William sat facing us on the opposite seat with his arm around Jenna. I was thrilled to see them so happy after having seen them both positively miserable when they were apart from each other. And I couldn’t help being proud of William for taking the risk to travel halfway around the world when he hadn’t even known how she’d receive him. That had taken major balls. Good on him.

However, my efforts at seducing Adam on the way home were hampered because the two of them could see every move I made. The panties had been just the opening salvo. But as we all talked during the hour-long drive from LAX to our house in Newport Beach, I laced my fingers between his, resting both our hands atop my lap—very close to where the panties would have been. I was also trying to figure out a way to flash him some boob when the other two weren’t looking.

Adam, of course, was not taking this lying down. While his hand rested on my lap, his fingers ever so subtly traced circles on my upper thigh, and as usual, his fingers evoked tingles and raised the perceived air temperature in the car. He knew damn well that there was only one thin layer between his hand and the goal. This was war.

Challenge accepted.

“We got you Licitar!” Jenna was saying.

Adam and I looked at each other. “What’s that?”

“Gingerbread,” William replied. “And not the kind you actually eat. It’s too beautiful to eat.” A few days after arriving in Sarajevo, William had called Adam to let him know he had found Jenna and that he would be staying for a month. Adam, who was his boss as well his cousin, had to remind William of his current unfinished project. But given the circumstances and the fact that William hardly ever took a day off or a vacation, he couldn’t say much—project or no project. So instead, Adam had Fedexed him a special computer to use, and William had been able to get some work done between touring the city and spending time with Jenna.

But I imagined that a month away from the familiar and the routine would be hard for anyone—and for William, even harder. My eyes zeroed in on the way he held her, sweetly caressing her shoulder. And the way he looked at her. Like she was his everything.

Jenna reached into her carry-on and pulled out a box. “I didn’t want it to get crushed in the luggage. But look! We got your names written on them.”

“But we had to leave your wedding date blank because I had no idea what it was.” William shot an accusatory look at his cousin. “Adam never told me before I left.”

“That makes two of us, William.” I smirked. “He hasn’t told me the date, either.”

Jenna produced two beautiful heart-shaped cookies that were, as William said, exquisitely decorated in brilliant colors and patterns. They were definitely much too gorgeous to eat. “It’s a Croatian art form,” he explained. “We purchased these during our trip to Zagreb.”

We were then treated to a detailed description and history of the art of Licitar in Croatia. All the while, I tried to sneak my hand further and further up Adam’s thigh without them noticing. It’s not an easy business, this stealth seduction. Adam may have been CIA material, but I most certainly was not.

Luckily, I was wearing my best push-up bra and made sure to lean in every chance I got—under the guise of admiring his gingerbread. “Adam likes cookies,” I said, nodding. “A lot.”

He laughed and looked out the window. Jenna was digging through her carry-on for something and wasn’t listening. William carried on, having completely missed the innuendo.

The limo dropped us off at end of the bridge that led to the little island on the Back Bay where we lived. Adam instructed the driver to hang out until William and Jenna were ready to go home afterward. William had said he was anxious to sleep in his own bed again. Apparently, Jenna hadn’t yet decided whether or not she was going to move in with him, but they had agreed to try it out for the next few days at his house.

Walking across Bay Island to our house, the two of us fell into step behind William and Jenna. I cozied up to my prey, ready to take on a new role—Emilia the Huntress. “If you play your cards right, you can eat some cookie for dessert.”

Adam promptly slid his hand around to my ass, copping a feel. “You’re sounding very confident. Maybe I need to prove that I can outlast you.”

Ha! I ran my hand quickly down his crotch, cupping him, and he sucked in his breath before sidestepping out of reach. “Evasive action!” he said as we made it to the door and unlocked it to go inside.

We had a nice, pleasant dinner. Chef stayed to serve us appetizers and the main course, leaving once the meal was underway. She’d already given us instructions for dessert, which she’d put in the fridge.

Adam and I continued playing host together, dipping into the kitchen for more wine or to clear plates after the main course. Each time we passed, we took the opportunity to torture one another just a little bit more. I grabbed his ass with my free hand, carrying a wine bottle in the other. He brushed a hand across my breast when he made his way to the sink with the dirty dishes.

I spooned the chilled vanilla mouse into fancy dessert cups and lined the four of them up on the counter, waiting for Adam to come back in the kitchen.

Still in stealth-seduction mode, I unbuttoned my blouse and pulled my bra down to expose and also push my breasts up, providing him a perfect view. Then I propped myself against the counter, posing like an erotic model, as I waited for him to round the corner.

Unfortunately, the person stepping into the kitchen was not Adam—thankfully, it wasn’t William either. Jenna stopped cold as I, mortified, scrambled to pull my blouse together and cover myself up.

Jenna openly laughed at me. “I didn’t know you cared for me like that, Mia.”

“Shut up,” I snapped, buttoning up my shirt again.

She walked up to the counter. “I offered to help with dessert and Adam was fine with it. I’m going to assume he’ll be upset when he finds out what he missed.”

“Damn it! I’m trying to get the wedding date out of him. I want to get him all horny and then tell him I’m not putting out ‘til he gives me the date.”

Jenna snickered and grabbed two dessert cups. “Try going commando,” she said as she took off around the corner again.

I picked up the other two desserts and glared at her back. “Uh, thanks. Good idea.” That I already thought of two hours ago.

Once I sat down next to Adam, however, another idea sparked. When he wasn’t looking, I dropped a small spoonful of mousse on his pant leg. Jenna saw what I did and had to cover her mouth to keep from exposing my nefarious plan.