I have no qualms revealing the truth. “I’m a man with needs who enjoys a beautiful woman. I don’t do relationships and don’t go for the puck bunny bullshit; I have a little more class than that.”
Violet scoffs a laugh. “Wow, that’s some honesty.”
I have to quirk my lips and squint an eye to study her. “You’ve done this before?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, which doesn’t help this situation, as it draws my eyes to her pert cleavage, and she taps her arms with her dark pink nails. “There is a first for everything.” I admire her candor and the hint of assurance in her voice. “Everyone is allowed to live a little. There are many things in life that scare me, and this little rendezvous of an evening is not one of them.”
“What does scare you then?”
She side-eyes me. “Birds. Freaking hate them.”
I chuckle. “Any bird in particular or all birds?”
“All. I just have a complete trauma thanks to Hitchcock.”
“Fair enough. I hate maple syrup, if it’s any comparison.”
She snorts an adorable laugh. “Doesn’t your family own Grizzly Dash, that maple syrup company?”
“That and a bunch of hotels. But maple syrup is… sticky and too sweet.”
“Many delicious things in life are sticky and sweet… it’s natural.” Her tone is floaty and seeping with innuendo.
“I like your philosophy.” And her dirty mind.
Her head lolls to the side slightly. “Whatreallyscares you?”
I have to rile her as my mouth curves up. “That you’ll end up with me tonight.”
She glances at me with her wistful eyes. “The odds of that are slim.”
“Want to bet on it?” I challenge.
She lets a chortle escape her edible mouth. “Not really, no.”
I step closer to her, eager to touch her arm and feel her skin that looks silky. Leaning in, I whisper, “That’s a shame, it could be fun.” I let my lips gently graze her cheek, desperately wanting a little nibble before I step away.
Her breath changes as she straightens her back; she’s affected, which was my goal, so I take another step back to create space, admiring the goosebumps spreading down her arms, and I enjoy my victorious smirk that I’m now entitled to take.
Our eyes hold, but we are interrupted by the sound of a glass clinking.
Brent is standing on his coffee table, tapping a drink glass with a fork. “Ladies and gentlemen, shall we get started?” He grins.
The small crowd gathers around him, and my eyes remain laser-focused on the prize I know I want.
* * *
We getto the final two couples, and the four of us stand in a square, as if fate has already paired us off. Brent next to Charlotte, and Violet near me.
Violet’s eyes darken as her eyes shift to mine. I’m not sure if Brent picks up on this or if he heard me once mention how it would be good to screw Violet into oblivion to get what I need out of my system, but Brent gives me a confident look.
“Well, ladies, last draw.” Brent smiles at Charlotte and Violet. Charlotte is all game, even nudges Violet’s arm in excitement, but Violet looks nervous as she nibbles her bottom lip.
Odds are completely in my favor.
Brent slowly pulls the paper up to reveal his name. Then he looks between all of us as he draws a paper up from the other glass bowl, moving inch by inch to draw this out, making me nervous that he’ll pull the wrong name, because random my ass, I’m counting on luck.
“And the name is… Charlotte.” He displays the paper.
