Excerpt from
Truth and Dare

Max walked toward me, thumb hooked under the shoulder strap of his bag, and smiled. Clearly, he aces the masculinity test with no preparation at all. He tilted his head, like he was thinking over something. Obviously, he had no idea he could ask me anything, and I’d say yes. Readily. Breathlessly.

 “So,” he said, dragging out the word, “about dinner tonight—”

 “Oh, I got it,” I said, waking up my phone. “Sofia texted me everything. Reservations downstairs at seven o’clock.” From the look of his furrowed brow, I wondered if I had a fleck of apple skin stuck between my teeth from my mid-flight snack.

 “Yeah…there’s been a slight change of plans. You and Ethan were having dinner downstairs. I have something else planned for us.”

 Us. The word sounded dreamy coming from his mouth, floating through the air like a kite in springtime. My toes curled inside my sandals.

 “That text,” he said, gaze flickering to his phone, “was from one of my best friends from college. We’re meeting him and his wife for supper. I don’t know what the hell got into Ethan.” He rubbed his knuckles under his chin. “You can’t come to the coast and eat hotel food. Even this hotel’s food.”

 I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “No, of course not.”

 “We’re meeting Jack and Leigh at Thibodeaux’s at eight.”

 Thibodeaux’s. The name twirled through my thoughts.

 Max leaned a shoulder on the wall, and our gazes met. “It’s this fantastic urban grill—gorgeous waterfront views—fresh catch served daily. Exceptional food and service—”

 As exceptional as you…?

 “—so, how’s that sound?”

 My heart skipped a pair of beats, then I relaxed into my natural Goldie grin. “Sounds wonderful.”

© 2024 Ann M. Trader