Sealed with a Hiss by Addison Moore (read 50 shades of grey .txt) 📕

“That’s fine,” I tell the girl, and soon we’re seated near the window overlooking the twinkle lights out on the wharf with the iridescent glow of the waves breaking down below.

“This is so romantic,” I say, taking in the rustic appeal the Match Box has to offer. Bodies are squeezed into every square inch of the facility, and the crowd seems to be growing that much rowdier by the moment. It’s dimly lit in the facility save for a few small spotlights up above the dance floor and candles nestled in Mason jars set on every table.

Jasper’s lids hood low and he gets that loose grin on his face that happens just before—

“All right, you two.” Georgie smacks her lips our way. “We get it. Someone’s getting lucky.” She shoots a glance to Buck, who suddenly looks hopeful. “Relax, Papa Bear. It’s not you.”

A dark laugh strums from the sandy-haired man. “Playing hard to get, are we? Don’t worry, Mama. I’ve caught colder fish than you. By the end of the night, you’ll be begging to get lucky.”

“Win me a free meal and we’ll renegotiate the deal.” She shrugs my way. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to employ the hard-to-get strategy to score a free steak. You kids don’t stand a chance.”

Dr. Bernstein lifts a brow our way. He’s older, handsome in a fuzzy teddy bear sort of way with his commanding furry brows and curly gray hair.

“I beg to differ,” he says. “Juniper Moonbeam and I are twin sides of the same coin.”

As odd as a proclamation that is to hear from just about anyone, a part of me accepts his sentiment as gospel. Although they seem to defy every dating social norm there is—Juni is an ex-con and Dr. Bernstein has taken the Hippocratic Oath. They seem happy to ignore the societal disconnect between the two of them. And in keeping with their smitten spirit, so am I.

The waitress swings by and we order a few appetizers to split between us.

“Make it two of everything,” Juni shouts before the waitress does a disappearing act. “We’ve got a couple of deep pockets picking up the tab. We may as well feast like kings.”

A warm laugh breaks out among us save for Jasper and me.

I shrug his way. “There’s an outside chance we’re not the deep pockets in question,” I say, looking over at Juni and Dr. Bernstein as they canoodle like a couple of lovestruck teenagers.

Jasper nods. He did park his Bentley outside. They won’t even let you sit in one at the dealership without having deep pockets.

I bat my lashes up at him. “I’ve always been a truck girl myself.”

“Lucky for me, that’s all I can afford.” Have I given you a tour of the truck bed yet?

“The one that’s full of snow?”

His cheek flinches. “Sounds as if we have something to look forward to come spring.”

“It’s a date.”

The appetizers arrive just as I spot a familiar redhead laughing near the bar.

“Save a jalapeño popper for me,” I say as I shoot out of my seat and zip over to the bar before my handsome husband has a chance to put the kibosh on this good time.

“Pardon me?” I say with a little wave and she looks my way. “Are you the one running the game?”

“The Perfect Match?” She perks up. “That’s me, I’m Keegan Merritt. I sort of run the show around here.”

Keegan is a gorgeous woman, petite, sly smile, wavy red hair that is easily the envy of every woman. She’s wearing a short pink dress that glows against her deep olive skin and looks sensible enough for me to believe she’s not a killer.

That’s the thing about killers. They can be as unassuming as the next person and often are—right up until things get deadly.

“What can I do for you?” Her smile expands, and I warm to the girl.

“Oh, actually, my husband and I signed up for the game, and then it occurred to me that since we’re married it might go against the rules. And seeing that we’re both big on following all the rules I thought I’d make sure it was okay with you first.”

She frowns as she takes a moment to inspect me. Who confesses to following all the rules? A Miss Goody Two-Shoes, that’s who. I gave up on following the rules a long time ago—and I’ve had more fun because of it, too. And for a second there I was starting to like her.

Hey? What’s not to like?

“It’s more than fine,” she says. “In fact, most of our winners have been longtime married couples. I’m sure you’ll do great. Just remember to have fun with it.”

The bartender slides a shot glass filled with brown liquid her way and she takes it.

“I’d better prepare for the game.” She knocks back that shot glass like a hero and shudders. “Antidote for jangled nerves. Works every time. I highly recommend it. I’ll see you soon!” She darts toward the back and my shoulders sag.

“Strike out?” Jasper crops up out of nowhere.

“I’m just getting warmed up.”

“Bizzy.” Jasper lays those translucent peepers over mine. “I thought we said we’d approach her together?”

“You said that,” I remind him. “Besides, don’t you have to question her formally, anyway? Why take away my fun?”

He gives a long blink. “Fine, but I’m sticking close by.”

“Should we go over our script for the big game?” I tease.

“Nah. We’ve got this on lock.”

Jasper and I burn through the appetizers with the others, and before too long we find ourselves up on the makeshift stage at the front of the establishment with Juni and Dr. Bernstein to the right of us, and Georgie and Buck on our left. Lucky for us, there were no other takers so the six of us have the entire establishment at rapt attention.

We’re seated in ladder-back chairs with a stack of white poster boards on our laps, the size of a briefcase, and we’ve each been armed with