Chapter Eight

Jordan won the toss. "Let me think a minute," she said. Last time she had played this game was at a dinner party at her apartment months before she met Woody. And Nigel had supplied the questions. "Okay….tattoos. Got any tattoos, Woody?"

He grinned. "That's easy. Truth. And the answers no. No tattoos on this body. My turn."

He noted her nervous look. "What about you? Any tattoos?"

She smirked. "Truth. Yeah. One."

Woody's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "Where?"

She laughed. "That's two questions…and I answered the first. So now it's my turn. Hmmmm…okay. First car wreck. How old were you?"

"Truth. Seventeen. I accidentally hit a mailbox backing out of my best friend's driveway. My turn. Where's the tattoo?"

Jordan blushed slightly, trying to decide whether or not to show him or take his dare. "How bad are the dares going to get?" she hedged.

"You'll just have to wait and see."

"Okay….Truth." She got to her knees from where she had been sitting and unbuttoned the top of her jeans and pushed the waistband down a few inches. There, dancing across her hipbone was a tiny butterfly, done in minute perfection. Just as quickly as she had shown it to him, she pulled the waistband back up and refastened her pants. Woody tried to regain normal breathing again. "My turn," she said, thinking a minute. "First kiss. Where was it and who was it with?"

"Truth. Debbie Mansing. Fourth grade. Under the jungle gym on the playground…after school."

"Wow. They start you young in Kewuanne, don't they?"

He gave her a wicked grin. "Now you. Where was your first kiss and who was it with?"

"Truth. Tommy Bolby. Eighth grade. Valentines Day dance at school."

This is too easy… Woody thought. It's time to turn up the heat just a little. "Now me. When did you lose your virginity?"

"That's a little personal, Woody."

"You can always take the dare."

"I don't think so. Truth." She did turn red this time. "Twenty-one," she said quietly.

He softened immediately. He didn't mean to embarrass her. And he didn't expect that answer…Sheswiftly regained her composure. "How about you?" she quickly asked.

"Truth. Nineteen. Wish I could say I waited as long as you did. First car?" he asked, beginning to steer the game back to more neutral ground.

"Truth. Mustang."

And the game continued for another hour or longer, with both of them being careful to keep the questions from getting too personal again. Finally, Woody got two more beers from the refrigerator. After drinking more than half, he returned to the game. "If I remember correctly, it's my turn. How long have you been dating John?"

She gave him a glare. He carefully avoided looking at her. "Truth. Four months."

So she didn't start seeing him until after that night in her apartment. Woody swallowed hard. He thought he knew what Jordan's next question would be.

"What's Barbie's bra cup size?"

That wasn't what he expected and the look on his face said it. She grinned at him. "Come on…tell me the truth or take my dare."

He wasn't going to be the first to take the dare. Feeling the sweat begin to pop out on his forehead, he said, "Truth. 38C."

"Wow. You like them big."

"If it's any consolation, they're not all hers."

"Little help from Dr. Silicon?"

"Just a bit. My turn. How big is your bra cup?"

Jordan nearly spewed her beer. Laughing, she said, "Truth. Not as big as hers."

"No fair. You have to give me a number."

"No one said that. I just have to answer the question. And I did. My turn. Are you happy, Woody?"

Ouch. That's different. Taking a deep breath, he answered. "Truth. No."

It was her turn to look surprised. "Why?"

"Uh-uh, Dr. Cavanaugh. You didn't let me ask two questions in a row. You can't either. Now it's my turn. Who's a better kisser, me or John?"

"What?"

"You heard me. Truth or dare….who's a better kisser, me or John?"

"Do I have to answer that?"

"You can take the dare."

There was no way she was going to answer that question. It wasn't fair to anybody involved….and she hated comparisons. "You're both different," she tried to reply.

"That's not what I asked. I asked you who you thought was better – me or him. You're bound to have an opinion."

Swallowing hard, she said. "I'll take the dare."

"Kiss me."

"Woody…"

"That's the dare. Kiss me." And his eyes were daring her to complete the act.

"Come on, Woody…."

"Nope. You know the rules. You took the dare. Come here and kiss me."

Just a little one won't hurt, she thought as she turned to him and leaned in to lightly touch his lips with hers, then we'll stop this silly game.

Only things weren't working out like she had planned. Woody's lips were smooth and pliant beneath hers, gently caressing hers back, willing her to want more…coaxing her to linger there a little longer…deepen the kiss just a little more. Unconsciously, she moved closer to him and did just that, then feeling his arms snake around her in response. This is getting out of control, she thought, as his teeth caught her lower lip and softly tugged at it, opening her mouth for him. Soon those kisses they shared in the desert paled in comparison to the passion that was mounting in the snowed-in cabin. His tongue gently began tangling with hers….For endless minutes she was lost…in him…in his kisses.

Then the voice in the back of her head broke in: This is a game. Are you going to let this man break your heart again?

Pulling away, she said breathlessly, "I took the dare….maybe we should stop now."

"No way. I still have some questions I want answered. But it's your turn now."

Jordan had just as many questions. And if they were going to use the game as a vehicle to clear the air, she was all for it. She just couldn't let him touch her again…as much as she wanted him to. "Okay. Here's one for you. Why'd you choose Kim over me?"

"What if I decide I want the dare on this one?"

"I hope you'll tell me the truth…no matter how much it hurts. I need to know."

He ran his fingers through his hair and finally spoke. "Okay," he said quietly, "Truth. I needed someone who needed me. You could get along with me or without me just fine. It was like I didn't really matter. If I stayed in Boston, you'd be content just flirting with me. If I left, it wouldn't break your heart….you'd go on with your life. You wouldn't ask me to stay….or follow me and try to get me to come back. You didn't need me. Kim made me feel…needed…wanted. At least at the beginning…now….well, now I don't know. I guess that's why I'm unhappy."

Jordan looked away after his confession, biting her lip so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. He thinks I don't need him?…Jesus…..I needed him…need him more than I need my next breath. Somewhat regaining her composure, she said, "I don't know what made you think I didn't need you. I did…so badly. When you were with Devin, and then when you were trying to get over her death, I missed you so very much. It hurt horribly when you pushed me away." Her voice broke. "And then when you left me that night in my apartment…after what you said about regrets. I know the only regret I had that night was that we didn't make love." She swallowed and sniffed back her tears. "But I guess that's all in the past…water under the bridge. It doesn't matter now, does it?"

Woody reached out and gently turned her tear-stained face so he could look at it. "I think so. I think it does matter, Jordan."