She laughed. “You only live once, right? What would you drop a lot of cash on?”

Andrew stroked his chin. “A few weeks ago, I would have said season tickets to the Broncos for my whole family. Now, I’m not so sure.”

Lauren frowned. “Stop that. Don’t overhaul your family’s favorite team just because the quarterback is a jerk. I’m sure there’s a player on every NFL team who has done something sketchy for the sake of his game.”

“He’s not just a jerk. He was a jerk to you. I refuse to support him or the team he plays for.”

She pursed her lips, irritated more at herself by the pleasure she felt in that, than at Andrew for being so ridiculous about it.

But was it time to let go a little, and face the truth?

Whether she wanted them to or not, her walls against him were crumbling, and it was only a matter of time before nothing was left.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

They kept talking for hours, though Andrew couldn’t have put his finger on exactly what they talked about. They simply talked. They talked about high school, about their hobbies and their best friends. She told him about Kate and Samantha, her closest friends from Cedar Creek, and he told her about some of his childhood buddies and the friends he’d made when he moved to Kansas City. They talked more about music, because they both loved it, and discovered they’d been at several of the same concerts that had been in Kansas City over the last few years.

“I wonder if we ever crossed paths,” Andrew mused.

“I doubt it. I think I’d remember…you’re pretty noteworthy.”

He laughed. He adored her pun addiction. “And you’re nothing but treble.”

She lifted one shoulder even as she grinned. “But if we had, do you think things would have turned out differently?” she asked.

“Maybe. If I’d asked you out back then, you’d have had no reason to turn me down. How refreshing.” He grinned.

“I still would have turned you down,” she returned. “You’re too attractive, remember?”

“I wouldn’t have given up easily. Just like now, I’d have tried to change your mind.”

“I hate to admit it’s working.”

“Good.”

His gaze roamed over her, and for a split second he considered moving closer to her, to see how she would respond. Would she scold him, or smile up at him, pleased he’d made the first move?

He thought back to the words she’d said just a few short hours ago.

She hadn’t tasted him yet.