by Karen Kelley
“I told you I don’t wager for sex.”
“I remember.”
She straightened her spine. “Make it easy on yourself.”
“Have supper with me. If I win, I’ll get Joe to throw a couple of steaks on the grill.”
“And if I win?”
“I’ll have Joe put one steak on the grill for you, and I’ll call it a night.”
“You’re on.”
Josh felt just a twinge of guilt. Okay, maybe not exactly guilt. That was probably what he should be feeling, though. He’d been champion pool shooter three years in a row back in his hometown of Two Creeks, Texas. It would’ve been four but his best friend, Wade Tanner, had grabbed the title one year.
A moment of nostalgia washed over him. Maybe he’d call his friend and see how he was doing since he’d become the proud papa of twin daughters. The last he’d heard, Fallon was keeping him on his toes.
Briefly, he wondered what it would be like for a woman to love him that deeply. A moment of panic washed over him. Nope, he wasn’t even going down that path. His life was just fine like it was.
“You going to shoot, or stand there staring at the table all day?”
“I’m going to shoot.” His gaze held hers until she looked away. Damn, but she was one sexy lady. It might be worth…No, it wouldn’t be worth it.
He leaned over and dropped the next two balls. One in the side pocket and the other in the corner.
“Bet you’d never expected me to be such a wildcat in bed,” she said in a voice dripping with lust.
He gritted his teeth and put the seven ball in the corner.
“But if there ever is a next time I’ll…uh…massage your body in warm oil and…uh…”
The table blurred.
Focus.
She was reaching now, anything to make him forget his game. And it was damn near working.
His brow beaded with sweat.
This would be a tough shot. He’d have to bank it off the side, put enough English on it so the cue ball only caught the side of the five. A once in a lifetime shot. He could do it. All he had to do was tune out the images Cody was putting in his head. Lord, they were really sweet images.
He drew in a deep breath and made the shot. “Yes!”
She frowned. “You still have one ball and the eight ball. I wouldn’t start celebrating just yet.”
“Didn’t I tell you, baby, I don’t like losing.”
“Didn’t I tell you, I’m not your baby?”
He easily made the next shot, noting the worried frown on Cody’s face. He should feel at least a little remorse. He didn’t. He wanted that kiss from her. And he wanted supper with her. If he had to play a little dirty, then he didn’t mind. Not in the least.
She leaned over, her shirt gaping.
Don’t look!
His body tightened until he thought he might snap in two, but he didn’t look up again.
He called his shot. “Eight ball in the side pocket.” The cue ball nudged the eight ball. Almost in slow motion, the eight ball rolled toward the side pocket, bumped the corner, teetered for a full second, then fell with a clunk. He straightened and grinned. “What kind of steak do you want?”
She turned on her heel, striding to the rack. He flinched when she slam-dunked her stick back into the rack, then faced him with a brittle smile on her face. “Rib eye, well done.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be a sore loser?”
“I’m never a sore loser.” Her lips were clamped together. “And how long have you been shooting pool?”
“Eight…nine, maybe.”
“You’ve been shooting pool nine years? No wonder you beat me.”
He tugged his hat down on his forehead. “Actually, since I was about eight or nine years old.” He tried not to laugh.
“Stop laughing. It isn’t funny.”
“I’m not.”
“I can see it in your eyes. You’re laughing your ass off.”
He leaned toward her. “You’re cute when you lose.”
“Yeah, well, let’s get it over with. You won your kiss.” She closed her eyes, puckered her lips, and raised her mouth.
For a long moment, he could only stare at her. His gaze went straight to the throbbing vein in her slender, pale neck. All he could think about was how much he’d like to slip his hand behind that same neck and pull her close.
Damn, she was tempting. Just lower his mouth and her lips would be his. He could stroke her velvety tongue, taste her, have her body pressed against his. Not a night had gone by that he hadn’t dreamed of kissing her again.
When she opened her eyes, they were filled with confusion. “You won a kiss fair and square. Don’t you want to collect on the wager?”
“Yeah, I’m going to collect, but not right now. When I do, it won’t be in a noisy, crowded bar. I want to take my time. Enjoy the moment.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you can be a real pain in the ass?”
“As a matter of fact, I believe you have on more than one occasion.”
“Well, I wasn’t lying.” She swept past him and strode toward the bar.
He leaned against the pool table, watching the sway of her hips in those tight blue jeans. When he finally straightened, his jeans were a whole lot tighter. Hell, his jeans had grown tighter the minute she’d stood and sauntered toward him.
So, what did he have to do to get her into bed again? He’d better charm her pretty damn fast. Wanting her was killing him. One time was not enough to get her out of his system.
A few beers would loosen her up, then a nice steak.
How would she be able to resist him?
Chapter 5
What the hell had she been thinking of when she’d challenged Josh to a game of pool? That was the problem, she hadn’t been thinking. She’d walked into the bar tonight hoping to see Josh. And she had. Her plan was to sit in a corner and salivate. She’d look her fill, then go home. He wouldn’t have to know she’d even been there, except she hadn’t been satisfied.
“Is your steak okay?” Josh asked.
