The other couple fidgets nervously in their positions, tension plastered across their faces, and I bite back a smirk. They’ve been sending us death glares the whole time, and I don’t want to provoke them into upping their game. Daniel circles us slowly, doing his best version of a predator, before he eventually straightens, rolls his shoulders, and delivers what I am sure is the performance of his entire career.What a douchebag.The lights dim slightly and the background music changes to something low and ominous, making everything around us feel dark and eerie.
“This,” he says, prowling slowly on the edge of the stage before us, “is your final task.” He stops center stage, gesturing broadly, pausing for dramatic effect. “Welcome to Stroke Of Luck!” The crowd grows louder, but I barely hear it. I’m too busy sensing Jovi’s nervous energy. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is where you come in. Double or nothing.”
What? Double or nothing? Is he serious? He points toward the audience, grinning like a damn maniac and Jovi grips my hand like her life depends on it. She curls her fingers around mine and I can feel the tension in her touch alone. Instinctively, I try my best to reassure her. I don’t know what it is about this woman that has me wanting to take care of her, but somehow, I do.
“It’s okay. We’ll win this thing. Everything is fine, okay. Don't worry about them.” By them, I mean the other couple, feigning nonchalance, beaming at the crowd like a bunch of competitive lunatics. A far cry from the nervous heap they were a couple rounds ago. I don’t even want to know what I look like.Especially after Jovi’s seductive and very persuasive challenge earlier.
“You have the chance to win one-hundred thousand dollars to split between yourself and your partner.”
What the fuck?Is there crack in this water?
My breath catches. How much money are these fuckers making to throw away a hundred grand like this?
“We’re gonna toss in a sweetener for your significant others in the crowd,” he adds, wagging a finger. “Because let’s be honest, they’ve been put to the test too, am I right?” The crowd responds with agreed murmurs, but I’m still stuck on the prize money. Judging by the tightness and strength of Jovi’s grip, she is too.
“The winning group will also walk away with an exclusive upgrade to a private, luxurious island for the duration of the trip. Private butler, chauffeur, tour guide, diving instructor, as well as your very own personal chef.” He lets every word sink in. “Think of it as our way of apologizing. For testing the limits of your relationships.” My mouth goes dry as I try to pry my hand away from Jovi. God, this woman is strong. “But here is the catch. The audience…” he continues, sweeping his arm across the crowd, “gets to decide your next challenge. And their applause determines the winner.” A murmur spreads across the room. “Complete that challenge,” Daniel says, tapping the cards in his hand. “You walk away a whole lot richer.” He pauses. “And if you lose, you walk away with nothing.” Nothing but silence follows. My mind is fucking racing. As if we would embarrass ourselves in front of an entire cruise ship and walk away with nothing to show for it. No. We're going to win this thing. Anticipation coils tight in my chest and I glance at Jovi, trying to read her expression. The nervousness that was there earlier has left the building.Double or nothing.When I don’t move right away, she turns to look at me, her gaze unwavering before nodding once.
“Let’s do this,” she whispers, and fuck, she looks so damn cute right now. Not in a soft, uncertain way, but in a determined, no turning back kind of way. I nod slightly in response, then turn my attention to the crowd, bracing myself for whatever they’re about to throw at us next.
The stage lights dim, fading into a low, dramatic glow, making it easier to see the faces staring back at us. The applause meter buzzes and chimes as the noise in the room starts to build. People start craning their necks, scanning the theatre for some kind of hint of what’s going on. A single spotlight begins to sweep the room and that’s when I notice the shadowed figures entering the theatre through the back doors. They make their way through the rows, weaving between seats with microphones, or some shit. Daniel steps around us, interacting with the room, making everything much more entertaining than it needs to be as he lets everyone in on the next steps.
Before I know it, the audience is yelling out suggestions, one after the other, and the mic holders scramble through the aisles to catch them so we can all get the suffering over with. Every ridiculous suggestion gets blasted through the speakers. They’re creative, I’ll give them that. Unhinged and slightly concerning, but creative. I’m not usually a nervous guy, but if Daniel chooses one of these, I’m going to need a spiritual cleanse or some shit to recover from the stress of this ordeal.
