Page 97 of Power Play

It’s always funny what people assume about others. He’s probably thinking the same thing as the waitress but isn’t bold enough to say it.

Picking up his glass, I never take my eyes off of him as I take a sip.

I see the moment he realizes I actually enjoy it.

“You weren’t joking around with her? You actually like scotch?”

I turn to look at whoever said that, and I realize I still don’t know their names.

“No, I wasn’t playing around. I was introduced to scotch when I was twenty, my grandfather loved the stuff. I guess it grew on me.”

Adam doesn’t say anything, he just leans back, listening to my every word.

“I’m sorry, I feel terrible. I didn’t catch everyone’s names when Isaac was doing introductions. I was a little overwhelmed.”

I hear laughing, and his friends are looking at me with a knowing smile. Their smiles say a lot, and I know they’re not trying to be rude at all. Instead, for some reason, their smiles seem welcoming.

Adam steps up to do introductions again, causing his friends to share a quick smile.

“Vanessa, these two are my brothers. This is Caleb.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Vanessa,” he says, smiling while shaking my hand.

“And this, this is Connor. My youngest brother.”

“Hi, Vanessa, it’s been so wonderful getting to meet you. You’ve brought an interesting change to our evening,” Connor says with a wink.

I look over at Adam to see him glaring at his brother, which just seems to make Connor laugh harder.

“I must be missing something,” I say with a laugh, while looking around, hoping our server will magically appear with our drinks.

I look over and see Isaac has his arms around Blaire, and she has moved into his lap.

Hoping to ease the tension at the table, I decide it’s time to go dance. I stand up, getting the attention of Blaire as I do.

“Let’s go dance!” I tell her with a smile.

Just then, our server returns, quickly setting down our drinks and walking away. Smiling at Blaire, I hand her the drink she ordered, and we quickly shoot them back.

“Alright, come on! I love this song!” She jumps up, and I watch as Isaac gets up as well.

Isaac grabs ahold of Blaire’s hand and starts to lead her away from the table and toward the dance floor. He turns around to look at where he left me, to see that Adam has yet to move from his seat. He gives me a quick smile and I wave them on.

“That’s our cue,” Connor says, smiling. Both he and Caleb stand up and head towards the bachelorette party out on the dance floor.

“Are you coming?” Caleb asks.

I look back at Adam to see that he’s still sitting down, staring at me.

“Well . . .” I say, right as Adam swallows down the rest of his scotch. Unable to take my eyes off him, I watch as his throat contracts when he swallows. He sets down his glass and stands up, all the while one last drop of scotch goes sliding down his lip.

Unable to stop my thoughts, I watch the drop of scotch, wondering what it would be like to taste it, the scotch, or him. I’m not entirely sure. But as the drop slides down his lip, I get the urge to trace it with my tongue and follow it down his throat.

Adam stops the drop, catching it with his thumb, before grazing his thumb ever so gently along my bottom lips, freezing me in place. Leaning forward, he brushes his lips over my ear and whispers, “You’re thinking too loud.” He smiles.

“If you wanted a taste, all you had to do was ask,” he continues to whisper in my ear, before grabbing my hand and leading me out to the dance floor, passing his brothers, who both look shocked.

Embarrassment floods me as I realize that he was able to read my thoughts so easily. I have never been so transparent before. I’m usually able to hide my emotions, but the memory of his thumb against my lips causes my whole body to send tingles straight to my core, turning my embarrassment into desire.