The Naughty List (The Naughty List #1)(32)

“Hi, Tessa.” He smiled. “I thought this was your car.”

I took in a sharp breath. How did he know my car?

He chuckled, pushing his hair behind his ears. “Sorry, that sounds sort of stalkerish, right?”

It definitely did, but I was too stunned to nod. Wait. I was on assignment. He’d now caught me twice on assignment. Not good.

“Um … what do you want?” It wasn’t a polite question, but it needed to be asked.

He grinned, as if he had a dirty joke waiting. Thankfully, he decided to act appropriately. “I was just wondering why you were parked in the back lot. And why your friend was watching the course with binoculars.” He tilted his head. “Are you guys spying on someone?”

Cracker Jacks! “No. That’s a silly question.”

He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “Is it?”

I stared back at him, speechless, as the wind blew around his chocolate hair. He really was attractive. Not Aiden cute, but still handsome. I swallowed hard.

“Are you here alone?” I asked. A subject change was in order.

“Nope.”

I waited. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to volunteer the information, I pressed further. “Who are you with?”

He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not on a date. I’m with Colton.”

I made a face. I wasn’t worried he was on a date. I just wanted him to trot away. “Wonderful.” He didn’t move.

“So,” he said, looking around at the interior of my car. I was hyper-aware of the equipment on my passenger seat—the camera with tripod, the utility vest, and the grappling hook that Leona had wanted to bring (even though I was pretty sure we didn’t need it). He glanced at it, then back at me. “No boyfriend tonight?”

My face stung. “Maybe later,” I said. But it was probably a lie.

“Too bad.” Christian straightened, sliding his hands into the pockets of his khakis. I looked for Leona, but she was sitting on a parking curb observing the course, clueless of the complication that was just outside my window.

“You and Leona want to join us for a round of golf?” Christian asked.

I turned back to him. “What?”

He leaned over, resting his forearms on my windowsill. I moved back in my seat. He was so different outside of school, much bolder. It scared me.

“You’re here to play golf, right? Why else would you be here, Tessa?”

Holy cocker spaniel! Did he know? He was smirking, daring me to lie. My mouth felt suddenly dry; my stomach flipped.

“Come on,” he whispered playfully. “I’ll let you win.”

Well, now that was condescending. “You wouldn’t need to let me, Christian. I would beat you fair and square.”

He laughed. “Fair and square? You are too cute. Seriously. I can’t get enough of you.”

I blinked quickly.

“Come play with me,” he said, opening my door. “One round.”

Did I have a choice? How odd would it look if we just left? I paused, trying to think of the possibly horrific outcomes that could come from this. But there wasn’t time to think it through. I was the captain, and I was the one responsible for the tough decisions.

I took a breath. “Just one game,” I said.

Christian held out his hand to me, but I looked at him like he’d lost his marbles. I certainly wasn’t going to hold his hand. This wasn’t a date and never would be. I was Aiden’s girl.

My stomach turned. I just wished I knew where Aiden was.

Christian tried to win at miniature golf, but he had seriously underestimated my ball-sinking skills. He also found it hilarious when I told him that. But he was polite. Sweet, even. And his friend Colton seemed to warm to cheerleaders, especially dark-haired ones named Leona. But I didn’t forget that he had a girlfriend from a rival school, and I made sure Leona didn’t forget either.

At some point, one game turned into two. It was nearly one in the morning when we walked back to my car, Leona giggling with Colton behind me. The night had been fun. Completely unethical, but fun. We paused at my car.

“Thanks for hanging out, Tessa,” Christian said, stopping to stand directly in front of me. His cologne was carrying in the wind, and it smelled really fresh. Clean. Aiden didn’t bother with cologne; he smelled more athletic.

“Well,” I said, darting a warning glance at Leona as she paused alarmingly close to Colton. She nodded knowingly and dropped her eyes. I turned back to Christian. “We’ve got to jet. I’ll see you at school on Monday.”

He chuckled. “You’re not going to your boyfriend’s party tomorrow?”

Sweet tea and honey! I’d forgotten again. “No, I’ll be there.”

“Cool,” Christian said. “Then I’ll see you there.”

My face was burning with both embarrassment and shame. And just then, Christian leaned toward me. Like toward my mouth!

I dodged quickly, trying not to make a complete spectacle, but in my haste, I head-butted Christian in the jaw.

“Ow,” we said at the same time. I put my palm against my forehead, and he covered his mouth. Leona burst out laughing from the other side of the car.

“You’re a violent little thing, Tessa.” He laughed and dropped his hand, running his eyes slowly up and down my body. “I say you ditch your jock and come wrestle with me sometime.” He winked.