"Time to say goodbye." I park the car and cut the engine. It slowly ticks as I watch Gigi muster the energy to leave.

We talked ourselves hoarse during the drive there, but didn’t say much on the return trip. I wanted to commit every moment with Gigi to memory, and then I daydreamed our future. I saw us living together: Gigi waking me up by straddling my waist, smiling at me over breakfast, sorting the mail.

Gigi drags my hand over her lap, fingers intertwined with mine. She wears a faraway expression. "I guess I should go. What do we tell everyone?"

"You really think they’ll care?"

"Yes. My mom especially." Gigi sighs, glancing at the glowing windows. "I imagined this moment the whole trip home, picturing the look on Mom’s face. I don’t know how to explain."

"That’s easy—my dick tastes like rainbow sherbet."

She slaps my shoulder. "Be serious."

"Fine." My voice deepens. "Say we’re dating."

"That’s too vague. She’ll press me."

"Call me your boyfriend. You’ve been dying to do that since we met."

"You freaking wish." Mischief plays in her eyes like dancing charcoal flames. "I had a great time, Ronan. This weekend was the most sex-crazed I’ve ever had. My mind is blown."

"Aww. You’ll make me blush."

"You know what I mean." Gigi moves closer, her lips hovering over mine. "It was amazing. All of it."

Yes, it was.

An electric spark jumps between us, like an invisible wire pulling us together. When we meet, I kiss her hard. A feeling that I’m on top of a rollercoaster runs through me. We’ve kissed all weekend, and still the same thrill.

She palms my left pec. "I have to go."

"When will I get you alone?"

"We’ll think of something." She grabs her purse and luggage, and then opens the doors.

The gust of cold wind seems appropriate for her exit. I miss her warmth. I close the door and shiver. Gigi waves and rolls her case up the shoveled driveway.

Seconds later, I’m hauling my duffel over my porch. I already hate the distance between us. Do we have a shot? Most couples in the same situation end up breaking up.

You’ll be too far.

My stubborn heart refuses to accept it. Gigi and I will work. We’re not like other couples. We have a bond forged by mutual lust.

A real connection. Since when has a chick said that without me fleeing? But it’s time to nut up and face the facts. My feelings have developed far beyond admiring how sexy she looks in a Mrs. Claus outfit. Picturing her gets my blood going. Touching her makes my soul sing.

I fell for her. Hard. There’s no denying it anymore.

The door swings open. Silhouetted against the threshold stands my brother dressed in a robe.

Slowly, he brings his hands together and claps. "Well played. You hooked up with the girl next door."

"Jesus Christ, Liam." I nudge him aside, bag dropping snow over the hardwood. "Do you have to be so annoying?"

"I like being right about couples, that’s all. At school, they call me Professor Cupid."

"So lame."

Mom’s voice whips from the kitchen. "Ronan, Liam, come here! I’m not going to ask again!"

"Shit." I laugh. "She’s in a mood."

Liam elbows me. "What did you do?"

"What did you do? I just got here!"

"Well someone pissed her off," Liam hisses. "Oh fuck."

Mom walks into the foyer, her face beet-red and shaking. "What did you do to Gigi?"

I sigh. "Nothing."

"I saw you kiss her, Ronan! Right before she jumped out of the car and waved at you like—like—"

"—like he’d been screwing her the whole weekend."

Mom whacks Liam’s ear. "Enough."

"We hung out, that’s all."

Fury blazes from her gaze. "That girl isn’t a plaything. She’s an emotionally distraught woman who’s been abandoned by her fiancé. You took advantage!"

"Mom, that’s not fair. Gigi’s an adult. She wanted to come with me." I whirl on Liam, who’s sneaking down the hallway. "Back me up!"

Liam’s playful grin disappears as he faces Mom’s wrath. "Er—he’s right. She’s a big girl and can make her own terrible decisions."

Asshole. "See? He agrees with me."

"I asked you to take care of her. Not mess around with her!"

"Gigi and I are dating. I’m serious about her."

A shocked silence hangs in the room. "Dating?" Mom asks. "Really?"

"Yes."

Liam chuckles. "Damn, when I’m right, I’m right."

Whatever. "I’m taking a nap. Thanks for the warm welcome."

"Wait, Sweetie!" Mom clutches my arm, tears spilling from her eyes. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper. I think it’s wonderful you’re seeing Gigi. She’s a very good girl."

Liam snorts, peering outside. "So what’d you guys do?"

Each other, mostly. "We went to Vermont for skiing."

"Your coach called. He seemed a little manic." Liam leans against the banister, smug. "I told him you’d be home soon."

Crap. I’d ignored my phone all weekend. "I’ll get back to him."

"Won’t they pay you a lot to throw a football around if you go pro? Shouldn’t you be more invested in his calls?"

"Eat my dick." I stop at Mom’s threatening glare. "Sorry."

Mom glowers at me. "There’s shepherd’s pie in the oven. Help yourself."

I haul my crap to my room as Liam follows. He winks at me, whispering. "That was close."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I’m assuming you said all that for Mom’s benefit. Right?" His eyes widen at my continued silence. "No shit."

"You need to take a greater interest in your own love life."

"But I like matchmaking. You’ll thank me one day."

Resigned to his presence, I return to the kitchen and carve out a giant piece of shepherd’s pie. "Seriously, why are you still single?"

A flicker of something passes over my brother’s face. "There is a girl…but it’s complicated. She’s off-limits."

"A student?"

"I didn’t say that. Just someone I’m not supposed to be with."

"It’s a student." My grin widens as my brother flushes. "No wonder you’ve been acting out. You have the hots for a pupil. Imagine if Mom found out—ow!"

Pain stabs my head as he lets loose a thick rubber band.

I shove my chair backward, standing. "Are you twelve?"

"Stop yelling with your mouth full. It’s unbecoming." Restless, Liam glances down the hall as though to check for Mom. "Learn to lower your damned voice."

I rub my ear feverishly. "Ask nicely, next time."

"Yeah, I don’t do nice." Liam peers at something outside, his jaw going slack. "Huh."

"What is it?"

"Probably nothing," he mutters. "Some young guy is at Gigi’s house. Holding flowers."

After a brief fight to see out of the window, I elbow Liam out of the way and look. "Shit. That’s her fiancé."

Sure enough, that douchebag’s standing on her porch. A bouquet of roses wrapped in paper points toward the ground.

He’s come to make up.

"Rotten luck," Liam sighs. "At least you had her for the weekend."

I slam Liam against the wall. He wheezes as my arm hits his chest.

"For once in your life, shut up. She’s not a fucking game, or a fling, or whatever the hell you and Mom think. I like her—I’m dating her."

"Tell her that." Liam sobers, dropping the cute act. "Go to her. Don’t wait for things to cool off—go now—or she’ll jump into that jerk’s arms. Storm over there and tell him to fuck off!"

"Yeah." I release him, swiveling toward the door. "I will."

Douchebag wants her back?

He’ll have to fight me for her.