“You’re a dangerous man, Josiah Ryder,” she said as she scrambled to her knees.
He dropped beside her at the very edge of the mattress, pleased to see her looking so relaxed in spite of him changing the rules. “You scored the first point,” he protested.
Lisa snagged a second pillow from the pile, holding it at the ready. “Are we waging war?”
“That all depends. If tonight is all about comfort and what makes us happy, what’s your favourite game?”
The room was still bathed in sunset colours, and as she settled back on her heels and pressed the pillow against her belly, everything about her softened, head tilting down and eyes heating up. “Well, I kind of thought we were getting started on it a few moments ago.”
Josiah chuckled. “Your favouritechildhoodgame,” he clarified.
She adjusted position, looking thoughtful as she glanced around the room. “We weren’t much for board games. Cards or maybe Yahtzee.”
“Younger,” Josiah encouraged. “What games did you want to play over and over again that drove your older sisters mad?”
He had her attention. “Hungry Hungry Hippos. Kerplunk. Twister. You got any of those lying around?”
“Do I have any of those? What kind of a comfort date would this be without a rousing game of Hungry Hippos?” He stood and went to the cupboard built into the side wall. He opened both doors wide then turned to watch as Lisa pressed both hands to her face, mouth falling open.
“Oh myGod. You’re not serious.” She scrambled across the mattress on her hands and knees, swinging her legs around and all but throwing herself to the floor so she could pop up and examine his treasure trove of classic children’s games more thoroughly. “This isincredible. Where did you get them all?”
“Some are from when I was growing up. Some from garage sales or thrift shops. Every time I spot a game, I grab it.”
Lisa ran a hand along the shelves, glancing back at him with delight dancing in her eyes.
Her reaction was a total kick. The tension in his shoulders eased away.
Diving into sex was a temptation, especially after how hot a simple kiss had been. Going the right speed was going to be brutal. He liked his pleasures, and he liked making a woman feel good. Lisa seemed to run her life at thathappy to give, happy to receivepace as well.
But he hadn’t lied when he’d talked about how them being a couple was complicated. Falling into bed tonight would be the simplest thing in the world.
He was also convinced it would be the biggest mistake ever.
“This one. I haven’t played Operation in ages.” Lisa twisted toward him with a box in her hands. “Tamara always thought she was the best, butIam unbeatable.”
“We’ll see about that,” Josiah returned.
She crawled back onto the mattress, opened the box and set the game squarely in the middle of the space. “Interesting place for a bed, Joe.”
He settled at an angle beside her, slapping down the shot of annoyance that rushed out of nowhere. “This big space is a nice place to just hang out and read, or for extra overnight guests. And I’m not particularly fond of Joe as a name.”
He said it casually, but Lisa’s head snapped up. She examined him thoroughly before nodding. “No problem. So, you want to go first?”
“Rules say the youngest goes first.” Josiah glanced at her. “Which means for the first time in my life, I don’t think I start.”
“We’re going to play by the rules? Shocking.” Lisa relaxed on her elbow, smiling up at him. “My birthday is June twenty-third, and I’ll be turning twenty-seven.”
“September thirteenth, and I blew by thirty over five years ago.” He couldn’t resist. He leaned in close enough to brush his lips against hers. A brief, almost chaste, touch. “Looks as if you start.”
She let out a slow, uneven breath. “You sure this is the game you want to play?”
No, but the game they both wanted was off the table for the night. “I think it’s safer if we keep something between us,” he said softly. “Let’s not rush, although I’ll admit I’m looking forward to our next date very much.”
Her gaze drifted down his body before returning to his eyes. She nodded firmly. “You’re right, on both counts.” Lisa pulled a card. “Let me deal with your funny bone.”
She leaned over the board, her hair falling in a curtain over her cheek. As she reached the tweezers toward the narrow opening, he stroked his fingers through the long, satiny length.
The buzzer went off the instant he touched her, and Lisa swore softly before lifting her face to him. A mock scowl scalded him. “You’re playing dirty.”
