Taken by Storm. HEATHER MACALLISTER

      “You’re looking at me as though I’m crazy.” Zoey exhaled. “But when I get an idea or want to take advantage of an opportunity—that’s when mistakes happen. Take the party. The goal was to get the motorcycle to the brewery, but then when we got there, I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we hid it so it would be a surprise?” She flung up her hands and Casper’s tags jingled as the leash moved. “And you remember what happened.”

      “Was getting stuck in Chicago part of your plan?” Cam asked.

      “No, and that’s why I have to be very careful. No distractions. So...it was nice meeting you and maybe I’ll see you around.” She stuck her hand out for him to shake.

      Cam stared a moment before grasping it. He heard a snap as static electricity shocked them. Zoey’s hand jerked.

      Cam laughed. “See? How can you walk away from that?”

      “Watch me.” Zoey turned around and walked off, taking Casper with her.

      “Zoey!” Cam eyed the empty crate she left behind and called, “I’m not a mistake. Walking away—that’s the mistake.”

      She kept going. He couldn’t believe she kept going. Couldn’t she accept that she’d need help eventually, unless she wanted to leave Casper unattended while she got food to eat and their flight rescheduled.

      Cam watched Zoey walk away and felt a sense of loss all out of proportion to the amount of time he’d known her. He could contact her once he was back in Texas, but he wouldn’t. Even if this trip succeeded and he got more help at the brewery, he still wouldn’t have time for a relationship. Especially one with Zoey. Carving out the hours to spend with past girlfriends had been a chore, just one more thing on a long list of things. But he sensed it would be different with Zoey because he’d resent the brewery for taking him away from her.

      She’s right. Getting together would be a mistake. But still, Cam stood there, unable to look away as Zoey and Casper wove through the crowd. And then she stopped abruptly and a man talking on a cell phone almost plowed into her.

      She stared down at the floor and stood for several seconds before wheeling Casper around and walking back.

      Caught watching her, Cam expected her to change course, but Zoey strode right up to him.

      “Prove it,” she said.

      “What?”

      “Prove we’ve got chemistry worth pursuing. Because now you’ve got me wondering, and that’s just as distracting as being around you, so why not find out? Maybe we don’t have any real chemistry and I’ll be worrying about nothing. So, I want to know. Give it your best sh—”