“Yes.” Cody cut into her meat and took a bite. She didn’t want to talk. Not only had she seen him, but he’d cheated and won the round of pool. He’d only had to say that he’d been born with a cue stick in his hand and she wouldn’t have made the bet with him.
And he hadn’t kissed her. Why? To torture her? All she’d been able to think about was the way his mouth had felt against hers, the feel of his tongue stroking hers.
But he hadn’t kissed her.
Torture—that was his goal. Well, she damn sure wouldn’t play his game.
Yeah, right.
This was definitely torture.
“That’s three. We’re on a roll now.” He took a long pull from his beer.
What the hell was he talking about? She placed her fork on her plate, planted her elbows on the table, and stared at him. The man had lost his mind.
And it didn’t look like he was going to explain. Curiosity got the better of her. “Three what?”
He smiled as if he’d beat her at something again. She’d never realized what a competitive streak he had.
“Three words. Yes made the third word you’ve spoken since we sat down.”
“You’re drunk.”
“Not in the least. I’ve had two beers, same as you—over two hours. I don’t even have a good buzz.”
“Well then, stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He leaned forward and stared into her face. Very slowly, one corner of his mouth raised. There it was again. That damned sexy smile. An ache started from deep down inside her and spread to her outer edges. She felt as if she were being wrapped in a chenille throw.
This was why she’d dropped by The Blue Eagle. Without any effort, Josh drew her like a moth to a flame, but the burns he caused only made her want to test the heat again and again.
For a few seconds, she languished in the warmth, then forced hersel
f to look away. She didn’t want to get drawn into his hypnotic gaze.
Grabbing her napkin, she wiped her mouth. “Your charm won’t work on me this time so you might as well give up,” she lied. She only hoped he didn’t guess he had more of an effect on her than he knew.
Josh was like a narcotic: mesmerizing, hypnotizing. Just one look, just one touch, and she needed her fix, but she was afraid the next high would be one she couldn’t come down from. She’d settled for just being in his company, knowing it was only a substitute for what she really wanted.
It was time she left and stopped torturing herself. Tossing her napkin back on the table, she stood. “Thanks for supper, but I’m calling it a night.”
“Without dessert?” He motioned for one of the waitresses.
“I’m full.”
“But when we made the wager we did agree to supper. What’s a meal without dessert?”
“Okay, fine.” She plopped back into her chair.
As if on cue, the waitress set down a bowl of hot apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream slowly melting on top.
Her stomach rumbled as if she hadn’t just eaten what seemed like half a slab of beef. She loved sweets. Hell, she loved to eat, period. One of her weaknesses and apparently her downfall tonight. Especially when she knew Joe’s wife had probably cooked the cobbler fresh today.
She glared at Josh. “This is so cheating, Josh Pierce.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I know.”
Some of her anxiety dissolved. Damn, did he have to look at her like that?
She took a bite of her dessert to take her mind off him. Her taste buds exploded. Heaven. Pure, unadulterated heaven. She closed her eyes, savoring the burst of flavor. Josh was momentarily forgotten. “It’s so…damn…good.”
When she opened her eyes, he looked a little…odd, and he hadn’t touched his dessert.
“You okay?”
He picked up his spoon and shoveled in a large portion of his dessert. “Great, just great,” he grumbled, speaking around a mouthful of food.
Josh Pierce was different than other men. She wasn’t quite sure how to take him. She cast a look in his direction.
And he was devilishly sexy. He was the only man who could look at her in a way that made her body itch from the inside out.
Okay, enough of that kind of thinking—and eating. She was practically busting out of her skin now. She stood. “My hands are sticky.” Without any more explanation than that, she headed toward the ladies’ room.
Maybe she’d pour cold water over her head while she was in there. She sighed as she weaved her way between the tables. It was definitely time for her to go home.
“Hey, sweet thing, you’re about the prettiest thing I’ve seen since I got to town.”
Damn, not tonight. She just wanted to go to the ladies’ room, do her business, and go home. One glance at the man who’d spoken and she was afraid that wasn’t going to happen. He could’ve been a cousin to Leonard. Big, ugly, and…big.
She kept her mouth shut and made her way around him, but he had other ideas and pulled her into his lap. Lord, he smelled like a brewery.
“Now, is that any way to be sociable, little lady?”
“Mister, I’d advise you to take your arm from around my waist.”
The man was apparently hard of hearing because he squeezed instead. She really hated fighting right after a big meal.
She rammed her elbow into his stomach. A whoosh of stale beer air exploded from his mouth. Oh, lord, she was going to be sick and it was Josh’s fault for insisting she have dessert on top of everything else.
His hold did loosen, though, and she took the opportunity to come to her feet.
“Now that”—he wheezed—“wasn’t very nice, little lady.”
He grabbed her by the wrist as he stood. She clasped his in return, surprising him, but before the stupid grin on his face could fully form, she swung her knee toward his crotch.
The hold on his wrist gave her just the right amount of momentum. She reared her fist back, but before she could take the swing, Josh beat her to the punch—literally. The big man let out a loud woof, and like a tree slowly toppling over, he went to the floor.
“I can fight my own battles.” She frowned.
“Yeah, but—”
“Eyeeeeeee!”
