Page 48 of Lucky Haven

“Those aren’t allowed. It’s your turn.”

I hold my hands up in surrender, but I’m grinning. “Fine. Dare.”

She’s the one who gave me the out, and I’m taking it, at least for the first round.

She thinks about it for a second. “Okay. I dare you to show me the exact face you gave Jeb this morning. Show me your ‘civil’ expression that set a good example.”

I glower at her.

She dissolves into giggles, pressing the back of her hand against her mouth. “No you didn’t.”

I wink. Then I smooth my expression out. “Community is important to me, Jeb. Happy to order a part for you.”

“Oh,” she breathes. “That’s…very convincing.”

I set aside the sauce I was mixing up and tug her close. “I’ll always make you look good, don’t worry.”

She leans into my chest for a second. Then she pats me. “My turn. I want a dare this time.”

I hold her against me, my arm low around her hips, as I turn so I can scoop some sauce onto a spoon. “Taste this.”

She reaches for the spoon, but I pull my hand back.

“No hands,” I clarify.

Her cheeks go pink.

I bring the spoon to her mouth, my belly pulling tight as she parts her lips readily.

She’s a virgin, don’t read too much into her obedience.

Too late, new fantasy unlocked.

She closes her mouth around the spoon and makes a happy little sound, then pulls away and swallows.

I pull a very slow breath in through my nose as she smiles happily at me. “Yummy.”

Jesus.

“My turn.” I clear my throat. “I pick truth.”

“Okay.” A pause, while she thinks. “How did you feel about coming back to Dragonfly Creek after you got out of jail? Was that your decision or did your family push it?”

I like that she doesn’t dance around the fact that I went to jail. It speaks to her character, and I need to reward that with a real, honest share, even though my first instinct is always to deflect and flirt.

I lean back against the counter next to her.

“I don’t like backing down,” I say finally. “So when I thought about it, coming home felt like the tough but right thing to do. Like I was proving something. Showing everyone I wasn’t ashamed.”

“Is it still tough to be here?”

I smirk. “That’s a second question.”

Her mouth drops open.

“But I’ll answer it anyway.” I check on the rice, though, buying myself a minute. “I love it here now. I know your return has been rough, but there’s a lot to love about this community if you can ignore the assholes. And my family made it really easy for me to tune them out. It’s been really nice to build something with them, too. You’ll understand when I take you out to the ranch. It’s heaven on earth. That’s my next dare for you.”

“I didn’t pick yet.” Worry tugs at her expression, but she takes a deep breath. “All right…Dare.”