Page 7 of Snowed

I poured wine to the brim of my glass and started for the stairs. Thinking ahead, I stopped and marched back to the kitchen table, grabbing the open bottle. “I’m taking this with me.”

“Enjoy your book, Pet.”

I flipped him the bird. “Bite me, you jerk.”

Cade’s smirk widened. “I’m sure you’re into that, too, sweetheart.”

CHAPTER 4

Daria

After leaving me alone for about half an hour, Cade approached, speaking from outside the bedroom door.

“So…funny story…” he began.

I leaned up against the headboard. “What?”

“I texted Billie, like, ‘What the fuck was up with those games?’ And apparently, she didn’t mean to send that box. She told her husband to order legitimate team-building games for us. Those are still in another box at their apartment. These games were meant for some romantic getaway they’re gonna take. They gave us the wrong freaking box!”

“Oh my God.” I laughed.

“Anyway, she told us to make the best of it,” he said. “How nice of her…”

“And how exactly do we do that?”

“We’re supposed to work through our issues. If you stay in your room diddling yourself to your book the entire time, we’re not gonna be able to tell Billie we made any progress.”

I hopped up from the bed. “I’m not diddling, jackass. I’m avoiding you.”

“Seriously, Daria. Why don’t you come downstairs, and maybe we can figure out how to modify one of these games so they’re not basically porn. Talk, Flirt, Dare doesn’t look that bad.”

“Or we could say we tried and not do anything.” I leaned against the door.

“Billie’s smarter than that. She’s gonna ask what we did, and we’re gonna have to get our stories straight. Might be easier to put the effort in and not have to bullshit her.”

I sighed. “I guess you’re right. If we can’t prove we’re getting along at least a little better, both our asses are on the line.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

I opened the door. “I’m gonna need more wine.”

“On it.” He winked as he ran ahead of me down the stairs.

Cade opened a fresh bottle of red, pouring us each a glass. He placed the board game on the coffee table, and we situated ourselves on the floor.

He took some time to read the instructions inside the box. “This game is pretty simple. You draw a question card, then ask the other person that question. They can either answer it, flirt with you, or submit to a dare. But the dares are written on cards they draw. So you don’t tell them what to do. It’s random.” He tossed the instructions. “It says you can only choose flirt three times per person. The rest have to be answers to questions or dares.”

Secretly a bit nervous to play, I exhaled. “What a stupid game.”

“Right!” He took a drink of wine. “I mean, why play this game when you can be upstairs imagining being Dante’s little pet?”

“I’m not listening to that book anymore.” I grabbed a corn chip. “You ruined it for me.”

Cade rubbed his hands together. “You want to draw a card first, or shall I?”

I shrugged. “I guess I will…” I reached for a card and previewed the question, smirking over at him. “Have you ever made a sex tape?”

“Oh.” He scratched his chin scruff. “I’d have to think about that.”