Page 155 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

“You look really handsome.” Pulling back too soon, she pats my chest and studies my face. My hands itch to hold her, to grab her hips and pull her close.

Can she feel my heart race?

Does she know what it means?

“You look so beautiful, Laine. Really, truly beautiful.”

“Yeah?” Her bright eyes flicker over my face. “Thanks. I put extra effort into it tonight. I wanted to look nice.”

“You always look beautiful.” Tossing my nerves away, I take a step closer until my legs brush hers. If she leaned in just a little bit closer, she’d be straddling my thigh. “You’re the first person I saw when we walked in.” Our eyes meet. “Then you smiled.”

She blushes. “You’re full of compliments tonight, huh? I like it.”

“Just the truth,” I murmur. I watch her manicured hands with sparkling nails lift the almost empty cocktail to her lips.

Pulling away and staring into my eyes, she swallows the concoction and flashes a grin. “This thing is like, ninety percent rum.”

I lift a brow. “Bartender trying to get you guys drunk?”

Snickering, she chugs the last mouthful and scrunches her eyes closed. “Maybe. I kinda tried to flirt with him when we ordered, so it might’ve been my own fault.”

“Tryingto flirt?” I shake my head. “Poor bastard had no chance.”

Blushing, she taps my arm, but jumps when Jessie screeches from across the bar. “Baby! They got karaoke!”

“No!” Laine slams her hip against the pool table when Jess sprints across the room and Kane follows in her wake. “No! No karaoke. I don’t wanna.”

“One round,” Jess pleads. She accepts her second drink when Kane arrives with a tray. Sipping, she scowls and turns to Kane. “He didn’t try nearly as hard this time; you intimidated our liquor supplier, Bishop.”

“No, he’s nobody to you, Blondie. I’m your liquor supplier, and I’d rather not have your stomach pumped tonight. Enjoy your drink and zip your lips.”

“Baby?” Jess turns to Laine. “Listen to the sass? We’ve gotta show them who’s boss.”

“I don’t wanna,” Laine whines. “I haven’t done it in forever, plus Kane will have Ang. That’s hardly fair.”

“Wait.” Kane frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Karaoke.” Turning, Jess meets his eyes defiantly. “Girls versus boys. Baby and I challenge you to a karaoke competition.”

Laine groans. “No,wedon’t. She does.”

Kane’s eyes narrow as he considers. “How does one win or lose? There are no points. It’s all subjective.”

“Crowd decides,” I murmur. “Crowds are pretty vocal at these things, so we’d know.”

“But the girls have an unfair advantage.”

Jess thrusts a finger in my face. “He’s in a band, plays, and writes music for money. They’ve sold music to massive recording studios in their spare friggin time. What kind of advantage do you suggest we have?”

He rolls his eyes. “Sex sells, Blondie. You didn’t see all the guys in this place – you’ve already won.”

“You too scared?” she challenges. “Fifty dollar bet, and I’ll do that thing you like.”

His eyes shoot wide. “In the bathroom.”

My stomach turns when she counters with, “Hotel bathroom.”

“Bathrooms here… at my discretion… twice. Codeword: Jericho.”

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