I was drunk, and I knew Brendan could see it, but still, he pushed another shot my way. I stared at the house key he’d given me, that bronze piece of metal meaning more to me than he’d ever know.

“I think I’ve had enough,” I said, but reached out and grabbed the shot glass off the table.

“If you can say that you haven’t had enough.”

I laughed, finding that especially funny.

“Not that I condone emotional drunkenness, but hell, a little black-out drinking will help cleanse the pallet.”

I smiled and shook my head, but still reached for the shot glass and tossed it back. The alcohol settled in my belly, and this warmth spread through me.

“That’s my girl.”

I couldn’t help but feel even more warmth—which had nothing to do with the alcohol—fill me at hearing Brendan say that.

His girl.

No, I am not his girl. I never will be. I can’t cross that line. I won’t.

I cleared my throat; that last shot seeming to rush through my bloodstream pretty damn fast. The room tilted a little, and I started giggling like a schoolgirl.

Brendan grinned, a flash of straight, white teeth. “How about some poker?” He lifted his eyebrow, as if in a challenge.

“I haven’t played poker since…” I stopped, remembering when we used to live together. Brendan had been a cocky little asshole to a lot of people when he was younger, but never with me.

“Since back when we were living under the same roof?”

I nodded and ran my sweaty palms over my jeans.

“You taught me how to play poker,” I said softly, doubting he’d remember that one and only time we’d played. “But I doubt you remember—”

“I remember a lot, Meghan.”

His words stopped my heart for a second, and I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. That whiskey bottle was looking pretty damn appealing right now, at least to give me something to do so I wasn’t sitting here staring at Brendan.

“Well, seeing as you’ll be living under the same roof with me again, no time like the present to rekindle that moment, yeah?”

I didn’t answer right away, because the look on his face told me Brendan didn’t just have a friendly game of cards on his mind.

* * *

I’d be lying if I said playing cards was all I wanted to do tonight. Of course, I wanted Meghan, but she didn’t know that. She was drunk, as was I, and she was having a hard time right now. I would not take advantage of her, and if she wanted to say fuck off, I’d respect that one hundred percent.

Strip poker might not have been the best route to go after the day she’d had, but I wouldn’t let it get that far anyway.

“How about a game of strip poker?”

I lifted my brow, my shock filling me.

And she surprised the hell out of me.

“Oh, please. You know that’s what you were about to ask.”

I chuckled. “Am I that transparent?”

She shrugged and laughed softly. “I think it’ll be fun. I mean, yeah, I think it would be fun.” I saw her cheeks turn pink, and that piqued my interest.

“We don’t have to. I mean I was going to throw that idea out there, but hell, I got some JENGA in the closet, I think.” She laughed loud, and I grinned.

“No. I mean I think talking with you, and I think a friendly game of poker—” She looked at me then. “—would certainly get my mood in a better place.”

I lifted my brow. “Are you hustling me?” I was half joking.

“Heck, I think a game of strip poker will help the situation.”

“Well, hell.” I leaned back, hearing my words slur slightly. I drank when I went out, but I didn’t get sloppy. But here I was, getting all stupid drunk and trying to make a situation better, even if this wasn’t the best way I could have gone about it.

I was selfish when it came to Meghan.

I kept my distance when we lived under the same roof, when she was considered my stepsister.

I could be cocky.

I could be intense.

But I’ve always wanted Meghan, and now was my time to show her we’d be good together, that we belonged together.

But the gentlemanly thing would be for me to shut down my own thoughts and tell her no.

“Meghan, as much as I think that sounds pretty fucking fantastic, we’re both pretty wasted—”

“I’m not that drunk to not know what I’m doing. Unless you’re scared I’ll win?” Her eyes were glossy, her lips red. God, I wanted to kiss her, just say fuck all the self-control and restraint I’d had for all these years and go after what I wanted … her.

I grinned, and my cock jerked at the sight of her. She was gorgeous in every sense of the word, pure in appearance, but I knew she had a wicked dirty sense of humor. She had a tongue on her that could give a lashing. Hell, she’d ripped into me more than once when our parents were married and we lived together.

What she didn’t know was her attitude turned me the fuck on.

I reached for the whiskey and took a swig right from the bottle. I handed it to her, and she eyed it for a second before she took the bottle and drank from it as well. She exhaled and ran her tongue along her bottom lip.

I nearly groaned at the sight; instead, I curled my nails into my palms until the pain shot up my arms.

“Well, you’re the boss,” I said and grinned.

“Although getting partially naked in front of my stepbrother probably isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“We aren’t related in any capacity, Meghan,” I said, my voice thick, which had nothing to do with the fact I was drunk. Hell, even if our folks were still married, I would have gone after her, step-sibling or not. I’d thought about her this entire time and wanted to do something about what I felt toward her, but I’d always held back because I thought that was for the best. “Besides, I sure as fuck don’t see you as a sister in any way.”

God, please don’t say you see me as a brother figure.

I didn’t want to hear that.

She laughed softly, and I couldn’t help but stare at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glossy. She was good and toasted, and I was glad she was feeling better, even if it was the artificial kind because of the liquor we’d been drinking. I didn’t want to see her upset, and if there were something I could do to make her smile, I would do it.

“I don’t see you as family.” Her eyes widened, and she stared at me. “Not that I don’t care for you, well, what I mean is I don’t see you as a brother.” She exhaled and closed her eyes. “God, I’m hoping you know what I mean.”

I started laughing, loving this uneasiness from her because she was nervous and tripping over her tongue.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

She opened her eyes and smiled, and my cock jerked, the sight of her making all common sense leave me.

But fuck, I was taking this as a sign from the heavens or fate; whatever the hell it was, it was giving me this opportunity, and I would show Meghan we belonged together.

“Let’s get the poker on then.”