Emma didn’t come to breakfast.

Max hated that he knew this. He hated that the first thing he did when he entered the dining room was seek her out, and he really hated the knot of disappointment when he didn’t find her.

That was two hours ago. Everyone else had eaten, then wandered off to enjoy free time before the next challenge. Still no sign of her.

This was good. It was better to keep some distance, because whenever he saw her, he forgot all the reasons this wasn’t what he wanted.

Watching Josh fall in love with Ruby had caused something unexpected to flare to life. Living in Briarsted with a limited number of dating options, Max never worried about the future too much. It would probably happen someday, and in the meantime he could just enjoy his life. But then Josh left town, and Max caught himself wondering why someday was taking so long to get here.

He stopped making Boone’s the primary source of his social life and got involved in the community. He volunteered to be Scout leader and joined the local business association. Max was invited to potlucks and family gatherings, to Sundays with the guys to watch whatever game was on that weekend. Apparently, when a single, young business owner decided he might want to settle down, the town was more than happy to help. He’d met most of the single women in Briarsted and many of their relatives from neighboring towns. Nothing had clicked so far, but he had to believe it was only a matter of time.

“I’m mad at Josh.” Holly dropped into the seat next to him.

Max blinked at her. “Why?”

“He didn’t say goodbye before leaving yesterday.”

“If it makes you feel better, he didn’t say goodbye to me either. He texted an hour ago to say they’d probably be back in a month or two.”

It was how it had been since he and Ruby got together. They spent most of their time traveling, with frequent trips to Los Angeles for Ruby’s career. Max would never have guessed Josh could be happy in L.A., but his friend hadn’t stopped smiling since Ruby agreed to give their relationship a shot.

Briarsted had become little more than a vacation home. Even when Josh was there, Ruby’s presence changed things. It was the way things should be, but that didn’t make it easier.

“You can always fly out to see them, you know.”

“To L.A.?”

“Why not? You can hit the theme parks. Go to the museums. Do the tourist thing.”

“That sounds like…”

“Your personal hell. I know. But have you thought about stretching past your comfort zone a bit?”

She pinned him with eyes so similar to his own, except hers were trying to see past his skin and find whatever he kept hidden.

Max gave her upper arm a light tap with his fist. “Don’t analyze me. I’m not that complicated.”

She harrumphed, but she also let the matter drop. “We’re supposed to start in five minutes. Is there a punctuality badge? You might have a chance of winning that one.”

“Oh, we’re winning today. Count on it.”

Holly’s smile was far too certain. “You’re really not. Trust me.”

Four minutes and thirty seconds later, the door opened and Emma strolled in.

Even though they’d been notified that the morning challenge wasn’t an active one, the rest of her group looked like campers. Shorts, hair in loose ponytails, skin flushed from the sun and activities.

Emma’s delivery of clothes must have arrived, because she was dressed like she was on her way to a celebrity-laden summer music festival. She wore a floppy hat, a loose blouse, and a pair of jeans shorts that hugged her hips just right.

Her skin was so flawless there had to be cosmetic wizardry involved. Her eye makeup wasn’t heavy, but she wasn’t going for a natural look with green eye shadow. Her lips were painted a delicate pink. Max itched to wipe it off, to mess her up the way he had the night before.

He waited for her to glance his way, but instead she went straight to her team. Max tensed, half expecting one of them to side-eye her or comment on Emma being overdressed, but they all greeted her warmly.

For someone so out of her element, she was fitting in just fine.

“Ready for day two?” Holly asked from the small dais in the lodge, getting the boisterous response she clearly expected. “Good. This morning’s challenge is short and sweet. It’s time for the Scout wars game show!”

She gestured behind her, where a blank screen rested between two podiums. A bell sat on each podium.

“The rules are simple. Each Scout will face off against someone from the opposing team. One question, one answer, one point per round. Whoever has the most points after everyone has taken their turn wins. If there’s a tie, it goes to lightning round. Any questions?”

Max felt his competitive drive kick in. It sounded like she’d based the challenge on the Game Design badge, which put them on even footing. His guys could take this.

“Is there a theme?” called one of the Bears.

“So glad you asked.” Her smile widened, and Max’s brief optimism faltered. “This game is based around one of the most important Girl Scout badges. Women’s health.”

* * *

The response was immediate. The woman whooped and cheered, and Holly’s smug expression let them know exactly how pleased she was with her choice.

In contrast, the men groaned or managed weak smiles. A few brave souls attempted smack talk, but since that mostly involved talking about how many breasts they’d seen to a group of women who actually had breasts, it was hard to find that even a little intimidating.

Emma was determined not to glance at Max, but that effort lost out to curiosity. She was dying to know how he was reacting to his sister’s stroke of genius.

He wasn’t watching his guys. His focus was entirely on her. She’d felt it from the moment she entered the room—late enough that she wouldn’t need to have an awkward conversation about what almost happened the night before. It was a warmth on her back, a certain knowledge that his gaze tracked her every movement.

With that knowledge came an increased awareness of her own body. Every smile, every gesture, became loaded, her silent response to Max’s intent study.

