The Dare Me Date (A Small Town Romance Short Story Series) by tonya kappes Page A

not have a date.
    “I can change that.” Abraham set a frosty mug in front of me, filled to the top with a very inviting dark and tan, a pricey drink that I only get on special occasions. “I don’t like seeing you all down-faced. There are a bunch of us going skiing and then back here for a few drinks if you want to join us.”
    “Aww thanks. I’ll think about it.” I picked up the mug just as Maddie elbowed me in the ribs. “Ouch!”
    She tilted her head toward the mystery guy as her eyebrows lifted in delight. Making eye contact, I grinned in reciprocation of his smile.
    “He was on the phone with someone saying he was waiting for someone from date.com. You know---that dating website.” Maddie caught herself from falling off the barstool as she watched him go into the bathroom. “Her name is Jasmine and he’s never met her.” There was a little too much excitement in her voice.
    “Of course they are meeting for the first time,” sarcasm dripped from my lips. I picked up the mug and took a gulp. “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. I bet they are going to snuggle up at the ski lodge and just have a grand ole time.”
    She grabbed my arm, making me spill the beer again.
    “Maddie!” I brushed my hands down my shirt that was now soaked with beer. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “You don’t have to work tomorrow.” A grin crossed her lips, lifting her eyes into a mischievous smile. “You can pretend to be Jasmine!”
    “Uhh…no,” I said flatly. “Besides, Jasmine will be here. He’s hot ,and I’m sure they have seen each other through pictures or something.”
    “No, they haven’t. That is the big thing about that site. You aren’t allowed to see pictures or anything, so you get to know the soul and spirit of the person before you fall in love with their appearance.” She tapped her ear. “He said to the person on the phone that he had no clue what she looked like. It’s perfect!”
    “Right.” I rolled my eyes. Maddie and I had done some really stupid stuff when we were little , but this would be an extremely stupid stunt. “And how do we explain who I am when hottie Jasmine shows up?” I let out a big sigh, “Doesn’t Jasmine sound like a hot name?”
    “Hot or not, she’s not here and you are.” Maddie grabbed her bag off the bar and pulled out her wallet. “I dare you.”
    “You dare me?”
    “Double dog dare you, and put a hundred on it.” She pulled a one-hundred-dollar bill out of her wallet. “You did say you were going to be short on rent this month.”
    Even though it was a very enticing offer, I wasn’t ten years old anymore.
    “You have got to be kidding.” I looked over and Maddie definitely wasn’t kidding. Her face was as straight as an arrow, not a smirk or grin to be seen.
    “No, I’m serious.” She slapped the Benjamin Franklin on the counter. “One hundred dollars on a dare that you won’t tell him you are Jasmine. Hurry up and decide before he comes back out.”
    “I don’t know.” I looked between her and the bathroom door. What harm could it do? I could totally pretend to be someone else for the rest of the night, which was only a few hours. It would be the easiest one-hundred-dollar bill I had ever made.
    With shear horror, I watched the bathroom door open. The guy’s eyes scanned the bar as if he was looking to see if anyone new had come in. There hadn’t.
    “Well?” Maddie nudged me.
    “I”…I stammered, knowing this was not a good idea.
    “Oh, Jasmine, you are so funny!” Maddie threw her head back as her laughter filled Brew Ha Ha’s.
    “Did you say Jasmine?” The guy’s southern accent filled my ears as it dawned on me what Maddie had just done.
    “Yes, her name is Jasmine.” Maddie stiffened her back, creating a straight line. “Right, Jasmine?” She nudged me.
    “Um. . .” I stuttered. “Yes.”
    Just for a brief moment, I felt a sense of fright and fear. Only for a moment. Then excitement began to build. Not only was I