Page 34 of The Game Plan

But still, it’s terrible.

Fi and I howl with laughter until my sides hurt and I have to gulp down half my bottled water.

“I can’t believe she knew she sucked at dancing,” Fi mutters, watching them, a smile still pulling at her lips.

“Well, when you think about it, she’d have to be blind not to know,” I counter. “I mean, the arm flailing alone...” I shudderdramatically, and Fi snickers, just as I’d hoped.

“Watch it,” she says, her gaze on the stage and a smile in her eyes. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”

“Hey, I love her like a sister too. Does that count?”

Fi turns, and her green eyes hold me captive. “As long as that doesn’t make us like brother and sister.”

I lean in until my lips nearly brush hers. “Not even close, Cherry.” I steal a quick, soft kiss and have the satisfactionof hearing her breath hitch.

My satisfaction grows when I pull back and she gazes up at me with a slightly dazed expression. I run the pad of my thumbover the smooth curve of her lower lip. My groin tightens with heat and want.

“You gonna give me an answer soon?”

Her lashes sweep down, and she reaches for her drink. “We’re out now, right?” Green eyes peer up at me. “This is a doubledate, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

Her lips purse like she’s trying not to smile. “Slick.”

“Not really.” I lean closer, pressing my arm against hers. “Look, I know I’m asking you to go out of your comfort zone—”

“Yes, how about that?” Fi counters. “I mean, do you often do the same? Because, from where I sit, you seem to play it safe.”

My brows lift. “I’m pretty sure there’s nothing safe about going after you.”

She smiles, shaking her head. “But you know I’m attracted to you.”

Love hearing that.I sit back and watch Gray get on his knees in a sad John Travolta parody. Running my hand over my beard, I turn back to Fi.“Okay. How about this? I hate being the center of attention. If I get up there and sing my ass off, will you give us a go?”

She laughs. “You’re serious? Are you bribing me for sex?”

“First off, I’m not talking about sex. I’ll never withhold that from you.” I grin, touching my forehead to hers. “We can gohome right now and fuck, Cherry, if that’s what you want.”

Hell, tell me that’s what you want. I can take it. I’m a big boy.Part of me is growing bigger by the second at the thought of finally having Fiona.

She goes so pink, I can see it in the dim of the club.

“I’m asking for a relationship,” I say. “Or at least taking a leap of faith.”

Fi looks me over as if she’s trying to figure out if I’m crazy or not.

I let her look, sitting back, my hips low in the seat. Her slow inspection has my skin tingling. I have the mad urge to haulher on my lap and kiss her into compliance, lose myself in that sweet, plump mouth of hers. But I stay still.

“You’re really going to go up there?” She nods toward the stage where Ivy and Gray are now bowing—the hams.

“And sing my ass off,” I add. My gut roils at the idea of performing in front of all these people. It’s not something I want to do. But I will.

I ignore the small twinge of guilt that follows when she gives me an evil grin. I know she’s looking forward to seeing memake an ass of myself, just as we laughed at Ivy and Gray.

“Before you answer,” I say above the applause that follows our friends’ performance, “I’ll warn you now. I will never lieto you, Fiona. But I don’t intend to fight fair either.”

Her cheeky grin just grows. “Playing me again, are you, Slick?”

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