Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Sully’s arm slid along the back of my chair, his fingers brushing my shoulder in what felt like approval. “Darby has a gift for getting under people’s skin,” he said, his voice warm with something that sounded dangerously like pride.
“I’ve noticed,” Tonio replied dryly, lifting his wine glass in what might have been a salute. “I suspect we’re in for an interesting evening.”
By the time our entrees arrived, I’d managed to transform our stuffy private dining room into something resembling an actual party. Jason had become our unofficial ringleader among the staff, bringing two more waiters and even one of the line cooks into our orbit. The sommelier, a thin woman with impeccable posture (for a while) and a hidden tattoo peeking from beneath her collar that I’d somehow managed to get her to show us, was now sitting in a chair pulled up to our table, explaining the finer points of wine regions to an increasingly amused Sully. I’d be jealous except she was moving past tipsy and headed to intoxicated.
“And that’s why Burgundy wines have that earthy undertone,” she concluded with a small hiccup, gesturing with her half-empty glass. Her name was Elise, and she’d warmed up considerably after I’d complimented the subtle wine bottle and roses design inked along her collarbone. Might also have been the vodka shots I got her to do. Until she started chasing them with the wine. Woman really liked to drink.
“Fascinating,” Sully drawled, catching my eye with a look that said he knew exactly what I was doing and was enjoying the show. He also squeezed my knee gently under the table.
I winked at him before turning my attention to the bartender I’d convinced to join us on his break. He was teaching Tonio how to make some complicated cocktail. My father -- and God, that word still felt strange in my head -- was watching with surprising interest, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms, one with a tattoo winding from his wrist up into his shirt.
“Hey, Jason. See if you can find some Crown Royal. Bring shot glasses.”
“Sure.” He hurried off to retrieve the requested whisky. I was being careful, but I wasn’t one to waste a good party and was a firm believer that any party was a good party. If you were bad enough. So, while I was most definitely drinking, I was trying to stick mostly to my beer. But Crown Royal, I could drink the shit out of. I might get wasted, but I wouldn’t get hung over. Perfect!
Once Jason came back, I poured everyone a shot. “All right,” I announced. “Everyone takes a glass.”
“What’s the occasion?” Sully asked with a grin. Of course my man was willing to play along.
“I thought a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’ would be a fab way to spend the night with strangers.”
Jason nearly choked on his drink. “Seriously? That’s a college frat party game.”
“And it’s perfect for getting to know new people,” I insisted. “Or for discovering a person’s tells.” I shot a pointed glance at Tonio, who merely raised an eyebrow in challenge.
“I’m game,” Sully said with a grin. He sat back in his chair, his suit jacket long gone. He’d rolled up his sleeves too. Muscular, vein-roped arms, and tattoos creeping up his arms in various designs… Yummy! The man was sexy as fuck. And if I hadn’t offered the woman so much to drink -- she still was licking her lips and looked like she was just itching to grab Sully’s forearm and rub her face against it -- I’d claw her fucking eyes out. But any flirting she was doing was one-sided, and she was wasted. Even if Sully was interested, nothing was happening tonight. And I could hardly fault the woman. What can I say? Play hard, pay hard.
“Excellent! I’ll start.” I raised my glass. “Never have I ever… been arrested.” And downed my shot.
Sully immediately took a drink, as did the line cook and, surprisingly, Elise. She hiccupped. Then giggled. Tonio, however, merely smiled.
“Really?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Not once?”
“Being arrested requires making mistakes,” he replied smoothly. “I prefer not to make those kinds of mistakes.”
“Your turn, boss.” The bartender poured another round to those of us who were empty. Everyone seemed much more comfortable now that we’d all had a few drinks. Even Tonio.
“Never have I ever…” Tonio paused, considering, “hustled someone at pool.”
I grinned, sucking back a second shot. He’d clearly been paying attention to the stories Sully had shared about how we met. The game continued, rounds of increasingly outrageous and ridiculous confessions punctuated by laughter and the clink of glasses.
With each new round of drinks, I made sure Tonio’s glass was fuller than mine, casually topping him up whenever I refreshed my own. I’d perfected the art of pretending to drink more than I actually was, taking small sips while making it look like generous swallows.