Seth stared blankly at her, struggling to disperse the fog of desire clouding his mind. More than anything, he was shocked by her acquiescence. He didn’t think he had a real chance with her. Even though he was the one who’d suggested the dare, a flash of nervousness hit him. He had no idea what he was getting into, did he? She wasn’t just any other woman. She was Tara. He was already well on his way to being infatuated with her. Taking his eyes off of her when she was nearby was a study in discipline.

Could he say with confidence that he wouldn’t feel more for her as the month passed? It was a solid maybe. Well, fuck it. He was moving to Paris in a month. He intended to make it a month to remember with this incredible woman who made him dizzy with desire. Call it a farewell gift to myself.

“Good choice,” he said, unable to hold back his wolfish grin. “You won’t regret it.”

A soft blush climbed to her cheeks, but her words were as dry as the Mohave Desert. “There’s that inflated ego again.”

“Come sit down,” Seth said, patting the seat beside him. He still could hardly believe that she’d agreed to his dare. He wanted her close by to assure him that it was really happening. “You’ve been standing behind the bar this whole time. Don’t your legs get tired?”

“Nah. I’m used to it. But I’ll join you to celebrate our ridiculous arrangement.”

She filled up a pitcher and set out some beer nuts before coming to sit beside him.

“To the dating dare.” He raised his glass with a happy grin, and forced aside his unease. He would have Tara to himself for four whole dates. How could that be anything but fun? “It’s going to be a wild ride.”

“You’re so corny. Is this what I have to look forward to in the next month?”

“This and so much more awesomeness,” he said, hamming it up.

Tara rolled her eyes, but her smile was blinding. “You certainly won’t be boring.”

Since their drinking game had come to a very satisfactory conclusion, Seth switched to water, being mindful that he had to drive back to his hotel later. While Tara appeared to be in a lighter mood than before, she continued to drown her lingering sorrows in her beer.

Her alcohol tolerance was impressive. Her gaze was focused and she enunciated each word perfectly even after drinking all the penalty beer, as well as from the pitcher in front of them. The woman could probably drink him under the table. But with a suddenness that startled him, Tara’s eyes went from sparkling with humor to clouded with alcohol.

“Are you feeling okay?” Seth asked. “We should call it a night.”

She seemed to be trying to focus on his face, but ended up staring at the tip of his nose, making herself cross-eyed.

“Don’t be such a … um … party pooper,” she slurred, drawing her brows down. Then she burst into a fit of giggles. “Party pooper. It’s funny because … poop. Quit pooping on the party, Seth.”