Chapter 5

 

 

Pool golf was surprisingly easier than using a club, except when the ball ended up close to a wall. In those settings they had to use the stick like a club, inevitably sending the ball in unexpected directions.

“Quadruple bogey,” Reed said, filling in the scorecard.

“You don’t have to sound so smug,” Kate said sourly.

“Actually I do,” Reed said. “Or have you forgotten when you tickled me at the pirate ship. I got a triple bogey.”

She sniffed. “Not my fault you can’t keep your emotions in check.”

“Tickling is cheating,” he said.

“No it’s not,” she said, laying down on the fifth hole.

“Fine,” he said. “But that mean’s it’s fair game.”

She realized her mistake and tried to backtrack but he was already at her side. She began to giggle as his fingers brushed her waist and fought to keep the cue lined up on the hole. She struggled to brush him off long enough to make the shot.

“You have only yourself to blame,” he said.

“Stop!” she cried, laughing. “This is impossible. I agree, no tickling.”

He retreated. “I don’t recall that on the rules at the front of the course, but I’m sure it was implied.”

She lined up her shot and hit the ball before he could do anything else, her haste sending the ball up the slope and into the wrong funnel. It tumbled down a hidden tube and popped into view on a different section, ricocheted off two walls before bouncing into a channel that led to the hole.

The competition heated up by the tenth hole, and by the fourteenth it was an inferno. Both teased and cajoled, making every effort to prevent the other from making a shot. They agreed to no touching, but that left a world of possibilities.

Kate considered flashing him, but decided that would push it too far. Instead, she offered a sexy pose and leaned against a lighthouse, running her hand down her hip. He shook his head and she noticed him swallowing like his mouth had gone dry.

“If I stay here,” he called. “Will you stay there?”

She laughed and shifted, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Nope. Three seconds and I walk away.”

He hit the ball, but it went tumbling in the wrong direction. It bounced off two walls and ended up behind a barrier, even farther than its original location. Kate laughed and skipped to him, kissing him on the cheek as he stood.

“I think I’m winning.”

“Oh?”

She grinned. “Distracting you is the best type of game.”

They battled under a waterfall but took a brief break from the game to kiss in the tunnel, the setting a reminder of their last date. Then they continued to wage war on the course, each attempting to distract the other. As they neared the end of the course they checked the score and realized they were both doing equally badly.

“We’d probably be doing great if we weren’t trying to sabotage each other,” she said.

“What would be the fun in that?” he asked.

“No more distractions,” she said. “I mean to win this game.”

“Bring it on,” he said.

The next two holes were all serious, or as serious as they were able to be. He kept a respectable distance, but his just standing in her peripheral vision was a distraction enough. The light shining on the volcano cast him in soft shadows, enhancing the muscular curve to his torso. Had he always been that tall?

She missed and muttered a curse as it failed to make the incline. She then vacated the spot so he could shoot. He missed as well, and she was gratified to know she was equally as distracting even when not trying to be. When they finished the seventeenth hole she stooped and picked up her ball.

“I’m beginning to realize what will happen if we are on opposite teams,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“We’re both going to lose,” she said as they walked to the final hole. “Just look at our score. Aside from the first couple of holes, we’ve done terribly.”

“Depends on your perspective,” he said.

“The score shows us both losing,” she said, pointing to the paper in his hands.

“That’s not what matters to me,” he said, catching her about the waist and spinning her close.

“So the score doesn’t matter?”

“I didn’t come here to play golf,” he said, “I came here to be with you.”

She leaned up and kissed him soundly, her free hand wrapping around his neck to hold him tight. Then she pulled away with a giggle and whipped out the paper, scribbling in the scores of the latest hole.

“I caught up!” she cried.

He laughed and followed her to the last hole, where they decided to shoot at the same time. They lay down next to each other and settled in. As Kate lined up the shot she realized they were reclining just inches from each other. The course had emptied and the hole was behind the shack, out of view from anyone. She shifted and met his gaze, and he flashed his easy smile.

“I’ve always wanted to do this date,” he said.

“You’ve planned it before?”

“Just never worked out,” he replied. “I think I was meant to pool golf with you.”

“I’m glad it was with me,” she said. “But I still want to win.”

He sighed and shook his head, but his eyes sparkled with amusement. “We’ll see.”

“And no throwing the game,” Kate warned. “I hate that.”

He grinned and settled in. “One hole. One victor. You ready?”

“Yes,” she said.

She took aim and sighted for the hole beneath a water tower. The ball had to be precise, passing through several narrow bridges before dropping into the hole. If her aim was off, it could fall to either side and she’d have to go uphill.

“You first,” she called.

“If you’re sure,” he said.

She heard the stick strike the ball, the sound indicating it had struck dead center. The ball hurtled to the first bridge, passing it in the center and easily passing the second. To Kate’s dismay, it rolled straight into the hole, and the sound of the disappearing ball echoed back to her like a smug laugh.

“Your turn,” he said.

“I know,” she said.

With the pressure on, she gathered herself, lining up the shot so it could follow his ball for a hole-in-one. This was it, the chance to match his score, to prove he hadn’t distracted her more than she had distracted him. She pulled her arm back and hit the ball, sending it speeding down the green—directly into the bridge wall.

With a clang of metal it rolled down the slope into a lower section of the green. Groaning, she rose to her feet and walked to her ball. Reed fell into step beside her and she glanced to see a smile on his face.

“It was a good game,” he said.

“Don’t patronize me,” she said.

He laughed and waited for her to hit the ball a second time. Mercifully, she succeeded in hitting the ball into the final hole and watched the ball disappear from sight. Then she sighed and stood to face him.

“It was a close game, and although you cheated, you still won.”

“Me?” he asked, his expression shocked. “Cheat? I would never.”

She cocked her head to the side. “You know, I don’t think you ever would.”

He realized what she meant and raised an eyebrow. “I meant in the game.”

“I know,” she said, patting him on the chest.

They made their way to the car, passing the entrance hut on their way out. Several newcomers cast them strange looks, but Anne called out to them and waved.

“Please come again!” she called.

“I’m sure we will,” Kate said. “I want a rematch.”

“Did you see her watching us?” Reed asked as they walked to the car.

“She spied on us?” Kate asked.

“Can you blame her?” Reed said. “We played pool on her course. She was curious. I also saw her taking pictures.”

Abruptly Anne appeared and rushed to them. “I’m sorry!” she said. “I didn’t realize you were the Reed and Kate.”

“You know us?” Kate asked.

“From Ember’s blog,” she said. “Can I get a picture with you? I love the dates you’ve gone on.”

Kate exchanged a look with Reed and they agreed, and the girl whipped her phone out and took a selfie with them. Still gushing about their blog, she hurried back to the couple waiting at the course. When she was gone Kate leaned over to Reed.

“That was weird,” she said.

“Our challenge is gaining attention,” he said.

“Are you annoyed?” she asked.

“I was,” he admitted. “But I’m glad others are liking how I date. Ready for dessert?”

She smiled. “To Baskin Robbins.”

“How did you know?”

“31 flavors?” she asked. “What else could be?”

His smile was positively wicked. “You may know the place, but you don’t know the dessert.”