“Hmm, you’re a very popular guy. The line that represents your relationships says that you have a lot of friends.”
I shake my head, chuckling at her words. “That’s correct. But it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. You saw me out with all my teammates.”
She lifts her gaze to meet mine, keeping my hand in her grip. “Be quiet. I’m trying to think.”
I do as I’m told, not because I feel particularly obedient, but because her eyes are mesmerizing. I had already noticed that they’re green, but the dark, moss green of the outer iris becomes lighter, with shimmering swirls of gray the closer it gets to her pupils.
Her lashes are long and dark, and I’m dying to brush my lips on them to continue down her high cheekbones.
“You’re protective of the people you love; there is nothing you wouldn’t do for them.”
Again, I smile. “You know my job on the ice is to protect the goal. That was quite obvious, too.”
Taryn tightens her grip on my wrist. “Quiet. I’m not done yet.”
“Fine,” I indulge her. “Let’s see what else you have for me.”
“You come from a large family.”
She’s right. “Go on.”
“You’re single and you’ve had your heart broken before, but you’re ready to fall in love. And you’re destined for greatness in your career.”
For a second I consider lying because every single thing she said is true and I really want that kiss.
But then I realize that I don’t need to. “Ok. So I have good news and bad news. Which ones do you want first?”
Taryn’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “How can there be good and bad news? It’s either I got everything right and I won, or I didn’t and I lost. Which way is it?”
“It’s not that simple.” I tut, turning my hand to grab hers and lacing our fingers together. “Yes, everything you said wascorrect. But I can’t award you the victory because every single thing you said was super obvious. So I win and you owe me a kiss.”
“What?” she gasps, outraged, but she doesn’t pull her hand away from my hold. “That’s some bullshit. The premise of our wager was that any charlatan could be a fortune teller because everything they ever say is obvious. I didn’t say anything different from what your Madame Svetlana would have said, and I did it for free.”
If we were talking about any other fortune teller, I would agree with her. “Madame Svetlana predicted exactly how my friends would fall in love and in some cases gave them the initials of the person they would fall for and got it right. She’s the real deal. But that’s beside the point here. If you wanted to win, you should have taken a bigger risk and ventured out of the obvious things that everyone can observe about me.”
Taryn rolls her eyes, and her voice goes up a couple of decibels as she communicates her frustration. “But don’t you see? That’s exactly the point. If we went into that tent, you’d come out with the same lame facts about you that anyone who has spent a couple of minutes talking to you could guess.”
“And I’m telling you.” I argue. “That she wouldn’t. Sorry, Taryn. You didn’t win the bet.”
Her pretty pink lips pop open in a shocked, outraged ‘o’. “No way! I’m not conceding.”
It seems that we’re at a standstill, as neither of us wants to admit defeat. “There’s only one way to find out.” I propose. “Let’s go in there and see if Madame Svetlana’s predictions are similar to yours. If they are, you win. But if they aren’t, I’m getting that kiss whether what she says comes true or not.”
My solution doesn’t get the reaction I was hoping for.
Taryn pulls her hand away from mine, crossing her arms over her chest.
I absolutely don’t notice how full and perfect her tits look as they get pushed up against the cleavage of her summer dress.
“You know what? No, I’m not going to see that fortune teller. I thought we were having fun, but I can go back to the bar and hang out with my friends. Or even better, I can go back to my room. I’m tired.” She snaps.
“We were having fun.” I can’t hide my irritation. “But if you’d rather go home and pout rather than admit that you’re wrong, be my guest.”
Taryn throws her hands in the air, more frustrated with every passing second. “Do you want the truth? I don’t want to go see that fortune teller, just in case she is as good as you say she is. I’m scared, ok? I’m afraid she’s going to predict something horrible that will come true.”
There’s genuine fear in her eyes and I feel like the biggest asshole on this pier. “It’s ok. We don’t have to go, and I’m sorry if I insisted. It’s just… I really wanted that kiss.”
The tension in her shoulders eases a little. “And I’m competitive and I really wanted to win.”
