Free Best Fake Day by Tracey Rogers Page A

She would always show me the family albums and let me play dress-up with her clothes. I loved looking at their wedding album. They looked so happy. Seeing Mum and Dad, how perfect that day was for them...” Her gaze directed him to the bottle and they both fixed intently on the spinning blur.
    He cursed.
    “Truth or dare?”
    “Truth,” he muttered. “Wait, you didn’t ask the question first.”
    “Too late,” she said, allowing a smug smile to curl her lips. “Why did you leave so suddenly that night?”
    His drawn-out pause seemed to still the air.
    “The night before Peter decided to show his disapproval with his fists. It was one time to many. There was a heated argument, and for the first time I wanted to give back some of the anger he had given me. I looked down at my clenched fist and knew I didn’t want to become the person he was. The night after, I decided it would be better for everyone if I left.”
    Izzy held a breath as he spoke in a measured tone. He never spoke of family life, although his hurt was often palpable, and she thought it strange that he now called his father Peter. The thought of that man hurting Jack churned her insides. He always seemed like a cold, distant man. Nothing Jack ever did was right or earned his pride, so eventually Jack stopped trying. Yet Michael, his brother, was the golden boy. She wondered what the argument was about. She knew there was so much more of that story to tell but wouldn’t press him on it. Already she wanted to hold him tightly until her arms ached almost as much as her heart.
    With her gaze fixed on Jack’s face, she twirled the bottle.
    “Do you find me attractive? Truth or dare?
    “Truth,” he answered evenly. “Yes.”
    Izzy masked her flush of pleasure—and relief. Relief until Jack rested his large hand on the bottle again, his gaze fixed on her as he flicked his wrist.
    Oh crap!
    He didn’t smile with satisfaction this time; instead he rested his hands on his thighs and focused on Izzy until the sweep of her tongue over her dry mouth betrayed her nerves.
    “Did you have feelings for me? Truth or dare?”
    “Truth. Yes,” she said quickly. He said ‘did’ making her answer easy even though a slight wobble crept into her voice. He took his turn with the bottle. It turned a full circle. Was he cheating?
    “Do you have feelings for me now?” he asked with a husky tone that heated her belly.
    She never could lie. “Sexual ones, yes.” Because it could only be attraction she felt, couldn’t it?
    Dropping her gaze from the intensity of his, she grabbed the bottle, putting her anxiety in her spin. As it circled around and around, her belly seemed to coil with it, increasing her awareness of the man sitting just an arm stretch away.
    It stopped. Pointing straight in the direction of her need. She put the wine to her lips.
    “What’s the importance of this property you need? Truth or dare.” And just like that the light behind his gray eyes seemed to switch off. The silvery shields snapped up almost like shutters. Impenetrable.
    His huge shoulders rose with his sucked in breath. “Dare.”
    His vehemence startled her. She wanted to know what secrets he hid, but more than that she wanted to see that light behind his eyes again. She wanted those shutters down. Right the way down.
    Contemplating her bravery she rose to settle on her haunches. “Kiss me,” she demanded.
    Those eyes sparkled to life. “What?”
    “Kiss me. Kiss me like you promised—like a man.”
    “Izzy—”
    “I’m daring—no—I’m asking you to kiss me like a man.”
    Her pulse thundered as she waited for what seemed like an agonizingly long time. Until finally the sound of a bottle clattering along the floor reached her ears just a second before his mouth took hers. He gave her exactly what she’d asked for, and more than she could ever have imagined. His lips were soft yet demanding as he captured her face in his hands, exploring her lips with precision and