Page 6 of A Kiss on a Dare
“So,” I say, trying to sound casual despite the nerves fluttering in my chest, “how much do you really need to eat to have so much muscle?”
Without giving myself time to second-guess, I reach out and wrap my hand around Gabrielle’s bicep. It’s firm—solid as a rock—and I let go quickly before it gets too weird.
Gabrielle blinks, clearly caught off guard, but before I can spiral into panic, he chuckles softly. The sound is low and warm, and my body practically melts on the spot.
Oh God.
“A lot,” he replies, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. Then, with a raised brow, he adds, “You’re really drunk, aren’t you?”
My cheeks flare so hot I might as well be on fire. Of course, he noticed.Why did I drink so much?I must have looked too eager—toothirsty—when I squeezed his arm. Now he probably thinks I’m his gay fanboy who wants to throw himself at him.God, why, why, why?
“Ugh…yeah,” I admit, the words coming out in a groan. I want to vanish into thin air, anything to escape that all-knowing smile he’s giving me. “I must have had too many gin and tonics.”
But Gabrielle doesn’t seem fazed. Instead, he chuckles again, and the sound makes my insides bubble like champagne.
“To be honest, I’d like to get drunk too,” he says, his tone light, “but, you know, I have to think about tomorrow.”
“Uh-huh,” I nod, grasping at anything to keep the conversation going. “Plans for Christmas?”
For a moment, Gabrielle stiffens, and my heart sinks, convinced I’ve accidentally stepped into forbidden territory. But then, his shoulders ease, and his expression softens.
“No, I’m on call tomorrow, actually,” he says.
“No way,” I blurt out, far too loud and far too fast. “Me too!”
The words linger awkwardly between us, way too enthusiastic for casual conversation. My face burns as I instantly regret how they came out. If there’s a hole anywhere in this hospital basement, I’d like to crawl into it now.
But instead of looking annoyed, Gabrielle’s eyes seem to twinkle slightly as they meet mine. Or maybe I’m imagining things. Either way, the look he’s giving me sends a warm, tingling sensation over my skin.
“Really?” he says, his voice dipping lower, more intimate. “That…that’ll be nice, actually. Usually, Christmas shifts are pretty quiet, but it’s good to have some competent backup.”
Competent.The word feels meaningful, like a compliment he doesn’t hand out lightly, and it slides through me as smoothly as the seven gin and tonics I probably shouldn’t have had earlier. And I swear he’s standing closer now, though I couldn’t tell you who moved.
My phone buzzes, cutting into my thoughts, but I barely notice it, too caught up in Gabrielle’s proximity and the dizzying pull of his attention that seems to fill the space between us. When I finally glance down at the screen, it’s Cat, of course:
Nice job!! Thiird dare—make him drink two shots!
I groan internally, but at least this one is manageable—and if I pull it off, I’ll only have two dares left. The rules are clear: I can’t refuse two dares in a row, and if I do skip one, I’m stuck with whatever comes next, no matter how awful. Knowing Cat, she’s definitely saving the most humiliating dare for last, so I need to tread carefully.
The gin coursing through my veins fuels a reckless kind of courage. Two shots are a lot, but with a bit of charm, it’s doable. Even if a guy is dead set on not drinking before his shift tomorrow.
“I think I might ease off the cocktails,” I tell Gabrielle with a smirk. “You know, to staycompetenttomorrow. Butyou, on the other hand, need to catch up.” I pick up two shots from the table and hold them out to him, my eyebrows raised in challenge.
To my surprise, he actually grins and takes them.
“Alright, Dr. Hale,” he says with a laugh, and I swear he’s teasing me. Something in my chest melts at the sound of his voice sayingDr. Hale.Somehow, it doesn’t sound like my name—it sounds like a term of endearment.
Andwho is this guy?This open, laughing,warmversion of Gabrielle is so different from the brooding doctor I’ve been low-key pining over for the past year. Broodmaster 2024, the one who stares through me like he’s trying to incinerate me with his laser eyes, feels like a distant memory.
I watch as Gabrielle downs the two shots, one after the other, with a surprising ease that makes my chest flutter. I can’t help myself—I glance quickly toward Cat, who’s sitting at the table, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, clearly stunned that I’m breezing through my dares so quickly.
To be honest, Gabrielle is making thiswayeasier than I expected. Usually, the dares feel like walking a tightrope over disaster, but tonight? He’s the perfect guinea pig.
I pick up two more shots from the table, mostly to show off for Cat, who’s probably losing her mind over how bold I’m being tonight. With a quirked eyebrow, I hold them out to Gabrielle. “Two more?”
Gabrielle hesitates for a second—just a flicker—but it’s enough for me to notice. Of course, even five shots in, his reliable doctor brain hasn’t completely turned off.
So, I lean in slightly, summoning every ounce of charm I have. At this point, I don’t even care how thirsty I might look doing this. “You’ll be fine, right? With those muscles, you must have a pretty high tolerance for alcohol.”
