Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,24

I start to grow brave. “Well, my grandmother always loved the subject of English, and before she died, she asked me to honor her dream of enjoying the written word.”

He nods his head at me and smiles. “Now you’re just making fun of me, but I can see you’re slowly getting the hang of it.”

I grin, mentally patting my back. “So I can forfeit these last two shots then?”

He shakes his head. “Oh, no. I never said that. You used my grandmother as a way of answering my question. Drink.”

It doesn’t surprise me when he takes this position. I don’t even care. I’m enjoying myself too much to even bother arguing. Plus, the shots are going down like treats. I quickly down the two I have left and wipe my mouth.

“I have four left, so you better make the next question a good one.”

I sit for a while, contemplating my next move. My head is becoming very fuzzy now, so my thought processes are slower than normal.

“I think I’ve found one. What is your favorite household chore?”

Hopefully, I’ve finally got him. You can’t get more boring than any household chore.

“Well, I do like to dust. I like to get the feather duster out and dust all the cabinets and pictures when no one else is here.”

I laugh so hard I nearly fall off my chair. “Careful, Ana. I don’t know what’s so funny.”

I look up at his six-foot-four frame. His solid chest and stance that make Jake all man in every sense of the word, and I almost pee myself laughing. “You … wearing a little apron and going around with your little feather duster. This is something I have to see.” I think I’m going to die from a heart attack.

“I never said I wore an apron.” He looks away for a moment in thought. “I might just do that next time, though.” The hysterics get louder as I realize I’m feeling more than a little drunk. “I take it that you quite like that answer, which means I win.”

I nod my head. “I think having me almost wet myself laughing proves that point. Let’s not forget that I’ve drunk all five of mine, and you still have four left.”

I pick up two more of his shots and down them. “There. That should help you out a bit,” I giggle.

He looks amused. “Are you saying I can’t handle my liquor?”

I shake my head with a drunken giggle. “No, of course not, Jake. Never.”

This prompts Jake to pick up the remaining two shots and down them one by one. I clap my hands. “Way to go, lightweight!” I shout.

Lifting my finger up in the air, I wiggle it at him. I stare at it for a moment, and then my finger starts to move towards my nose—almost like some unseen force is guiding my movements. Jake laughs at me, and I know I must look comical as I go cross-eyed.

“Jake, I can’t find my finger. It’s gone. First, it was there right in front of me, and now it’s disappeared.” I giggle again, but before I begin to slip off my stool again, I catch my foot on the bottom rung of the stool and straighten up. Jake shakes his head, comes around the bar, and grabs my finger, pulling me out of my stare. “Oh! There it is!”

He wraps my arm around his shoulder and hoists me up. “I think we’ve had enough to drink now. Don’t you?”

I try to nod, but it seems to be more difficult than normal. “You saw me naked,” I say, giggling into his chest and breathing in his beautiful scent.

“Yes, I did,” he answers.

I start blowing raspberries into his chest. Amused by my own antics, I then begin to giggle like an idiot. Somehow, he manages to haul me up the stairs. Looking up to him all dreamy-eyed, I grab his nose and wiggle it. “You’re so cute, Mr. Bennett. Do you know that? Your lips look so soft and kissable.”

He sets me down on my bed and pulls my feet over to slide them under the covers. “You really have had too much.”

He makes sure I’m settled before turning to leave. “Don’t go,” I whisper. He stops in his tracks and swings round. “Hold me for a bit … just until I fall asleep. Please?”

He stands there, hesitating for a few moments, but I soon feel the weight of his body pressed against mine. Careful not to get under the covers, he