Page 1 of Crazy Love

1

KALI

Never haveI had to work this hard to get a man to make a move.

I’ve flirted all night, batted my eyelashes, puckered my lips and told all my best stories. My body is on a silver platter with neon signs pointing to ‘go’ and the god that is Anthony Bonetti still hasn’t taken the bait.

The silence is palpable, broken only by the distant roar of the ocean beneath the nearby cliffs. That and my jittery foot tapping against the barstool. Across the moonlit kitchen island, Anthony leans back in his chair surveying me as I try my best to act as if my heart isn’t banging in my ears. “Well?”

“I’m thinking.”

The deep, gravelly inflection of his voice sends a shiver up my spine. His shiny gaze travels appreciatively across my exposed shoulders, dipping slightly to my collarbone. I’m not second-guessing his attraction to me, but Iamquestioning where his mind keeps wandering, where his thoughts go during his long pauses before asking or answering questions.

“There should be a time limit to the thinking, or you forfeit,” I huff.

The left side of Anthony’s mouth lifts into a lazy smile. “This game was your idea, Kali.”

“And I should’ve set clearer rules.” I lean forward onto the bench-top to get a better look at him, resting my chin in my hand. “It’s been ten minutes-”

“It’s been two.”

I narrow my eyes. “Make a decision.”

Anthony’s eyes twinkle in the dim light. “Hair tie.”

I can’t pinpoint if it’s relief or disappointment at allowing hair accessories to be included as clothing, as I breathe a quiet sigh and reach up to release my tangle of hair from its high bun, sweet relief rippling down my scalp as my hair springs free. “I’m surprised you didn’t go with the shorts.”

“I’ve got a thing for long hair. Good for grabbing onto.” Anthony’s eyes flash in the darkness and I fumble to collect the cards in front of us.

He’s beating me at my own game, and he knows it. He’s relishing the fact that I’m trying to get him to crack and he’s purposely throwing out comments that trip me up.

I’ve done all the hard work tonight. After dinner with Anthony’s brother Patrick, and my best friend Hazel, I insisted we go back to Patrick’s new house overlooking the ocean at Burleigh Heads to check out the view. Anthony simply grinned at me. When Patrick and Hazel retired to bed, I suggested Anthony and I play UNO in lieu of a traditional deck of cards. I suggested we keep the lights off, letting the moonlight stream in from the windows to set the mood. I suggested we spice it up by adding the strip poker element. And I also suggested theotherperson got to choose which item of clothing to remove.

It was a fool-proof plan. I’d get to see Anthony with his shirt off, he’d see me half naked, and we’d ravage each other on the kitchen table, but it turns out, he’s way better at UNO than I am and his refusal to request the removal of key items of clothing is his unique way of torturing me.

“Do you want to play another round?” I ask.

Anthony’s gaze drifts to my breasts concealed behind a lace bra. We both know that if we go another round, and I lose, he’s going to see me in a thong or get a full showing of my boobs.

He remains silent.

I smirk. “Scared, Bonetti?”

Anthony’s mouth quirks as he reaches his hand out for the cards.

I hand them over and watch as he deftly shuffles with the skill and expertise of a dealer in a casino. “Where did you learn how to deal like that?”

“Prison.”

I swallow, watching as Anthony keeps his focus on the cards, a pleasant ripple sounding as he feeds them into each other. “You’ve been to prison?”

He glances up at me. “Scared, Red?”

He’s mimicking my earlier question, but I’m distracted by his choice of words to acknowledge it. “Red?”

“Yeah. I think it suits you.”

I narrow my eyes at the insinuation in his tone, racking my brain for something I’ve said or done tonight that would make him call meRed,but I come up blank.

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