They turned toward the high-pitched scream at the same time the flame-haired, screeching banshee flew toward them. “You killed my Harold.”
Before either had time to do anything, she grabbed a beer bottle and crashed it over Josh’s head.
Cody slammed her fist into the woman’s jaw. Red stumbled backwards, tripped over a chair, and splattered onto the floor.
Josh groaned, holding his head. “What happened?”
She whirled around, bracing Josh before he fell and aiming him toward one of the chairs. He sat down hard.
“She clobbered you with a beer bottle. Why the hell did you jump into the middle of my fight, anyway?” She examined his head, but couldn’t see much in the dim light. She ran her fingertips lightly over his head. A goose egg was already forming.
“Stupid me thought you might appreciate an extra hand. Ow, ow, be careful. That hurts.”
“Quit being a wuss, I’m just looking.” She frowned. It was a really big bump.
“Sorry about this,” Joe said as he hurried over. “I should’ve tossed the both of them out an hour ago. I had a feeling they were trash.” He looked at Josh. “She thumped you a good one. Might want to have a doctor look at your head.”
“I’m okay now—I think.”
“Joe’s right.” She didn’t like the fact that his face was pasty white.
“I just need to get home and lie down a bit and I’ll be fine.” When he stood, he swayed just enough that he had to grab the back of the chair to keep his balance.
Josh couldn’t drive in his condition. She’d have to take him. Unless one of his buddies…
She looked hopefully toward the bar. Not a soul there. She hadn’t even noticed when they’d left. Great. Why was she the designated baby-sitter? She’d sworn a long time ago she wouldn’t be responsible for another person. Why the hell did she have to be the one left holding the bag?
On the other hand, she could walk away. It wasn’t as if he was her responsibility. Hell, she wasn’t married to the man. She didn’t owe him anything. She bit her bottom lip. Technically, he had come to her rescue—even if she hadn’t needed rescuing.
Her gaze swept over him. Even beat up, he looked pretty damn hot. He’d be easy to take advantage of and he might not remember—No, no, no! It wasn’t even safe for her to think like that.
Lord, give me the strength and the will not to do something I’ll later regret.
She drew in a deep breath. “Joe, I’m leaving my bike here. You still have that extra set of keys?”
He nodded. “I’ll put her in the garage. Need any help getting him to his car?”
“I can manage.” She tugged on Josh’s arm, helping him to stand. Then with one arm around his waist, she aimed him toward the door. With every step she told herself he needed to keep his balance and that’s why it was necessary he put his arm across her shoulders, but did it have to feel so good?
She even liked when he drew her closer. His body heat was nice. She could get used to this.
Better nip it in the bud. Feelings like this were superficial. There wasn’t one thing real about them.
But damn, she’d enjoyed getting down and dirty—really dirty—with him the other night. His hands squeezing her breasts, his teeth tugging on her nipples, their bodies hot and sweaty as they fondled and caressed each other.
She drew in a shaky breath, but it didn’t remove the burning ache that had begun to build in her lower regions.
Ah, hell, she’d known she’d regret having sex with Josh. A relationship with him wouldn’t last. Josh was Josh. A player. All the women loved him and he loved all the women. She was afraid she wouldn’t be the exception. She’d fall jus
t as hard as all the others because he had been the best lay she’d ever had.
He stumbled as they stepped outside and she caught a firmer hold around his waist. Her whole damn body tingled with awareness as his body pressed intimately against hers, and he smelled so damn good—spicy. What was it about Josh that made her want to throw caution to the winds and have hot sex with him for the rest of the night?
Maybe that was the attraction. Women just knew—they sensed Josh Pierce was sinful. Women were naturally drawn to the forbidden fruit. He was a temptation they didn’t even try to resist.
He’ll hurt you, a voice inside her head chided. More than her father, more than her mother, more than Rodney, more than any man she’d ever dated.
He drew in a deep breath. “You smell nice,” he said, breaking into her thoughts. “Like the beach.”
Thank you, Josh. She’d needed something or someone to pull her thoughts back to the present.
Okay, she thought he smelled like an irresistible sin and he thought she smelled like the beach. Not good. Or maybe he meant the sand and surf? She could live with that. She’d always thought it would smell somewhat refreshing.
“I wouldn’t know,” she said.
Josh was just flirting. Don’t listen to his line of crap.
He probably had more sweet words than she could ever imagine. She wouldn’t let him break through her barriers. Besides, he was loopy. Red had really brought that bottle down hard on his head. He probably wouldn’t remember a damn thing come morning.
“I’ve never been to the coast,” she finished. Anything to take her mind off walking him to the parking lot or the way he felt against her. Talking travel seemed safe enough.
“Nah, really? You’re shittin’ me. Everyone has been to Galveston or Corpus.” His words were slightly slurred.
“Not me. I’ve never made it down that far.”
“Would you like to go?” He squeezed her arm.
His touch was nice, but he probably did it so he wouldn’t fall down.
“We could go tonight. Just take off.”
Josh was so full of it, but she couldn’t stop her smile from forming. No wonder he could pick and choose the women. The ache inside her grew. Ah, temptation.
