Risking the Shot (Stick Side #4) - Amy Aislin Page 0,46

bag, he placed one hand underneath in case it broke and splashed $110 worth of Scottish alcohol onto the pavement and walked up the stairs to Dakota’s porch. He was about to brave letting go of the bag to knock when the door flew open.

And there went his heart again.

Dressed in black jeans and a navy-blue sweater with a half zipper undone at the throat, and with his hair parted at the side, Dakota was elegantly casual in a way that had Tay questioning the choice of restaurant he’d made for tonight.

The way Dakota’s eyes warmed, though? And the way his lips kicked up? It had Tay forgetting he’d been anxious about anything.

“Hey. Saw your headlights.” Dakota pulled the door open wider and stepped aside. “Come in. I just need my coat.” He was already in boots, and he held a scarf in his other hand.

Tay bumped the door closed with his hip, feeling suddenly a tad uneasy about his choice of gift now that he was here. Damn it, he should’ve gone for the flowers. A bright bouquet of daffodils or something equally as eye-catching. He could’ve saved his ostentatiously priced scotch for their fifth date or Dakota’s birthday—whenever that was—or their anniversary. Assuming they made it that far.

He’d been trying to avoid looking like he was trying too hard. Now he just looked desperate.

Oh well. Nothing to do about it now. At least Dakota would think of him when he poured himself a glass of Dalwhinnie after a long day at work?

Huh. There was a silver lining after all.

“Uh.” He held the bag out. “This is for you. In lieu of flowers. Because flowers are . . .” Useless? Make me sneeze? Need to be babied to death? Literally.

Dakota zipped up his peacoat, one eyebrow going up. “Are . . . ?”

“Uh.” Tay got lost in his smile. “Bright?”

Dakota’s lips pressed together but amusement bled through in his eyes. “Thank you.” Taking the bag out of Tay’s hands, he grunted at the weight before removing the bottle from inside. Glimpsing the label, he whistled low, both eyebrows shooting up. “This is nice stuff, Tay.”

“Yeah?” Pleasure zinged through Tay and he took a step closer, into Dakota’s personal space. “The guy at the liquor store recommended it. I hope it’s good.”

“It’s definitely that.” Dakota put the bottle back in the bag and set the bag on the floor next to the bench. Rounding on Tay with a smile that made Tay’s toes curl, he said, “Maybe I’ll even let you taste it later.”

Tay brought his own smiling mouth to Dakota’s. “Just maybe?” he whispered.

In the next second, Tay was being kissed to within an inch of life. God, he loved that Dakota didn’t hold back.

Dakota tasted minty, and he smelled like laundry detergent and soap and an underlying hint of something woodsy. Clutching the front of his coat, Tay let him control the kiss because Dakota kissed like he wanted to taste every inch of him. Like he wanted to savor every piece of Tay. Like it was a prelude to sex.

Maybe they could skip dinner?

No. No, no. Tay had agonized over this date for days. They were going out, even if he spent the next couple of hours with a permanent semi.

Dakota changed the angle of the kiss, slotting their lips together more deeply. Moaning, Tay gripped the back of Dakota’s neck with one hand, fingers toying with the hairs there.

They’d go on that date. They really would.

In just a second.

Lips swept down the underside of his jaw and nosed underneath his scarf. Tay’s head fell back, thumping against the wall behind him.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Dakota said, his rough murmur making Tay shiver.

“I’m wearing just enough to frequent a restaurant.”

Chuckling softly, Dakota kissed him again, once, twice, three times, before stepping away and pulling leather gloves out of his pocket. “I suppose I’ll have to wait a couple of hours before you can taste my new scotch.”

Was taste my new scotch a euphemism? Judging by Dakota’s unholy smirk as he opened the door and gestured Tay ahead of him, yes, yes it was.

Tay couldn’t have been more delighted had he won the Stanley Cup on his birthday.

To Dakota’s surprise, Tay led him past the two SUVs in the driveway and they walked to wherever they were going. The sun was still up, owing to this morning’s time change—springing forward sucked for a few days as he got used to it, but he couldn’t deny he loved