Page 162 of The Bluffing Game

“Yikes, and you think there’s a possibility that I’m either one?”

“I guess I’m just asking.” She grins. “Though I think I know you well enough to know you’re not morally black. So, maybe morally gray or just a good guy.”

“Well, I guess you’ll just have to see.”

“You’re not easy to read—you know that, Dalton?”

“I could say the same about you, Sage.”

“What were you thinking that had you so deep in thought just now?” She tilts her head to the side and gazes at me. “You can tell me to mind my own business if you want, but you looked⁠—”

“Mind your own business.”

Her face drops, and I want to growl. I don’t want to hurt her, but I cannot bring her into my world. Into the craziness.

“It was nothing much. I was thinking about Toby’s mom.”

“Oh.” It’s one word, but it’s full of questions and curiosities.

I can tell she wants to ask more, but she doesn’t, and I’m grateful for that.

“We should go back inside. Are you sure you don’t want me to use my truck? It will save you some money at Home Depot.”

“I mean …” She pauses and then offers me an impish smile. “If you really don’t mind. I’m trying to budget, and it’s ninety-nine dollars an hour, plus the insurance, so that would be a savings.”

“I got you.”

I get off the swing and reach out my hand to help her as well. She takes it and stumbles a bit. I steady her and bring her into me. My hand slides around her waist, and she presses her soft hand into my chest. Her breathing is heavy, and I see her swallow hard as she looks up at me with big doe eyes.

“What would a morally black character do in this situation?” I ask her.

“I don’t know,” she squeaks out, but blushes a deep red.

“Maybe he’d slip his hands between your legs or pull your panties down and bend you over the swing and take you from behind,” I whisper in her ear. “I’m not going to do that.”

“Good.” She swallows again.

“I’m guessing a morally gray character might do something like this.” I gently lick her earlobe and kiss down the side of her face until I get to her lips. I then grab her face, and I’m about to kiss her when I pull back. “He’d kiss you hard and fast and slide you up against his body so you could feel his hardness pressed against your stomach.” I step back and smile.

“And then the good guy would just give you a chaste kiss like this.” I grab her hand and kiss her inner wrist and let it go. “And he’d have your heart fluttering for another reason.”

“What are you doing?” she says finally, her fingers playing with her hair as she stands there.

“Wondering if you can read my mind,” I say with a wink. “Can you guess which one of those things I’d really love to do right now?”

“I, uh, what?” She shakes her head, but her eyes don’t leave mine. “Are you going to tell me?”

“I’ll leave you to wonder, sweet Sage. Can’t have you knowing all my secrets just yet.”

Chapter 9

SAGE

The man is going to drive me crazy and make me forget all my plans. I practically stomp behind Dalton as we head back into the dive bar.

What did he mean he didn’t want me knowing all his secrets just yet? Who the hell is this man? And why do I care?

He is frustratingly annoying, bossy to the point of almost being insufferable, and I don’t even really know him. Though a secret part of me kinda likes the way he is looking out for Rosie and me. It is a caring sign, but I don’t know if that makes me like a toxic loser who always goes after the wrong men. Especially considering that Dalton is a single dad and was thinking about Toby’s mom, a lady I know nothing about.