My eyes find Beau and Haze, sitting together, leaning forward in their seats, way more invested than they should be. When Haze catches me looking, his grin widens almost unapologetically before he stands.For God’s sake, Haze. Sit down.I narrow my gaze and I know he sees it. Does he listen to my silent protest? No, he does not. He’s fucking shameless.
“Kiss her!” he shouts, his deep voice cutting through the room and over the noise at full fucking volume, no microphone needed. Oh, I'm going to make him pay for that.
“Well!” Daniel laughs, gesturing toward Haze. “Someone’s a little eager, folks! But what does everybody think?” He turns back to the crowd, his brow raised in some sort of mocking expression. “Do you think these guys have it in them to kiss each other for a hundred thousand dollars? How are our spouses doing out there? Is everybody good?” What do you think, asshole? The voices grow louder, but there aren’t any objections from anyone that I can hear. How are their partners so okay with this? Probably for the same reason mine are. Or maybe money just makes people forget their damn morals.
Fuck!
“I want your loudest, wildest applause for the couple you think deserves the win!” Daniel’s annoying voice fades into the background as my thoughts run rampant.
They can't be serious? I can't kiss Jovi? Out of the corner of my eye, I see her face crumple in horror as she slowly shakes her head in disbelief. I’m right there with you, darlin’. The challenges up until now have been virtually unforgivable. But kissing her? That changes everything. She’s Theo’s girl. Not mine. He’ll never forgive me.
“We’ll do it,” the woman says from a few steps away and Jovi’s shoulders immediately slump in defeat. My brows furrow when our eyes meet, and I search her face for some sort of tell. Resolve. Acceptance, but I see nothing but disappointment swimming in her hazel-green gaze. Wait, she knows we can’t cross this line… right?
“On the count of five, people,” Daniel calls out, his voice a dull echo bouncing off the walls, fading within the sound of my heartbeat pumping loudly in my ears. “One…”
The other couple closes the distance between them without hesitation, bodies already angling together like two people chasing payday, like this is nothing more than a box to tick. Meanwhile, Jovi stays exactly where she is, an arm’s length awayfrom me, rooted to the spot, eyes darting around the room in a panic as she looks for fuck knows what.
An escape.
A miracle.
A reason not to do this.
“Two.”
Her fingers curl at her sides, knuckles whitening, and it hits me just how hard she’s trying to hold herself together because I can tell that she knows that if we do this, we’ll never come back from it. Not if I ever want my son to talk to me again. No matter how many times she’s made my pulse spike tonight, or how her memory has burned a hole through my mind since the other night, letting this go any further than a bit of coincidental fun on a vacation would be a mistake. Dammit, Haze! He knows me better than this. Why throw me to the wolves?
“Three.”
Every warring thought dissolves until the world narrows to just Jovi. Her bottom lip is caught between her teeth, her eyes glued to the stage floor at her feet and I curse myself for hating to see her like this. I should turn, walk off this stage and erase every thought of Jovi Stone from my mind. But I can’t. I don’t have time to think or to question myself as I step in close to her. My hand reaches out on its own, tucking the stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, lingering there as my eyes flick between hers.
“You’re a whole lotta trouble, you know that?” I murmur, my voice rough and thick as my body moves before my brain can catch up. Her breath hitches when I lean in, just enough for her warmth to hit me, sending heated shockwaves all over my body. The space between us shrinks until nothing and no one else in this room exists but her and me. Jovi’s eyes flutter shut for a split second, then open again, wide and questioning. Probably thinking that we’re both out of our fucking minds. I tilt my head,my lips hovering over hers and I can taste the temptation with each of her rapid, uneven breaths. I can do this. I want to do this.I shouldn’t.All reason slips away until the only thing that matters to me is tasting her.
“Four,” Daniel says, but his voice is nothing more than a distant murmur as I stare down into Jovi’s wild, beautiful eyes, swimming with the same want and desire that I feel from being close to her like this. I study the pink tint to her cheeks, and the light freckles that pepper her nose, and I swear to God, she’s fucking gorgeous. Her hands find my chest and time as we know it goes unbelievably still.
