The Bet by Taylor Hart

Author:Taylor Hart [Hart, Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ArchStone Ink
Published: 2016-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“Dibs?” she said, scurrying to fall into step with him. She could feel herself blushing, horribly blushing, but she was totally confused. “Is this some competitive thing?” If it was, it totally ticked her off. “Look, I don’t want to be part of some contest or bet … or whatever.” Even though it hurt her feet, she picked up her pace a notch and pulled ahead of him.

He easily matched her. “No.” He cleared his throat. “No, see, Chase and I have always had this thing.”

“Dibs?” she asked distastefully.

His laugh was light, and oddly relaxing. “Dibs. It started when Chase was in junior high and wanted to take a girl I liked to one of the ninth grade dances.”

“So you started it?” If it weren’t so ridiculous, she might have laughed. Chase seemed like he was always flirting and interested in lots of girls, but she hadn’t expected this of Adam.

“Hey, you know how my brother is.”

She scoffed, then grinned. “He’s persistent.”

“Exactly.”

Destiny stuck by Adam’s side, taking care not to trip on a large tree root in the path. “So you created ‘dibs’ to make sure you get the women you want.”

He puffed out a sigh. “I guess so.”

Her mind was spinning; her mouth felt dry. He liked her? Is that what he was saying? “Oh.” That was all she could get out. Adam Moon didn’t want Chase to call dibs on her, and now he had taken her hang gliding. Was this his way of making his intentions clear? She felt like Elizabeth with Mr. Darcy. What was she supposed to say?

“Anyway.” Adam flashed her a grin. “Tell me about your painting.”

No. No. No. By trying to make small talk, he’d actually stumbled onto a topic she didn’t want to talk about … mostly because it had become the source of much hounding from her mother every time she spoke to her. “What’s there to say?”

“Well, you’re good.”

She knew he was referring to the painting she’d done for the Flower Girl. She shrugged. “I enjoy it.”

He didn’t speak for a few seconds. Then he sighed again. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing again?”

“Well, because I’m not great at this.”

“What?”

“Small talk.”

For the first time, she realized that the cocky, arrogant, amazing programmer was vulnerable. She couldn’t hold back her smile.

“Oh, you like my discomfort?”

“Well, yeah.”

He snickered. “Of course you do.”

“Can you blame me?”

“For liking my discomfort? Yeah, I can blame you.”

This made her snicker in return. “Well, you are ‘the brilliant Adam Moon.’” Her fingers dipped to trace the air quotes. “The Adam Moon that can’t be bothered because he’s ‘studying to get into the most prestigious college.’” She said the last part all uppity, the way she imagined a Harvard professor would say it. “People in this town treat you …” She trailed off.

“What?” He frowned.

“They treat you like they should be so grateful you grace them with your presence.” She bit off the words, unable to help that she kind of resented them.

At this, he grinned. “Well, except you.

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