Sawyer (Carolina Reapers 2)

“You think everything is better with liquor,” Axel said, taking a seat with Langley in tow. Faith and Lukas followed, as did Harper and Noble. Logan Ward was the last to complete our group, leaving Cannon Price and a few other players to play cards with Hudson and his wife.

“Not everything,” Connell said as I took the final seat at the table.

“Really?” Axel challenged.

Connell poured himself another finger from the scotch bottle he’d gotten from behind the bar. “Well,” he said. “I sure as shite ain’t skating with a drink in hand, eh, Cap?”

Axel laughed.

“The ice,” Connell continued. “Is the only thing in existence better than a drink,” he said, taking a drink for emphasis. “Better than food. Better than sex,” he pointed to the women at the table, eliciting territorial growls from the husbands at their sides, and he raised his hands up in defense.

“What about a good prank?” Langley challenged, and Connell’s eyes lit up.

“Aye’, a solidly executed prank is a close second to the ice.”

“A prank is above sex?” I blurted.

He laughed.

“Depends on the woman,” he said, shrugging and taking another pull of his scotch.

“That’s cold,” Noble said.

“A well-executed prank takes time, planning, calculation. It cannot be random. You have to know the person you’re going after. Have to understand what makes them laugh. Or understand what the others in the room will laugh at. It’s not as easy as seducing a woman.”

We all laughed at that.

“Clearly,” Lukas said as the laughter died down. “You haven’t seduced the right woman.” He tugged Faith in closer, kissing her forehead.

A twist stung my stomach. I was used to seeing the affection between my girlfriends and their husbands, but some days were harder than others. Not that I was a relationship girl, but I used to be. Used to think I was in love. Used to think I was capable of being cherished and desired on more levels than just physical.

I’d been an idiot. A stupid girl desperate for love, for connection, for someone who stayed.

My ex, Chad, had been the well-mannered, respectful stockbroker before he’d crushed my heart with the white lines he loved more than me. Before he decided that nothing else mattered, not even our years together.

I’d never be that stupid again. Because it didn’t matter whether someone left or if someone died. Love hurt more than it was worth.

“Who starts?” Lukas asked, breaking through the haunted memories of my past.

I hurried over to the bar and grabbed the bourbon bottle and some glasses before returning to the table. I needed another drink if Chad had somehow slipped past the mental cage I kept our history in. It didn’t matter that we’d been cordial the last time we’d spoken. I hated myself when I looked into my past, and therefore it was locked in a box and buried in the bottom of my soul.

“Connell, this was your grand scheme. You start,” Sawyer said.

“With pleasure,” he answered, downing the rest of his scotch and pouring himself another. He pointed with the glass in his hand at Logan Ward. “All right, pretty boy, truth or dare?”

Logan fiddled with the longneck resting on his knee. “Truth.”

“Gah,” Connell groaned. “All right then. Why is it that you have the face of an Adonis and bunnies literally fall at your feet, but we never see you take one home?”

Logan slowly brought the bottle to his lips, taking a good long pull before he responded. “Sex isn’t a sport to me. Not a race. And not everyone is good at it. The right partner, the person who can match you stroke for stroke? That is worth waiting for.”

A consecutive aww tumbled from all the girls’ lips, including mine. That was such an unexpected answer, even the men at the table were floored for a few seconds before booing. I knew it was all in good fun, seeing as how more than half the men at the table were happy, moon-eyed, and married.

“Not bad, Ward,” Connell said, taking another drink. “Not what I expected, but not bad.” He sighed. “You’re up.”

Logan scanned the faces around the table, and I was surprised by the anticipation filling my body. God, I may as well have been fourteen again.

“Faith,” Logan said, glancing at Faith with a smirk. Lukas cocked a brow at him, a silent warning to keep it cool with whatever was about to come out of his mouth. Logan noticed, pressed his lips together, and shook his head. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Faith said proudly and elbowed Lukas in the ribs.

Logan hissed as she handed him to the wolves.

Lukas chuckled, his intense stare not leaving Logan’s. I almost felt sorry for him.

“I dare you to…” Logan’s brow furrowed. “To kiss Lukas.” His words released on a disappointed breath, and we all booed—except for Lukas.

“That’s not fair,” Connell whined. “If you lot aren’t going to make it interesting then what’s the point?”