“Clues?”

“In the form of clothes.”

I jerked back. “Oh, hell no. Not happening.”

“You always say that . . . but eventually you change your mind.”

He took my hand, but I pulled it free and poked him in the chest with my index finger. “Not this time, rich boy. You wanna play that game, you’re stripping.”

Lincoln’s smile widened. “Fine. But when you find me naked, I’m not going to be responsible for what happens.”

Somehow, against all odds, a flutter of excitement built inside me, even though objectively I knew this was a terrible idea.

Indecision warred in my brain, and Lincoln, who read me way too accurately, must have seen it.

“Give me a two-minute head start, and don’t you dare leave me here alone, Blue.” He pulled me against him and took my lips in a hard kiss.

I swallowed, still second-guessing this, but I repeated his words. “Two-minute head start.”

His grin widened. “Just so you know, you’re the most fun I’ve ever had.”

Before I could reply, or even absorb the words fully, he disappeared into the maze.

As soon as he was out of sight, my reservations came flooding back.

This is the best worst plan ever. We’re going to get caught. With Lincoln naked.

And yet, I counted to 120 and darted in the direction he went. Within fifty feet, I hit a fork.

Shit. Which way? I peered down each path and spotted a shoe down one. A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined Lincoln dropping it for me.

Maybe this is kind of fun.

I ran to the shoe and grabbed it, heading down the corridor of hedges, excited to hit another choice. When I did, I found another shoe. And then a sock. Another sock.

Then his shirt.

Now we’re talking.

My man liked to go commando, so there might not be much left now.

I froze where I stood.

My man?

What the hell?

Uh. No. He’s not my man. He’s a fling. That’s it. That’s all. It’s just a rebound. A forbidden rebound.

Even as I told myself this, I knew I was lying.

Lincoln Riscoff had already turned me into an addict, and I was dangerously close to feeling things about him that I shouldn’t be feeling. He’d cast a spell on me . . . otherwise, there was no way I’d be standing in the maze at The Gables right now. Before I could think more on it, I heard a whisper.

“Blue, I’m starting to get cold over here.”

My head jerked to the right and everything faded away except for the knowledge that Lincoln was naked and not far away.

I wasted no time heading for the shorts I saw on the ground, but before I could reach them, Lincoln’s arms wrapped around me and he picked me up from behind. A burst of laughter broke free from my lips as the clothes and shoes I’d gathered dropped to the grass.