Page 224 of The Bluffing Game

“That was amazing.” She strokes the side of my face. “Better than I expected. It might sound weird to say this, but it feels like perfect timing. Like it was meant to happen this way.”

“I’m glad,” I whisper in her ear. “You’re so beautiful, Sage. You deserve the world.”

She looks at me lazily and smiles. “I guess I’ll just have to take you for now, huh?”

“I hope that’s good enough,” I tease her, but I never want to let go.

“You have more than made up for anything you’ve said or done.” She moans as I play with her breasts.

“I’m glad that I could save you.”

“You are my superhero after all, I suppose.” She winks, and my heart melts.

I wish I could tell her all my secrets. I wish I could make her understand that while I’ve not always been a good man, I’m trying my best now, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to be the man she needs, or the man that she wants. I don’t say anything because I don’t want to know what could have been. I don’t know if I could ever get over the fact that I couldn’t have her. Not really and truly. This will have to be enough.

“What are you thinking about, Dalton?”

“Nothing,” I say as I kiss her lips. “Just how perfect this moment is. And how, if you give me five minutes, I want to do it again.”

“Next time, I’m on top.” She reaches down and strokes me. “It’s my turn to guide the ship.”

Chapter 25

SAGE

“Oh my gosh, I’m so tired,” Rosie says as she yawns and stretches her arms. She pulls a stack of cash from her pocket, puts it on the table, and grins at me. “I think I made almost two hundred dollars today. That is absolutely amazing.”

I pull out my own wad of cash and count out one hundred twenty dollars. “You made even more than me.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve just got a brighter smile,” Rosie says and shows off her pearly whites. “Who knows? Maybe it’s because I’m always the favorite—parents included,” she teases me, but I don’t quite laugh the same way that I normally do. “I’m just joking,” she says quickly, noticing the expression on my face. “We are both the favorite.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Hey, girls.” Lucia pops her head into the break room. “You guys are off tonight, right?”

“Yeah, we were just counting our tips,” Rosie says with a smile. “I think Sage and I are going to grab a drink and then go home. Maybe I’ll spend some time on the app or something.”

“Do you have a date tonight, Sage?”

“I do.” I lick my lips slowly. “Not technically, but …” Well, I don’t know what to say, and I can tell I’m mumbling my words.

“What’s going on?” Lucia slides all the way into the room and closes the door. “Are you seeing my brother tonight or something?”

“Why would you ask that?” I choke on my words and feel myself blushing.

“Because he asked me if I could look after Toby tonight, and he doesn’t normally say he’s going to be gone the entire evening.”

I immediately look down at my hands balling in my lap.

“What is going on?” Lucia asks. “Please tell me you and my brother are not … you know.”

“Oh my gosh, are you and Dalton doing the dirty?” Rosie says loudly.

“Guys, I don’t want people to hear you.”

“So, that’s a yeah.” Rosie looks over at Lucia, and Lucia squeals.

Lucia opens the door. “Izzy, get in here,” she shouts.