"She's gorgeous and smart." The bee-stung bottom lip was pulled inside his mouth before he gave me a flash of a real smile. The kind that made my insides flutter. Then he placed his free hand over his heart jokingly. "I'm already a goner." Shit. I didn't know my insides were still capable of fluttering. Despite myself, I laughed even as a slow heat continued to flood my face. "Aren't you sweet?" He leaned closer, until his scent washed over me again. Until his mouth was close my ear. "Maybe I aim to please." A shaky breath escaped me. When I turned my body sideways, our torsos were nearly plastered against one another. His hard planes and muscles a contrast against my softer curves. "I just realized that I still don't know your name." As he said this, a furrow crinkled between his brows. Like that statement truly bothered him. "Wow." I made mock-wide eyes and chuckled softly. The ends of my blond waves brushed his hand as I moved. "All those times and yet you still haven't managed to catch my name. Or ask for it. I don't know how I feel about that." He jutted his chin out and narrowed his eyes playfully. "Like I said, you're a hard one to catch." "You've got me now." "What's your name, gorgeous?" God, I was blushing like a prude. "Jodanna." And the second it slipped out, I instantly regretted it. I rarely gave people my real name; I hated it. Anna was more sophisticated and that's what I've always stuck with. It was too late for me to take it back. Samuel looked like he was torn between incredulity and amusement. He nodded his head and rolled his tongue over his teeth as if it suppress his outburst. At the first trace of laughter, I pinned him with what I hoped was a ball-shrivelling look. "Jo-Jodanna," he muttered, looking thoughtful for a second. Before seemingly turning into the asshole he was well renowned for. "Your parents mistook the "h" for a "d" or something?" While he amused himself with his joke, my hand stayed poised in the air, Pepsi halfway to my agape mouth. Did he just really... Anger spiked within me like tiny darts hitting a target. Jodanna was my great aunt's name and my daddy had deemed it fit for a baby girl. My odd name had been the subject of many elementary school jokes. Well, two can play with fire, I thought, as I gave him a sickeningly saccharine smile. "What about you - what's your name?" Obviously I knew his name. There wasn't one person in this house who didn't. But if he didn't know mine, then I'd damn well pretend I didn't know his either. That cut him off. "You don't know my name?" Suddenly, I didn't find his arrogance or cockiness charming. For a few minutes I let myself forget who I was dealing with. "Should I?" I pretended to examine my manicured nails. "I mean, other than the fact that you're the guy who won't stop buying me drinks like a creep, I know nothing about you." Did I imagine that hint of annoyance sparking in his eyes? It was a childish jab on my part, but the thought of him laughing at my name struck a nerve. Samuel pushed the sleeves of his torso-moulding black shirt over his thick forearms. "You really think that about me - a creep?" He tilted his head and his eyes narrowed another fraction as he smirked. "Liar." Then he stole my drink and took a healthy pull from it, placing his mouth directly where mine had been - where you could still see my lipstick stain on the rim. Never once breaking eye contact. He assessed my drink with a confused expression. "Never pegged you as a Pepsi kind of girl." "Name," I urged and beckoned with my fingers for him to return my drink. My indignation hadn't completely dissipated. The fact that he drank from my drink irked me a little more. "Sam." He licked his lips once. Then twice. Wiping away the remains of my drink from his mouth. "Samuel Adams, Johanna." "Doesn't ring a bell," I said through clenched teeth, my smile fixed in place. "Tell me. Were your parents history fanatics or alcohol lovers?" All traces of amusement left his face when I fired the shots. His jaw worked in an irritated fashion. So his name was a touchy subject, too. Good. "What got your panties in a twist?" His rumble almost sounded like a growl. Almost. "Certainly not you." He grazed his knuckles against the corner of his mouth and that hot, melting look was back in his eyes. "I beg to differ." I shot him a pointed look. "Do you now?" Twin pools of emerald dipped down the length of my body until they landed at the top of my thighs, where my boots ended. They lingered there for a beat longer. Sam ran his knuckles along his mouth again, seeming like he was secured in a trance. "I like your shoes." "Do you now?"