“Now that’s not true. I totally could have gotten that casserole out by myself.”
“I’m sorry. Who’s lying now?”
She poked him in the chest. “Hey, it’s not my fault one of us is built like a tank. I exercise when I can. And with this broken arm, I can’t lift weights the way I normally do.” She flexed her good arm, showing a pretty skinny set of biceps.
“Gee, I’m impressed.”
“Oh, screw off.”
He chuckled, rose, then helped her to her feet. “Okay, Atilla. Let’s go back for a second round of who’s better at being a sore winner. You or me?”
“Me, of course. Because you have yet to win.”
“Oh, those are fighting words.” He grinned. “Let’s make this serious. This time, the winner gets a prize.”
“Bring it.”
Chapter Eight
Unfortunately for Maggie, Reggie brought the win. And he rubbed her nose in it. Granted, finding out who killed Professor Plum hadn’t been that tough a challenge. But the way Reggie gloated, one would think he’d just won an Olympic gold.
He congratulated himself, pumped his fists, and generally spoke in small words so she could “understand she’d just gotten herself a big, old second-place-is-for-losers trophy.” He left the room and returned to hand her an actual plaque with the wordLOSERengraved on it.
“My friends and I take our game nights seriously,” he confessed, his eyes laughing.
God, she wanted to eat him up. Reggie was fun, funny, and treated her like an equal. Most of the men—though there hadn’t been many lately—she’d dated tended to be larger than her, and they treated her like some fragile thing who could barely do for herself.
Reggie could easily bench her. The guy clearly worked out. But he challenged her and loved trash-talking. Man, she was crushing on the guy. Hard.
They hadn’t discussed last night’s kisses. Or about wanting to continue any kind of physical intimacy. But being with him today was so great. She didn’t want it to end by bringing up any awkwardness between them.
Then she noticed the time. “Oh wow. It’s three already. I can’t believe it’s so late.”
Reggie’s smile faded. “Huh. I hadn’t either. I guess you need to get back.”
She checked her phone only to find Benny’s message that they were heading to the snakes and would swing back much later after feeding Emily dinner.
She looked up with a smile. “Nope. The guys are heading to the reptiles and don’t intend to be back until later.”
“Oh.” Reggie relaxed. “Do you want me to take you back?”
“No. I mean, I’m in no rush. I just feel bad about monopolizing your free time.”
They both looked at each other, then at the Monopoly board on the table.
“I guess I have the energy for a speed game,” she offered. “I mean, it would be rude not to give you back yourLOSERtrophy.”
He smiled, his teeth even, white, and straight. Oy. Now she found his teeth sexy. She needed help.
“Let’s go, little girl.”
“Littlegirl?I don’t think so.”
He sighed and gave her a thorough once-over that woke her body right up. “I don’t think so either. At all.” He grabbed the board and set up the game on the coffee table. They sat on the floor by it in the living room.
A half hour underway, Maggie owed Reggie a lot in rent. Damn it. As they continued to roll the dice, she noticed him checking her out. More and more of his gazes landed on her lips or her chest.
“You know, I owe you for that stupid railroad.”
