Page 33 of Tamed By You

“Jack’s right. We need to stop this for them. They deserve a good weekend. Can we agree on a truce? Even if it’s for the next twenty-four hours. We can go back to hating each other after.”

I nod in agreement. Reaching out for the hand she is offering.

“Truce,” she says.

I take her hand, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against mine. Remembering how good it felt when she had her hands all over me.

“Truce… but for the record, I've never hated you.” She licks her lips, avoiding any eye contact. “But I have an idea. I think we don't know enough about each other so, how about we get to ask each other three questions and we will do some shots and head downstairs and act like we are besties for the night?” She eyes me curiously. “Come on, Ali Cat, humor me. You might end up liking me.”

“Fine,” she huffs, and it sounds like defeat, sitting down on the cream-colored couch. I pour the shots of vodka, handing her one.

“I'll go first. Do you have any siblings?”

She shakes her head. “Nope, they broke the mold when they made me. No need to have another.”

I laugh. Such an Ali answer. “Do you have any other siblings?” she asks, filling up the shot glasses again.

“Nope, just me and Tori, my mom said she was sent the perfect pigeon pair. No need to try again. Plus, I think we nearly killed her off in our early years.”

“I can see that. I bet you were a nightmare as a baby.”

“Are you close with your family? You don't ever mention any.” I ask, genuinely curious, wanting to know more about her.

She stiffens, taking her shot. “Nope, been on own since I was about eighteen and it will remain that way.”

Sensing she didn't want me to pry, I let her ask me another question.

“Do you miss the Marine Corps? Would you ever go back?” she asks hesitantly.

I pause before answering, as talking about my time there is always hard after everything we went through. “I miss it, sure. That brotherhood and the trips we took. There’s nothing like it, but would I go back? Nah. I did my time, saw a lot, lost a lot and I’m where I’m meant to be now.”

To my surprise, she reaches for my thigh, giving it a little squeeze before filling up our shot glasses again.

“I know you work at a magazine, but what do you actually do?” I ask, throwing back another drink.

“I am a stylist assistant. I love it. I’ve always been drawn to fashion. When I was a kid, I did pageants and modeling, which I hated, but I always loved the costumes and the clothes, so that’s the path I took.”

Her admission doesn’t surprise me. She’s stunning and carries herself with a certain type of grace, and suddenly I realize this is part of her appeal to me, what’s drawn me to her. I’ve never met a woman like her. She knows who she is, what she wants, and makes no apologies for it.

“Pageants, huh? I can see it. Was it full on toddlers and tiaras?” She’s just taken a shot and chokes with laughter and I reach giving her a tap on the back.

“Yeah, something like that.” She looks down at her glass. Something in her face changes as she begins circling the rim with her index finger. She looks uncomfortable, jaw tight, and just as I go to ask her if she’s okay, her expression changes to a smile and she’s back to Ali.

“Okay, my turn. What's your favorite food?”

“Pizza.”

“Pizza?”

“Yeah, I’m a simple guy.”

“I know,” she laughs, a slight slur in her voice.

I take another shot. How many have we had?

“And you, what’s yours?”

“Hmmm, that’s a tough one, cheesecake, or red velvet cake.”

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