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Her grandfather’s recipe.
“I look forward to telling him in person.” Savannah smiled slyly as Blake sipped his bourbon. Her grandfather always said liquor loosened lips. She couldn’t think of a more suitable way to induce Blake to reveal his family’s secrets.
“Up to watching a movie or playing a game of cards? We could play—”
“If you say ‘strip poker,’ I swear I’ll—”
“I was thinking gin rummy.” The amusement that danced in his dark eyes made her wonder if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind.
“Since you, and the entire town, are hell-bent on getting to know me, I have another idea.” She traced the rim of her glass as she studied him. “‘Truth or dare?’”
Blake laughed. “I haven’t played that since college.”
“Neither have I, so this should be fun.” She moved to the sofa. Benny sprawled across her feet and rolled over for a belly rub. Savannah happily complied.
Blake studied her as he sipped his bourbon. He still hadn’t responded.
“If ‘truth or dare?’ is too risqué for you, I completely understand.” Having satisfied Benny’s demands, Savannah crossed one leg over the other, her foot bouncing. Blake’s gaze followed the motion, giving her an unexpected sense of satisfaction.
He sat beside her on the couch, and Sam settled at his feet.
“My life is an open book. Makes me fairly invincible at this game.” He rubbed Sam’s ears.
“A challenge. I like it.” The bourbon spread warmth through Savannah’s limbs and loosened the tension in her muscles. She was less anxious, despite the intense flashes of light that charged the night sky.
Thunder boomed and both dogs whined. Benny shielded his face with his paw.
Savannah stroked the dog’s head. “By all means, you go first, Mr. Invincible. I’ll take truth.”
A grin lit Blake’s dark eyes. “Tell me about your first kiss.”
CHAPTER NINE
Blake had always considered himself a sensible person. Sure, he took risks, but they were usually calculated ones. Risks that would either result in a crash and burn that would teach him one hell of a lesson or pay off in spades.
Sitting on his favorite leather sofa, drinking his granddaddy’s finest bourbon and playing “truth or dare?” with the sexiest woman who’d ever donned one of his shirts was the equivalent of playing with fire while wearing a kerosene-soaked flak jacket.
Or in this case, a bourbon-soaked one. They’d both had their share of the nearly empty bottle of bourbon.
Their questions started off innocently enough. His were aimed at getting to know everything there was to know about Savannah Carlisle. Hers mostly dealt with character—his and his family’s. But as the game went on—and the bourbon bottle inched closer to empty—their questions grew more intimate.
Too intimate.
Savannah was an employee and he was part owner of King’s Finest. He shouldn’t be sitting so close to her, well after midnight, when they’d both been drinking. While she was wearing his shirt, her skin smelling of his soap.
Savannah folded her legs underneath her, drawing his eyes to her smooth skin.
They were playing Russian roulette. Only the six-shooter was loaded with five bullets instead of one.
Neither of them was drunk, but they were sure as hell dancing along its blurry edge.
“What’s your favorite thing to eat?” he asked.
“Strawberry rhubarb pie. My sister makes it for my birthday every year in lieu of a cake.” She grinned. “Your turn. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Savannah leaned closer, her gaze holding his, as if she were daring him instead. “Tell me something you really wanted, but you’re glad you didn’t get.”
The question felt like a sword puncturing his chest. His expression must have indicated his discomfort. “Married.”
Savannah’s cheeks turned crimson and she grimaced. “If it’s something you’d rather not talk about—”
“I wanted to surprise my ex with a labradoodle for her birthday.” He got the words out quickly before he lost his nerve. “Instead, she surprised me. Told me she’d fallen for someone else, and that it was the best thing for both of us.”
“That’s awful. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He rubbed Sam’s ears, then took another sip of bourbon, welcoming the warmth. “She was right. It was the best thing for both of us. Marrying her would’ve been a mistake.”
They were both quiet, the storm crackling around them.
He divided the remainder of the bottle between their two glasses and took another pull of his bourbon. “Truth or dare?”
