A Brush with Love(29)

“Fits my dangerous personality and bad-boy charm.”

“Ha! Yeah right,” she said, pressing her thumb once more against the spot with a laugh. “You’re as soft as they come.”

Dan sputtered at her in mock outrage. Harper dropped her head to her hand and giggled at his indignation.

“It’s your turn,” she said after she caught her breath, gesturing at the game. Dan plucked out a block.

“How do you like your coffee?”

“With my oxygen,” Harper responded, already pulling out the next piece. “Favorite flavor of ice cream?”

“Peanut butter chocolate chip. Yours?” He pulled out a piece and watched the tower sway for a second.

“Strawberry.”

“Wow, you actually have an answer for a favorite things question?”

“I try not to mess around when it comes to food.”

“I’d like to take you out for ice cream sometime,” Dan said, his eyes wandering to her lips as he imagined the cool taste of strawberries on them.

Harper looked down, tucked her hair behind her ears, and let out a giggle. “It wasn’t your turn to ask another question.”

“It was more of a statement.”

Dan reached out, gently placing his hand over hers where it rested on the table. She glanced up at him through her lashes, her big brown eyes warming him, making him feel like he’d stepped into the sunshine after months of clouds, every cell hungry for more light and heat.

“Should we get one more drink?” Harper asked, breaking the tension and looking at their empty bottles.

Dan eyed her.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Harper turned to him, playfulness in her eyes. She clapped her hands down on his shoulders and tried to give him a serious look, but her lips twitched with a smile. “It’s a great idea.”

“Hmm, I’m gonna go ahead and say you’re a lightweight.” He tapped her nose with his index finger, letting it rest there.

Harper stared cross-eyed at it for a moment before moving her head and making a show of baring her teeth. She surprised them both when she opened her mouth and nipped at the tip of his finger with gentle pressure.

He hissed out a breath at the feel of her teeth around him, his blood pounding through his body. They stared at each other for a long moment.

“Let’s have one more drink,” she said, her teeth still lightly clamped around him, causing her words to distort. Dan gave a soft laugh and withdrew his finger, running his knuckles lightly against her cheek.

“One more drink,” he said slowly, and she rewarded him with a smile that would make the sun jealous. “But a Harper-sized drink. A beer in a shot glass–sized drink,” he added, before getting up and pushing through the growing crowd to the bar.

He glanced toward the pool tables on his way, and saw their friends bickering over a shot, a small pile of dollar bills stacked on the corner of the table. Despite the newness of the people, Dan couldn’t ignore the growing sense of belonging.

He got the drinks and moved back toward the table, a giddy buzz of excitement in each step.

“Thank you,” Harper said, as he set the drink in front of her. “You even gave me a big-girl glass. How generous.” She tapped his shin with her toe, making him smile.

“I aim to please,” he said, shooting her a wink and loving the blush blooming on her cheeks. “Is it my turn?”

Harper clucked her tongue and wagged a finger at him. “Nope. It’s mine,” she said, her smile turning lazy from the mixture of laughter and drinks.

She pulled out a piece and the tower swayed dangerously. It didn’t fall.

“How old were you when you lost your virginity?”

Dan choked on a sip of beer. When he caught his breath, he gaped at her wicked grin for a moment before laughing.

“Liquid courage, huh?” he teased, tilting his head toward her drink.

Harper shrugged.

“I was sixteen,” he said, pulling at the collar of his shirt. The bar was about fifty degrees warmer than it had been a minute ago.

“How was it?” she asked, her eyes exploring his face. Dan felt his whole body come alive under her gaze.

“Isn’t it my turn?”

Harper arched an eyebrow and plucked out another piece. “How was it?”

“Okay … that’s cheating, but whatever.” Dan ran a hand through his hair, unable to hide his embarrassed grin. He knew he was blushing. “I was a horny teenage boy. It was awesome. I was awesome. Rave reviews. Best twenty-eight seconds ever.”

Harper laughed so hard she snorted, then slapped her hands over her face. Dan couldn’t resist joining in.

“Okay, your turn. Age. Rating. All the good stuff.” Dan pulled out two more pieces.

Harper tried to steady her face, but giggles kept slipping out. “I was eighteen. Big year for me.”

“Clearly. So? How was it?”

Harper took a breath and blew it out, still smiling at him. She reached out, grasping his hand in both of hers. He didn’t know what she was doing, but he couldn’t stop staring at the points where their skin met.

She lifted his hand, looking at it closely. Then, without warning, she jerked it forward, toppling the remaining pieces of the Jenga tower. She laughed even harder.