He just looks at me, a seriously confident, seriouslyhotexpression on his face. It’s not even cocky, it’s just a fact —he’s so good, I’d want more.
“You’re awfully full of yourself.” I fold my arms across my chest, staring him down. “And, for your information, I don’t do long-term either, so even if Ididagree to your crazy terms, I wouldn’t, like, stalk you or write you long-winded love letters or hold a freaking boom-box over my head outside your bedroom window. This isn’t the tenth grade, and even if it was, I’m not that kind of girl —woman!” I correct swiftly. “Whatever.”
His lips twitch, but his eyes are deadly serious. “So, you’re agreeing? I win, you spend the night with me.”
I nod hesitantly. “But it doesn’t matter, ‘cause you’re not gonna win.”
He leans closer, his eyes flashing darkly, and I suck in a breath. “Don’t count on it, Gemma. When I’m invested in something, I fight for it. Hard.”
I gulp again.
His stare flickers from my eyes, to my lips, to the small, ornate necklace lying against my skin, in the valley between my breasts. The tiny gold pendant, shaped like the sun, glimmers even in the low light. It’s the prettiest piece of jewelry I own — a gift from my mother, when I graduated high school. She said it was a lucky talisman, to drive away the shadows of misfortune and keep my life cast in light.
I’ve hardly taken it off, in the near-decade since, but I’ve never called upon its lucky powers more than this moment.
I have to win this bet.I have to— or I’ll be screwed, in more ways than one.
“Sunshine…” he whispers, his eyes still fixated on the necklace, which I have a distinct feeling has just become a namesake. “You just gave me something worth fighting for.”
Holy. Shit.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Six
Lies
“I’ll go first.”
“Why do you get to go first?”
I ignore his question¸ clearing my throat and making my voice serious. “Okay, here goes.” I tick off my truths on my fingers as I speak. “My middle name is so embarrassing I never tell anyone — even my closest friends. When I was sixteen, I was arrested for climbing the town water tower on a dare, but the police chief decided not to press charges because he thought my mom was hot. And, when I go out on dates or am invited over to someone’s place for dinner, sometimes I pretend I’m allergic to broccoli just to get out of eating it.”
By the time I’m done, he’s shaking his head in amusement. “You’re not going to make this easy on me.”
“Nope.” I narrow my eyes. “I play to win, too.”
He inclines his head in acknowledgement. “Good to know.”
“You’ll never guess it right.”
“I don’t have to guess.” A slow grin spreads across his face. “I already know.”
“Big words, Yoda.” Total nerd that I am, I contort my voice to resemble the small green Jedi’s, not above making myself look like a fool if it means distracting him. “Like to see the follow through, would I.”
He grins wider. “Did you just do Yoda-speak?”
“Absolutely not.”
“The water tower story — that’s your lie.”
My mouth falls open. “How did you know?”
He doesn’t answer, not about to reveal his secrets and give me an edge.
“I really was arrested for climbing that damn thing.” I sigh. “But the police chief didn’t think my mom was hot, he was just a nice guy, so he let me go.”
“Point one goes to the cocky bastard,” he says softly. “My turn?”