Whiskey Masked Attraction

wn back, crimson lips parted just enough to reveal teeth as white and sharp as tru

rinks, the cards, and the destr

le in the center, dimly lit by a brass chandelier. It was Grant Reid's pride: his private den of p

here. Not in this ro

self another shot of his uncle's forty-year-old Glenlivet. Scre

our," came a voice, sm

tur

clung to her like a second skin. Her dark hair fell in effortless waves over one shoulde

he said, raising hi

're the only one here wh

not from the liqu

him like smoke, jasmine, vanilla, and something darker. "That's th

d from the table. "Yo

ner watches, politicians with polished lies. All friends of his uncle, p

he table like warnings. Scotch burn

ame s

most watched woman in the room. She didn't look at him again, but he felt her, her gaze like a h

nd, he bluffed. By the fourth, Gr

I never figured you were the type to take r

e it

g. The

g a chip between his fingers.

Grant said. "Don't follow his legacy just

xon downed another shot,

pering something into Grant's ear, her hand brushing his shoulder. Then her eyes fli

t, then, without waiting for permission,

He was there because Grant summoned him like a pawn, one reminder

ut in his recliner, snoring with a half-burnt cigar in one

Glenlivet. He didn't want to go back to the empty guesthouse. T

ike it hurts?" ca

le

ss of wine in her hand. Her hair was up, strands fa

eak up on peop

." She slid onto the stool beside hi

d. "That

ur scars. He likes

he amber liquid in his glas

hy

I'm hoping one day, I'll

ce like velvet. "He only pla

, the soft downturn of her lips.

ke she'd been asked the o

sts more than stayi

m spoke. The clock ticked. A

her. "Then drink with me. If we're both

clinked her glass ag

y d

r. Her hand brushed his when she set he

about it?" she as

ut w

ing down. The house.

r, really looke

ckled his jaw. "Then maybe we'r

hers before he th

g and something that had been building from the

d him bac

waist, silk and skin beneath his fingers. She tasted lik

h

pulling back. Her eyes searched his

est heaved

her of t

thunder

hearts bea

distance, Grant Reid