Contents (55)
- Dedication
- One
- Never Make a Scene
- Two
- Never Get Drunk
- Three
- Always Move Up the Ladder, Never Down
- Four
- Never Believe Gossip
- Five
- Never Make Impulse Decisions
- Six
- Never Break the Law/Get Arrested
- Seven
- Always Be Responsible
- Eight
- Always Dress Properly
- Nine
- Never Confide in Strangers
- Ten
- Never Make Exceptions
- Eleven
- Never Skinny Dip
- Twelve
- Never Make the First Move
- Thirteen
- Never Lie
- Fourteen
- Never Play Games
- Fifteen
- Never Dwell on the Past
- Sixteen
- Never Pick a Fight
- Seventeen
- Never Have I Ever
- Eighteen
- Never Sleep With Someone On The First Date
- Nineteen
- Never Stress Eat
- Twenty
- Never Mix Business and Pleasure
- Twenty-one
- Never Wash Dirty Laundry in Public
- Twenty-two
- Don’t Move In Without a Ring
- Sneak Peek - A Christmas Date
- One
- Christmas Is Coming
- Two
- Blue Christmas
- Three
- The Perfect Man for Christmas
- Also by Camilla Isley
- About the Author
- Acknowledgments
“Truth.”
“What about you? Carrying a torch for someone?”
“Nope.”
“Not even her?”
Richard’s features harden. “I had enough time to move on.” I’m about to ask more when he cuts me short. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Tell me something true you’ve never told anyone.”
Let’s see… “I don’t fold my bedsheets. I just crumple them up in a ball and store them at the back of a drawer.”
Richard laughs. “Guess I should’ve been more specific and asked for something embarrassing.”
“Poor linen management is embarrassing.” I smile. “Your pick.”
“Truth.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Do you have a thing for my shoes?”
“Ah.” He lowers his gaze to my feet and nods. “So you’ve noticed. Your turn.”
“Truth.”
“Ever thought of sleeping with your boss?”
In vino veritas and all that jazz, I tell the truth, “Yes. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Why did you sleep with Aurora Vanderbilt in LA?”
“She was a safe choice.”
I put a question mark on my face.
“She’s the kind of person I could never fall for,” Richard explains.
“And were you worried about… falling for someone else?”
Richard ignores the question. “Isn’t it my turn to ask?”
Still avoiding the topic, are we?
I nod.
“Truth or dare?” he demands.
“Truth.”
“Why did you come to my room that night?”
I consider my answer for a few seconds, then I stare at him boldly and say, “I wanted to hit on you. Or have you hit on me.” To stop him from asking more, I press the game forward. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Why choose someone you don’t really like?”
“No risk of getting hurt.”
“Also no risk of getting happy. Is that why you always pretend you don’t care about anything or anyone? Because the last time you cared, it ended badly?”
Richard looks down. “I guess, sometimes it just feels easier that way. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“The morning after, when you shut me out of your room, you were jealous.”
It’s more of a statement than a question.
I nod. “Truth or dare?”
His eyes darken. “Dare.”
I swallow and, never breaking eye contact, I speak two simple life-changing words. “Kiss me.”
Slowly, deliberately, Richard closes the space between us. He cups my face and looks at me a moment longer before his lips are on mine and the world tilts upside-down. I lose myself in the kiss. It’s gentle at first, tentative, exploring. Then needier, hungry. I want it to never stop, but it does all too quickly.
Richard nuzzles my neck, whispering, “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.”
“Stay at my place tonight.”
Eighteen
Never Sleep With Someone On The First Date
Outside the bar, I feel dizzy. And it has nothing to do with the alcohol and everything to do with the man walking by my side.
“Want to take the short or long way home?” Richard asks. “Long one has a view.”
“Long way it is, I could use some fresh air.”
Richard takes my hand and leads the way. The simple gesture makes me ridiculously giddy, especially when his thumb brushes against my palm, making me shiver with the uncontrollable desire to feel those hands all over me.