Page 12 of All In

“Did it work?”

His voice stops me mid-sentence. Low, a little rough, threaded with something that’s definitely amusement and not, as far as I can tell, outrage.

“What?”

He tips his head, just slightly, toward the artist alley. “The awful guy. Is he still looking for you?”

I follow his gaze. Eric has turned, scanning a different section of the crowd now. With his shoulders set, he heads down one of the aisles, still on the hunt. He hasn’t seen me. The kiss worked. The actual ambush—the dumbest, most reckless thing I have ever done in all of my years of being a generally cautious person—worked.

“He’s just walked down one of the aisles,” I say. “So. Yes. I think it worked.”

“Good.” He says it simply, like that settles something, and only then do I really look at him. Holy hobbits, he is beautiful.

First, he’s not wearing the Captain America half helmet that covers half his face. Instead he has black rimmed glasses on. His blue eyes are lit with amusement. The playful grin on his full lips do nothing to hide the strong ridge of his jawline. He has really pretty lips.

I cannot believe I just kissed him.

“I really am sorry,” I say again, because the first apology clearly didn’t land with the weight it deserved. “That is not a thing I do. I want that on record. I have never once in my life walked up to a stranger and⁠—”

“I’m not complaining.”

“You should be. That’s assault.” I frown. “Technically. I think.”

“I kissed you back,” he points out. “Pretty enthusiastically, if we’re being honest. I’m not sure assault would hold up in court.”

A laugh surprises its way out of me before I can stop it. Something in his expression shifts when it happens, softens, like the laugh did something to him he wasn’t expecting.

“I’m Juniper,” I say, because apparently we’re doing introductions now, after the fact, which feels like exactly the kind of backward order this entire encounter deserves.

“Leo.”

“Leo,” I repeat. “Okay. Leo. I owe you an explanation, and possibly a coffee, and definitely a formal apology that doesn’t involve me babbling at you in the middle of exhibition hall.”

“You could start with the explanation,” he says. “I’m a little curious why I just got recruited into a covert op without my consent.” He takes a small step closer to me then lowers his voice. “It’s the costume, isn’t it? Captain America obviously is everyone’s first choice for a mission.”

Again, I laugh. “Obviously. So the explanation is kind of long and I find myself longing for a slightly quieter place to share it.”

“I don’t know about you, but I could use a snack.” He pats his costumed six-pack. “Rescuing damsels works up an appetite.”

“Then by all means, let us find you some sustenance.”

Leo takes my hand, threading our fingers together as he leads me out of the main hall into the large hall that encircles the building. It’s lined with a variety of concession stands. He sits me at a table by the windows, then a short argument over who is paying, leaves me there to go and place our order.

I take that moment to send a quick text to my sister.

Me: You are a horrible influence!

Clover: What did I do?

Me: I followed your dumb advice and kissed a stranger to hide from Eric.

Clover:

Clover:

Clover:

Clover: Details!