Excerpt of Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts

Slade and I sat under a shade tree in a park eating popsicles. Max and Gilly chased each other around a nearby playground.

“I’ve never been kicked out of anywhere before,” I told Slade.

He smirked at me. “Of course you haven’t.”

“Is that an insult?” I tried to look offended.

He tilted his head and his smirk widened into a grin. “Not an insult. Just a fact.”

I needed to focus his attention away from me.

“Look.” I pointed at Max, who’d scrambled up the ladder of a very tall slide.

Slade watched Max with a satisfied smile. “He learns fast.” He shot me a glance. “He didn't even ask you for more magic.”

I felt myself blush. “I gave him enough to last all day.”

Slade laughed, then stretched out in the grass, shading his eyes from the sun. “So what was that magic secret you two had going on, anyway?”

I was so distracted by all six foot whatever of him stretched out before me like a beautiful, lazy cat that I didn't respond.

“So you're keeping it a secret?” he prompted, turning on his side to look at me with those glittering topaz eyes.

I plucked a few strands of grass to braid. “It's not really a secret. It's just...”

“Just what?”

I concentrated on the grass, because I knew if I met his gaze I wouldn't be able to form a coherent reply. “You'll think it's silly.”

“No I won't. If it got Max to climb that wall today, it's not silly.”

I sighed deeply and finally looked at him. He already thought I was a Bird Brain. What did it matter if he added wacko to my nickname?

“It's lavender oil,” I said quietly. “It's supposed to relieve stress. Some people use it to help them sleep. I use it when I'm nervous.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Use it how? Do you drink it?”

I laughed and tossed my grass braid at him. “No, of course not. You rub it on your skin.” I hesitated then plunged ahead. “Then you smell it when you get anxious.”

He raised himself to a sitting position and scooted closer to me. “So Max smelled you and that was the magic?”

My heart raced wildly and I tried to distract myself by focusing on the kids, who swung next to each other, pumping their legs and singing some made-up song.

“It worked for him,” I said, hoping my voice didn't sound as wobbly to him as it did to me.

“Hmm,” Slade's voice was close, so close it made me shiver, but I still wouldn't look at him. “Better let me try it. Where should I sniff? Your neck?”

My head whipped around to face him and I froze at the look in his eyes. I must be imagining...he couldn't be thinking of...

“Well?”

“Well what?” my voice sounded croaky.

“Should I just sniff randomly?”

I knew that my face was on fire. Every part of me wanted to jump up and take off running. Well, not every part. One part of me had this crazy desire to lean into him and see if what I'd thought I'd seen on his face was true. To see if he really did want to kiss me.

Instead I held out my arm, while simultaneously scooting away from him. “My wrist. I put it on my wrist.”