Shawn set her phone down and gave her a curious look.

"So, are you not going to join me at the country club?" he teased, his tone light.

Catherine blinked in surprise. "What? Of course not. I was just going along with what you said," she replied, clearly caught off guard.

Despite her response, Shawn's deep-set eyes remained fixed on her, his gaze expectant and unwavering.

Under his intense stare, Catherine's heart began to race ...