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I glare at him, knowing he purposely said that last one to see how I’d react. Well, too bad for him it won’t work.
“Nine years old? Bullshit. More Fireball for you,” I tell him confidently.
Gavin grins, placing it to his lips, but then sets it down in front of me. “Wrong, sweetheart.”
“No way! Nine years old?”
“Yep. Believe it.”
Groaning, I swallow down the shot. If I’m not careful, I’ll drink too much and let my guard down, which cannot happen.
“Well, we’re one and one. What’s the tiebreaker?” I ask, noticing two shots left.
“How about I ask you a question, and if you tell me the truth, I take both of these.”
“And if I lie?”
“You kiss me at midnight.”
I sit up straighter, keeping my eyes focused on his. Is he for real?
“How will you know if I’m telling the truth?” I ask.
“Because I already know the answer.”
“I might be drunk, but I’m not stupid,” I tell him.
“Never said you were, but you wanted a tiebreaker, and I gave you one.”
“How about we each take one and call it even?” I grab one of the glasses and hold it up.
“Why? Afraid you’ll actually have to be honest for once?” he challenges, and I can hear the hurt in his tone.
Instead of answering, I down the whiskey, then slam the empty glass on the bar. “You don’t know me, Gavin.”
He leans in close, causing heat to ripple through me. Then his mouth lowers to my ear. “I know enough to know you like your ass slapped.” Gavin licks his lips, then continues, “Hard.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, and flashes of our night resurface. Every time he’s near, memories flicker through my mind, and as much as I’ve tried to ignore it, with him so close, it’s impossible.
For a second, I want to give in to the desire and have a round two, but nothing good would come of it. He’s older, more experienced, and more likely to break my heart. It won’t end well.
“Excuse me,” I say, pushing off my stool.
I rush to the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. I’m completely red and flushed, and I’m pissed at how my body reacts to him. Our night together was the hottest sex I’ve ever had, but I’ll be damned if I give in to his good looks again.
After I wash my hands and steady my breathing, I step into the hallway and gasp when I see Gavin leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“What are you doin’?” I stutter.
“Making sure you weren’t running off on me again.”
“Again?”
Gavin moves toward me, closing the gap between us. “Yes, again. The morning after we had sex, you bailed on me. No note, no explanation, just up and left. And I want to know why.”
“I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about.” I hold my ground, not giving in. “Perhaps you have me confused with another girl you slept with.” I shrug, acting as if his accusations don’t faze me.
“Trust me, I’d never forget you, Maize. We drank, I kicked your ass in a game of pool, and by the end of the night, I had you screaming my name in bed.”
His words have a shiver running down my spine. Damn him.
“So you wanna tell me why you keep denyin’ it?”
“Because it didn’t happen.” I snort.
“It’s almost midnight.”
I nearly get whiplash with his topic change. Kenzie shouts that there are thirty seconds left.
“Yeah?”
“Since you’re so hell-bent on refusing we were together, then perhaps I should remind you what it was like.” Gavin flattens his palm on the wall next to me, and when his mouth moves closer to mine, my breath hitches. “Let me kiss you,” he whispers.
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Everyone should get kissed on New Year’s Eve. Even a frustrating, gorgeous woman like you.”
“Maybe I want someone else to kiss me.” I shrug, mocking a smile. “You’re not really my type. No offense.”
“You sure about that? I was your type the first time.”
“Again, that never happened.”
People chant the countdown, and we’re only seconds away.
“Ten, night, eight…” he says. “The opportunity might not come around again, Maize.”
Five, four, three, two…
Without thinking, I fist my hands in his shirt and pull his face to mine. Our lips collide, and Gavin quickly catches on, reaching down and gripping my waist. As our bodies mold together, he slides his tongue inside my mouth. I taste cinnamon and inhale his musky scent as fireworks erupt between us. His hand cups my cheek, and he tilts my head back to deepen the kiss. Every nerve sparks with electricity as our mouths battle for more. We release moans as we devour one another, similar to the first time but more heated and desperate. Memories of how he touched me and satisfied my every need rush through me, and it’s then I know I’m losing my resolve.
