Page 26 of Legends Luke

“I’ve come to realize you can find out a lot about someone by how competitive they are.”

She grinned. “Challenge accepted.”

Luke’s laughter rang out, and Melody’s nervousness was replaced with tingles of pleasure. Maybe this date had possibilities after all.

Chapter Twelve

“Oh, no, you don’t. Not today.”

The warning slipped from her lips as if the characters in the game could hear her. Luke didn’t bother to suppress his grin as he watched Melody navigate the street fighting scenario, striving both to keep her fighter alive and beat his best score. The tip of her tongue peeked out the side of her mouth. Her hands moved the controls, but her entire body was thrown into the imaginary battle, shifting from one side to the other, leaning forward when she thought she was about to lose and sitting straighter when she was winning.

Luke had been playing the same game, but on the console beside hers. Once he noticed how competitive she was at mastering the arcade game, he’d stopped playing. Watching her was more entertaining. He would wager she’d completely forgotten his presence, so he was able to study her without her noticing.

She’d impatiently shoved strands of her hair out of her face and tucked them behind her ears. Her cheeks flushed a rosy hue indicating her impassioned play. Her nose crinkled when her fighter failed to do what she wanted. Her threats became more heated thelonger the game went on. After watching her for several minutes, he’d started to hope she did win. He imagined a celebratory Melody was a sight to behold.

Luke knew bringing her to the arcade for a date was a risk. He’d gone out with women who would have dumped his ass in the parking lot if he’d brought them here. He wasn’t sure why he thought Melody would enjoy it. At first impression, she seemed more the type to be wined and dined. He admitted to himself that this was a test — a way to prove to himself the two of them would never work, so he could walk away. He wanted proof that he was better off ignoring his attraction to her because any type of relationship they could have would be over before it started.

Then her dark eyes sparkled. She’d declared the number of credits placed on the swipe cards used to access the games wasn’t enough, so she ponied up the money to add to them. Then she insisted on playing games where they could challenge each other. She proceeded to come after him in a competitive manner, unlike anything he’d ever seen, including all the times he went up against his brothers.

And there was no going back for Luke. She. Was. His.

“You havegotto be kidding me!”

Melody’s fighter had taken a fierce punch to the head, knocking him out for the count. She was out of points to continue playing, so the game was done with her falling two hundred points below his last score. She grunted in frustration as she dropped her hands to her sides and slumped back against the seat. He wasn’t sure howhe managed, but he erased the grin from his face before she looked over at him. Disappointment etched on her face, telling him she was someone who hated to lose.

“I really thought I was going to come out ahead this time.”

“I did too.” He played this arcade game enough to be an expert, but he had started to believe Melody’s tenacity was enough to make her succeed.

“One more game. I need to add to my swipe card, and then I know I can do it next time.”

She rose and reached inside her small purse which looked barely large enough to hold her keys, much less anything else. Twisting sideways, he placed his hands at her waist, holding her still. With him sitting at the game console and her standing, they were closer to eye level. The fabric of her clothes felt rough against his fingers. She watched him curiously. The next moment of silence was longer than was appropriate, but he didn’t care. Having Melody stand so close, touching her, their focus on each other and nothing else…well, it felt too good for him not to relish it even if for a few seconds.

“Hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but I’m starving. I thought once we played out our game cards, we could grab a bite to eat.”

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled. She chewed on her bottom lip, and he couldn’t stop from grinning at her inner struggle — to curb her hunger or to try and best him at the arcade. Damn, if this side of her wasn’t adorable as hell.

“Food does sound good right now,” she finally admitted. “But promise me I get another chance to beat you.”

The gleam in her eye, the fierce set of her brow, the excited flush to her skin — it all invaded his senses, causing his cock to take notice.

“You can try to beat me whenever you want. Name the time and place.”

She must have detected the veiled innuendo in his tone. Her mouth opened slightly in surprise, and Luke’s gaze zeroed in on her shiny lips, swollen from where her teeth teased them. She stepped back as far as she could into the small space between the game consoles. He stood. They brushed against each other, and Luke’s body burned. She lowered her eyes but didn’t move to step away from him. The noises of the arcade faded until he barely noticed them. What he noticed was the burning desire to have Melody look at him again. Her eyes were comforting and sexy in a way he didn’t understand.

He lifted her chin gently until he was lost in the depths of her warm whiskey eyes. Before he realized his intent, he dipped his head and lightly brushed his lips against hers…once…twice…three times…and then once more for good measure. When he broke the contact, he raised his head only enough to meet her wide gaze, and he grinned.

“If this was a different time and a different place.”

She closed her eyes, and worry slammed against his ribs. He thought he’d read mutual attraction in her eyes, but maybe he’d overstepped. They barely knew each other. This was their first date. And Melody was someone more than a means to scratch a sexualitch. But she smiled, and when she opened her lids, the mischievous gleam in her eyes gutted him.

“Nice try to distract me from the game, but it won’t work. If I wasn’t hungry, I’d be wiping the floor with you right now.”

His mouth hovered near her ear as he spoke low and deep. “I’m going to love watching you try.”

His hand rested on the small of her back as they walked toward the door. Once they were outside, she ahhh’d at the sunset sending streaks of purple, pink, and blue across the dusky sky. He had in mind to take her to an expensive steakhouse down in the shopping complex, but another idea popped into his mind, one that would give him some privacy with this woman and hopefully impress her at the same time.

“We aren’t eating here?” she asked once she saw they were heading to the parking lot.

---