He laughed as he picked up the paddle at his end of the table. “Prepare to be trounced.”
“Consider me prepared,” she taunted.
His lips twitched. “But first, I propose a change to the rules.”
The tone told her his rules would be far more fun than her rules, causing her stomach to get jiggy. “What did you have in mind?”
“Each time a person wins a point, that person decides who will take the shot and who will take something off. But both things happen with each point won.”
It was one of those rule changes she should probably decline. She was, after all, damn good at ping-pong and could easily stay dressed while he got naked. “Okay. You’re the guest. We’ll play by your rules.”
He picked up the ball and tossed it across the net. “Ladies first.” He stepped a couple feet back from the end of the table and made a display of being ready for her first volley.
She bounced the ball a couple of times on the table, getting use to the weight of the paddle and then whacked the ball over the net. About a half-inch.
He lunged forward but didn’t stand a chance.
“Point for me,” she purred.
He laughed. “Nice.”
“Take something off.” She walked over to the makeshift bar and downed a shot.
He took off his coat and then tossed the ball back at her. “I’m ready for you this time,” he murmured in that sexy voice that drove her crazy.
She picked up the ball and slapped it his way. This time he was ready for her and easily volleyed it back. They went back and forth several rounds before she somehow missed an easy volley.
He took a shot. Glanced her way. “Do I get to pick what you take off?”
“I was going to go with the earrings. Did you have a different item in mind?”
His Adam apple bobbed. “Your dress.”
She shivered. Things were going to get very real, very fast at this pace. She slipped her arms out of her maxi-dress, letting it fall to the floor before stepping out of it and kicking it aside. Underneath, she wore a full slip.
She picked up the ball and volleyed it toward him while his mouth still hung open. He missed.
She took a shot. Told herself three was her limit. He started to take off the scarf. Hell, at this rate she would be drunk and naked and he would be fully dressed. “Nope. I get to decide what comes off next.”
He draped the scarf back around his neck. “What’s the lady’s pleasure?”
“Belt.” She tossed the ball to him. “Your turn.”
He did. Slamming it at her so hard she didn’t have time to blink before the ball bounced once on the edge of the table and hit the floor. He took a shot. “Slip,” he ordered.
Isabella wasn’t shy by nature, but suddenly the thought of standing there in her bra, panties, and heels, left her feeling…naked. Fun choices. Fun choices. Fun choices. She removed her slip.
“God, you’re beautiful.” Chandler’s voice had gone all thick in a way she loved.
She volleyed the ball, and he missed it. Didn’t even try. “Remove your trousers.”
She didn’t take a shot, and he didn’t seem to notice as he kicked out of his pants. The guy wore black boxer briefs. She giggled. “Do all your briefs have fun-colored waistbands?” His was sky blue. Another sign he had hints of whimsy living inside of him. She shivered.
“Only the ones I wear out with beautiful women I want to get naked with.” He eyeballed her. “Are you stalling, Isabella P. Chance?”
God, he was sexy as hell standing there in a buttoned-up shirt, boxers, socks, and shoes. “So, when you got dressed tonight, you were hoping to end up naked in front of me?”
“I’ve been hoping to end up naked in front of you ever since that morning in the taxi.”