Page 79 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

I lean in, close enough to catch the faint vanilla on her skin. “You know, if looks could kill, that girl would be in a body bag. You jealous,dolcezza?”

“I don’t do jealous.”

“Right…” I brush a thumb over the back of her hand as I hand her a drink. “You just glare like you’re planning a homicide.”

Her glare deepens. But her fingers brush mine on the glass, and neither of us pulls away.

“For the record, you’re the only one I want watching me.”

***

We don’t make it five steps into the apartment before the tension follows us in, sticky and electric, crawling under my skin.

Sophie kicks off her heels and tosses her clutch on the kitchen island like she’s shedding the night’s chaos.

“You were in your element tonight.” She folds her arms. “Charming. Smirking. Getting phone numbers.”

I grin. “Jealous again?”

“Bored.” She turns toward the fridge. “You’re predictable.”

“Predictable?” I stalk up behind her, bracing one hand on the counter beside her hip. “You sure about that?”

She doesn’t look at me, but I catch the way her breath skips.

I pluck a bottle cap off the counter and spin it between my fingers. “Let’s play a game.”

She snorts. “If you say poker again, I swear—”

“Not poker.” I step closer. “Dare Me.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “We’re not sixteen.”

“No rules. No repeats. You dare, I do. I dare, you do. Only way out is to quit.”

She gives me a skeptical once-over, but there’s fire in her eyes now. “What’s in it for you?”

“Other than watching you squirm? Plenty.”

She spins and pokes a finger into my chest. “Fine. You first.”

I grin. “Take off your blazer.”

It slides off her shoulders with maddening grace. Underneath, she’s wearing a form-fitting camisole that hugs her like a second skin.

“Your turn,” I say, voice rougher now.

She leans in, the corner of her mouth curling. “Take off your pants and hand them to me like they’re something filthy.”

I slide off my pants and press them into her hands, eyes locked on hers. “You really want to play this game?”

“Your turn,” she says, smug.

I scan her face. “Unclip your hair. Let it fall.”

She raises a brow but obeys, tugging the pins free.

Her hair tumbles around her shoulders like a challenge.

---