Chapter 4

Seeing my face, Max thought I was cold.

He shrugged off his jacket at once and draped it over my shoulders before I could say a word.

I jerked away like I'd been shocked, stuffed the jacket right back into his arms, and forced a laugh.

"No need. I'm hot right now. Honestly, I'm burning up."

Max stared at me blankly, then nodded. "Right, Mercy, your forehead's sweating."

I ranted at him in my head. Of course it is. You'd be sweating too if you got caught red-handed!

Neal was coming toward me with a black face, one step at a time.

I shot up out of my chair and hurried the whole way across to greet him.

I smiled until my face nearly cracked, and still it didn't buy me an ounce of a better look from him.

For some reason, seeing me so eager to please only seemed to darken his face further.

With the CEO himself here, the employees who had just scattered quickly gathered again around one table.

To squeeze out more time near Neal, Carolyn took it upon herself to order an entire wine list, then proposed:

"Let's play Truth or Dare."

Neal, still staring straight at me, nodded his agreement.

What sin did I commit in a past life to be born a black hole for games in this one?

First round, I landed dead-center on the penalty.

I gritted my teeth and picked truth, to play it safe.

Carolyn asked if there was anyone in the room I liked.

I nodded without hesitation, throwing looks at Neal as hard as I could to show him my heart, hoping to soothe that wounded little heart of his.

Instead the whole table read it wrong and burst into knowing catcalls aimed at me and Max.

And I couldn't understand what Max had to blush about!

My heart sank. I knew the night was completely done for.

Sure enough, the second penalty fell on me too.

I was about to pick truth again when everyone pinned the idea down hard. "Dare. This round you have to pick dare!"

I steeled myself and chose dare.

Then the whole crowd started chanting in unison. "Kiss Max! Kiss him! Kiss him!"

I froze on the spot.

Almost the same instant, my phone buzzed like mad.

Neal, dripping with jealousy, sent me a message.

"Mercedes Sullivan, you dare kiss him? I swear I'll drop dead in front of you right now!"