But when she finally glanced his way, he only looked amused. Max lifted both eyebrows, as if to say Oh, you remember I’m here?, then turned back to the Bears. The guys huddled together to strategize. Their slightly panicked expressions suggested no one in the group was a gynecologist.

“First one up,” Holly called. Danielle raced onto the dais. From the guy’s side, Joe detached himself from the group and attempted to swagger to the stage, followed by calls of support.

Holly picked up a white index card. “What is the average age a woman starts her period? Closest answer wins.”

The guy punched his bell, then looked slightly horrified that he now had to respond. He glanced back at his group for help, and Max shook his head regretfully. Joe was on his own.

“Er. Sixteen?”

“Joe has given an answer that is definitely a number. Danielle?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Twelve.”

“And the answer is…twelve.”

The Wolves cheered. The guys cried foul. Emma smiled.

The next three pairings were treated to a series of questions about menstruation. The men guessed a woman’s cycle was thirty-one days and believed her eggs came from her uterus, but managed to get lucky on the most popular brand of tampon. “Two sisters,” called Brent, his arms raised over his head in victory.

With the women ahead three to one, the next pair approached. Holly held up a small remote and turned on a projector set up in the middle of the room. An image flashed on the screen behind her.

The women straight up cackled when they spied the anatomical drawings of a woman’s reproductive system.

“Identify the fallopian tubes.”

One of the twins bashed his bell, then eagerly pointed to the correct part. “The things that look like tubes.”

“Correct. That’s three to two.”

The guys cheered, but their celebration didn’t last long. It turned out, when it came to identifying a cervix, uterus, and ovary, the men’s education had been rather lacking. One managed to pick out the inner labia and looked far too pleased with himself for possessing that knowledge.

Emma went last, and by the time she reached the dais, their victory was already certain. That didn’t make her any less determined to win.

The podium across from her remained empty.

“Forfeiting?” Holly called.

“The last guy got a phone call,” called Brent. “He stepped out.”

The women jeered. “Forfeit!” one yelled, and another picked up the chant.

Max detached himself from the group and strode to the podium, his walk loose and easy. It wasn’t right that he should be so relaxed when Emma found herself tensing with every step he took, every moment he drew closer to her.

“Looks like we have a substitute,” Holly announced. “Normally, Scout leaders advise but don’t participate. However, based on the rules that I am making up as we go, I’ll allow it. Now, the women are currently…I believe the official phrase is whooping your ass. But this is the Double Jeopardy round. Guys, you have one more shot.”

Everyone leaned forward, unexpected intensity building in the middle of this ridiculous game. It might all be a bit of fun, but no one wanted to lose.

“Three questions. If the guys, by some miracle, get them all right, we go to a tiebreaker.”

Emma spoke out of the side of her mouth, for Holly’s ears only. “Making it up as you go along?”

Holly pretended not to hear, but a smile played around her mouth. “But if you miss a single question, the women will earn this morning’s badge. Here we go. What is the small bundle of nerves—?”

Max’s bell rang before Emma could lift her hand.

“Clitoris.” He took his time saying the word, and his voice was loud and clear.

Emma squeezed her thighs together, grateful for the podium that hid the small movement.

“Correct,” said Holly. “Identify the clitoris on the—”

Again, she didn’t finish before Max rang his bell and walked to the drawings. He barely looked at them as he pointed to the small nub nestled in the labia.

Dissatisfied rumblings came from the women’s side as they watched certain victory vanish before their eyes. The guys sat straighter.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have pinned our victory on me beating your brother. He seems to know how your mind works,” Emma muttered. She straightened her spine and hovered her hand over the bell. No way was she letting him steal this challenge from them. The Wolves would never live it down.

“For the tiebreaker, or for victory…” Holly drew out the moment until Max’s hand started to twitch.

“The final question, which may decide the winner of the Scout war’s day two women’s challenge and the recipients of a lobster dinner this evening, is…how many orgasms can a woman have in a single night?”

Max hesitated. Only for a fraction of a breath as he considered possible answers, but that was all Emma needed. She punched the bell and lifted her chin, already tasting victory. “As many as she damn well wants.”

The women hollered in agreement.

“Correct!” Holly announced. “Sorry for the loss, fellows, but think of all the valuable wisdom you’ve been given. That last nugget in particular.”

The guys protested, but it was half-hearted. Hard to claim superiority when you didn’t know the vagina and urethra were different holes.

Holly stepped away, and as much as Emma knew distance was the smarter choice until she figured out what she was doing with Max, she couldn’t resist needling him.

“So close.” Her voice was full of false sympathy. “Too bad you didn’t know a bit more about the female orgasm.”

He moved around his podium, closing the distance between them. He didn’t look like a man who’d just lost. Max picked up a strand of her hair that had come loose and tucked it behind her ear. “Maybe you should teach me.”

Emma tried to respond, but it was difficult when all she could think about was what it would be like to fall apart in this man’s arms.

“No fraternizing,” Danielle announced, pulling her away. Emma didn’t resist. She wasn’t capable of moving on her own, so she appreciated the help.

“Later,” Max said. It didn’t sound like goodbye. It sounded like a promise.