Page 52 of Rope Me In

“I had dinner.”

“You ate a little of it. The bowl was still mostly full.”

A tingling sensation tickles deep within me when I realize he noticed that, but I ignore it by grabbing the bag and stuffing a chip in my mouth. “Happy?”

He smiles in satisfaction. “Very.”

We munch on chips for a minute, and I think of how different this situation would’ve been with my ex. Derek would have rather let me pass out than offer me chips. He was always on me about my appearance, especially when we started booking bigger gigs. He wanted me to look like all the other women around us: thin, attractive, and fashionable.

I brush my hands clean of chip crumbs and reach for the bottle of whiskey. Kade watches me as I pour myself one then fill his glass, too.

“Trying to get me drunk?” he asks, a playfulness in his tone.

“I’m trying to get myself drunk.” Then I knock back the second shot.

Chapter 17

Kade

I throw down mycards in front of my crossed legs. “Full house.”

Presley stares at me with a half smirk, one that’s wicked. I know before she puts her cards down that I’ve lost.

Again.

“Royal flush.”

I groan, putting a chip in my mouth before pouring myself another shot of whiskey. She’s lucky I hold my liquor well, or I’d be on my ass already.

“Okay, new game,” I say.

She almost cackles. “I didn’t know you were such a sore loser, Kade.”

“Yeah, yeah. I should’ve known you’d have a good poker face.”

That smile tugs at her lips again. It’s been peeking out here and there as we’ve played the last couple of games, and I’m determined to get a full-blown one at some point.

“What do you want to play, big boy? Go Fish?”

“Man, Presley. You really know how to bust a man’s balls, don’t you?”

She shrugs her shoulders all cutely. “BS?”

Maybe it’s the alcohol talking, but I don’t want to play a card game anymore. “How about Never Have I Ever?”

Her eyes widen a bit. “You want to play that with me?”

“Why not? It’s a fun drinking game, and you need to catch up,” I say, thinking there’s no way she’s done more than me. When she doesn’t answer, I raise an eyebrow at her. “It’s either that or Truth or Dare.”

She puts the cards down and crosses her arms over her chest. “Why are those my only two options?”

“They’re the most fun.”

She sighs, taking a swig of whiskey directly from the bottle. I don’t think she’d normally do this sort of thing, but the more she drinks, the more playful and comfortable she becomes. And I’m not going to lie, watching her lips wrap around the bottle as she takes a sip is sexy as all get out.

Presley puts the bottle down then tips her head up to the loft ceiling. After a pause, she looks back at me. “Fine. Never Have I Ever. But I get to go first.”

I give Presley a once over, my gaze lingering on the flushed skin of her neck and the way the purple ends of her ponytail brush against her collarbone. She clears her throat, and I smirk when she meets my eyes. I’m not going to lie; I’m shocked that she said yes to the game. I thought she’d leave and go to bed, but I’m glad she’s decided to stay.