Flirting With Disaster by Sofia Harper Page A

making her way back down to them
with their drinks. Tate got the bright smile, too, when she settled
the glasses on the counter.
    She said, “Your friends suck. They didn't
order you anything.”
    “ I'm dating the owner,”
Tate said, “I think I'm covered.”
    Reid grabbed his drink and downed half of
it. The man was having trouble being friends with his sister's
boyfriend.
    It amused Dane to no end. “Karma. Such a
bitch.”
    Brooke put his Coke in front of him. He
squinted. Right. That's why they had never really touched. They'd
found ways around it. No, her hands weren't smooth, but that didn't
stop them from sparking something hot and unruly deep inside him.
She caught him staring and her breath hitched.
    He flexed his neck to keep the tension from
creeping up. “Let's find a table,” Dane suggested.
    Reid grinned, his malicious intent clear in
his eyes. “Let's sit at the bar. Gives me a better view of
everyone.”
    Peyton rounded the counter, her hands filled
with empties. “I told you I can handle drunks. A million
times.”
    Reid finished his drink. “I'm getting drunk
tonight. You might have to bounce me.”
    Brooke snorted. “So, is Dane the designated
driver?”
    “ No.” Reid shook his head.
“Dane's a wuss.”
    He scoffed at the insult.
“I could drink you under the table.”
    Brooke laughed. “And I could drink you both
under there.”
    Tate dug into his pocket and then threw a
twenty on the counter. “My money's on Brooke.”
    Peyton threw money on that pile. “Oh, we
have family dinner this week. My money's on Reid.”
    Brooke frowned at her friend. “But who'll
help you?”
    “ Tate, since he's not
drinking hard tonight.” Peyton smiled at him.
    “ Fine,” Tate said, “but
later—”
    “ Jesus,” Reid cursed. “At
least wait until I'm drunk before you two start.”
    Everyone else threw their own money into the
pot. Peyton collected the pile while Brooke lined up three shot
glasses. She motioned for Reid to wait. “We need to catch up
first.”
    Dane glanced at the bottle
of top-shelf whiskey. He was going to regret the shit out of
opening his mouth, but this was going to be a group event. No one
would be left alone and temptation could be skirted. Well worth the
hangover in the morning. He could avoid daily lunches with her by
sending emails to coordinate their watches or only meeting Brooke
at the coffee shop. He wasn't going down the road of dating a woman
who held such contempt for him, for being human, for wanting more
than what she was
willing to give. Fuck that. He'd made that mistake once and never
again, attraction be damned.
    He dug deeper into his wallet and paid for
another bottle. Brooke's brows rose, but her voice was even when
she said, “All right. Looks like I'm taking tomorrow off. On the
count of three.”
    Down went their first round. He pounded his
fist on the bar. Brooke's eyes watered until she let out a soft
whimper.
    Peyton sighed. “This is going to end so
badly for you, Reid.”
    “ You're right,” her brother
said. “I'm out.”
    Dane shook his head but faced Brooke. “You
and me, if you have the balls.”
    She poured the next round. “Bigger than
yours.”
    He couldn't help laughing. He waited until
she knocked back her drink to say, “If you ever asked nicely...I'd
show you.”
    She choked and he drank his whiskey before
she could reply. She leaned on the bar and her cleavage suddenly
became the focus of all his attention. He wanted to wet the tip of
his finger, draw it down and then back up...
    She said, a little breathless, “I think I
know what our wager is?”
    “ Yeah?” He finally managed
to look up, and she wore a wide grin.
    “ Go old school. A money
wager.”
    “ You know what would be
interesting?” Tate said.
    Wary, Dane asked, “What?”
    She poured the next round for them, and this
time the liquor went down smooth, which was the first sign that he
was going to really, really regret having indulged in this drinking
contest