Page 45 of The Bodyguard Situation

“Harper,” he says, voice dripping with playful suspicion, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, “got any sevens?”

I scowl, handing over two sevens from my hand. “I swear, you’re cheating. Do you have X-ray vision?”

He laughs, and the sound sends warmth fluttering through my chest. “Nah, I’m just that good.”

“Or maybe you’re the lucky one,” I retort, refusing to admit he’s getting under my skin.

“Mmm, luck has nothing to do with it.” Brody wiggles his brows at me, shuffling his cards obnoxiously loud.

“Hmm. Maybe I should make you streak around the cabin,” I say, determined, knowing that if he wins this game of Go Fish, I lose overall. If I win, we tie, and I’ll still have a chance of winning that dare. “Got any kings?”

His smile slips slightly, eyes narrowing. “You’re kidding me.”

I hold out my hand expectantly, grinning victoriously as he reluctantly hands over his single king.

“Thanks,Bro,” I say sweetly, knowing he hates it when people shorten his name to that.

He growls, and I place my completed set of kings on the floor between us.

“I. Fucking. Win!” I do a little wiggle to rub it in.

Brody leans back dramatically, groaning as he covers his face with one hand. “My pride can’t handle this.”

“There’s always a first time for everything,” I tease, reveling in the victory. “Now we’re tied.”

Brody’s scowling like a man personally offended by the laws of probability, which only makes me grin wider.

“Moving onto the next game,” I say, snatching up the dice. “The first one to roll doubles wins. It’s not too late to forfeit and admit I’m superior in every way.”

Brody leans back against the couch, his gaze locked in on me.

“Keep talking shit, Harp,” he says, picking up the dice and rolling. He gets a one and a six. “One minute, you’re throwing dice; the next, you’re trying to steal my soul.”

I shrug, acting innocent. “I’m a woman ofmanytalents.”

He just watches me, that same look from last night lingering in his eyes. It’s like he sees right through all the games and straight into the parts of me I don’t show most people. It’s thrilling.

I roll again and get a five and a two. We keep taking turns.

I shake the dice in my hand, then open my palm, placing a kiss on both.

He rolls his eyes. “Go.”

I make an annoying show out of it, and when I roll double twos, I scream. “Victory,” I say, standing up to gloat. “Now you’ll kneel before me.”

“Is that your dare?” Brody huffs a low laugh, tossing his hands in mock surrender.

“Hell no!” I say.

“Then give me your worst,” he tells me.

I dust off my hands and take my time pretending to think about it. To be honest, I knew what I would ask him before we even started.

“No takebacks,” I warn, pointing a finger at him. “No fake excuses.”

He raises one dark brow. “Oh, I’m not afraid. Go on.”

The image of him running around the cabin naked flashes across my mind so vividly that I laugh. Brody Calloway, cocky and barefoot under the stars, holding his cock. I nearly choke on my own tongue thinking about it. I wave it off before my brain short-circuits completely.

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