Page 10 of Playing Mr. Perfect

She laughs. “Lucky me. Remind me what I’m getting out of this deal.”

“You mean besides the best night of your life, sexy arm candy, and most importantly, debunking the myth that I’m nothing but a dumb jock?”

“I never said you were dumb, and that’s not what I was implying. I meant we have nothing in common.”

“I’m glad to hear that, and again, you can’t know if we have anything in common until we spend some time together. As I was saying, give me tonight to prove myself. If you don’t have fun, you can tell me to get lost.” The song ends, and she tries to step out of my arms as applause and whistles ring out around us, but once again, I hold her tighter. “Do we have a deal?”

“Why does it feel like I’m making a deal with the devil?”

“Because I’m devilishly handsome.”

That earns a genuine smile and a reluctant, “Fine. I’ll make a deal with a dimpled devil, but don’t make me regret it.”

“You’re really fucking cute.” Before letting her go, I lean in and say, “For what it’s worth, there’s not a woman in here who can hold a candle to you.”

Chapter Four

Pepper

“Okay, okay! I’ve got one! Never have I ever…” Brindle’s voice trails off, her rascally gaze moving around the table. Anticipation hangs in the air like bait as we await her claim in our game of Never Have I Ever.

We’re at the hotel nightclub for a private party with the bands and their crews. They’re leaving early tomorrow morning for their next stop on the tour. Music is blaring, and the club is teeming with people dancing and drinking. Johnny has already come and gone, and his and Sable’s bandmates are scattered around the club. I’m tipsy from alcohol, high from the excitement of the night, and my every nerve ending is ablaze from the darkly handsome man beside me. It’s been hours since Clay and I struck our deal, and he’s been right there ever since, driving me out of my mind with furtive glances, hidden touches, whispered jokes, and sexy innuendos that catch me off guard, wreaking havoc with my ability to think about anything other than the dirty things he says.

“Never have I ever,” Brindle, the drama queen, repeats, “had sex in public.”

Everyone reaches for their shot glass except me.

I swear my siblings are out to either embarrass me or find out all my secrets, and this is just one more thing that sets me apart from them. As banter and laughter ring out, even Amber, my most demure sister, is whispering and giggling with her husband. It’s like they’re all in some kind of naughty-fun club that I’m not privy to.

Clay leans in and whispers, “I can help you remedy that.”

Yes, please tramples through my tipsy mind, and my body takes it as a promise, throwing a little party, which is crazy because I’m not a public-sex person. I don’t know what is going on with me right now, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it’s as exciting as the hungry look in Clay’s eyes. None of the men I’ve been intimate with have made my body ignite the way he does. I never thought I was missing out by not having one-night stands or meaningless trysts, but with him looking at me the way he is, I’m beginning to think I am.

“Really, Pep? Not even in college?” Brindle asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Not even in college,” I say with exasperation, because I can’t understand why it’s so hard for her to comprehend.

“Not even when you went out with Ravi in high school?” Morgyn asks.

Ravi Bhandara grew up with us in Oak Falls. He’s always been as science minded as me, which is what made us fast friends as kids and has kept us close ever since. But I’m not about to give my gossipy sisters the down and dirty on him. “Nope.”

“I always thought you two snuck out to a field or some other place to fool around,” Morgyn adds.

“Gosh, you guys,” Amber says. “You jumped straight to sex with her and Ravi, and I always thought she was doodling Pepper Bhandara in her notebooks.”

“Well, you were all wrong. Can we move on, please?” I take a sip of water.

“Ravi Bhandara, huh?” Clay says for my ears only. “Was he your first?”

“I’m not telling you that.”

“Not here. Got it.” He winks. “We’ll talk about him later.”

“Don’t count on it.”

“Now that we’ve got the skinny on all you exhibitionists,” Brindle teases, “I’m changing the game. Whoever has the best answer doesn’t have to drink. What’s the hottest place you’ve ever had sex?”

“One partner or multiple?” Axsel says.