a gap between bales.
“That’s for you to find out. I won’t leave you stranded for long.”
“You’re that confident that you’ll get me?” A thrill shoots in my veins, fueling me with a heady mixture of desire and motivation.
He stoops until our noses almost bump. “Extremely.”
A glance over my shoulder shows that this area is somewhat separated from the fairgrounds. People are mainly congregating around the rides and food, which are barely visible from where I stand. It’s almost strange that nobody else is venturing into the maze.
I return my attention to the task straight ahead. “Should I just… take off?”
Garrett’s wolfish smile is familiar, a predator in his element. “I’ll do a countdown.”
He begins at ten—blasting off each digits that follows—while spinning himself in lazy circles. If he wants to make himself dizzy, I’ll gladly accept the advantage.
My pulse gallops with each single digit he calls. His voice booms loud enough for the spectators within listening range to hear. But I’m not focused on anyone else.
Garrett tips his head to the sky mid-spin. His Adam’s apple vibrates with each number he shouts. Then he straightens to look at me again. Our gazes clash and hold to set off a different timer.
His mouth slants into a crooked smirk that’s detrimental to my resolve. “Better run, soulmate.”
I giggle and bounce in place, then drop into a ready position. “You’ll never catch me.”
“Remember what happens when I do.” There’s a smug edge in his tone that demands to be acknowledged.
He has every intention of winning. I might just let him, but it won’t be easy.
Sweat slicks my palms when I rub them together. Just as he’s about to strike zero, I sprint forward in what I imagine is an impressive leap. His chuckle hounds my retreating dash into the stacks. Lucky for me, there are several turns and paths that cut off the central strip. It gives me another slight advantage—or just a quicker route to getting lost.
I dart to the left, almost immediately cutting right. This continues until I’ve convinced myself Garrett will struggle to follow my zigzag pattern. My vision is a blur of rustic yellow and unknown chances at every turn. If he doesn’t find me, I can only hope to escape on my own. Or maybe he’ll be willing to play a unique spin on Marco Polo.
My sandals slap my soles to the hurried melody of escape. Flip-flops were a bad choice. I’d kick them off altogether, but that would be a bigger crumb to leave behind. Dust rises in thick plumes to reveal my trail. As if I had any chance of actually evading him.
“I’m coming for you,” Garrett taunts from somewhere in the distance behind me.
A squeak rips from me at the determination in his voice. It’s been twenty seconds at the most. I push myself faster, but I’m just aimlessly barreling forward at this point. A quick backward glance shows no direct sight of him.
My chest tightens in warning. Between the exertion and excitement, I’ve almost tapped my limit. That’s when I notice a shadowed alcove to provide temporary cover. I dodge a rock and squish myself into the narrow corner. Hiding isn’t forfeiting so much as altering the game.
Drums hammer in my ears, drowning the stomp of his approaching stride. The thrill gets me hot, and I realize that I want him to catch me. I clench my eyes shut and wait to be captured. The prickle from the hay at my back anchors me. My fingers dig into the bale until a cramp seizes my knuckles.
I release my grip with a long exhale. A calm swoops in to offer a false sense of triumph. When I dare to peek, my heart lurches to the clouds. Garrett is there, inches from my face.
“Gotcha, Grace.” He grins and leans forward to cage me between his arms. His crisp woodsy scent is an erotic wave that crashes over me.
I nearly moan from the impact. My lashes flutter when I treat myself to a greedy inhale. “It looks that way.”
