Kiss Kiss

by Various Authors

  “I’d gladly give you a couple of pointers, Sara.” Chris cocked a brow. “Free of charge.”

  “In your dreams, old man. You can keep your… pointers to yourself,” she jibed.

  Watching them, JR signed the credit card bill for the bar tab. Sara had verbally sparred with Chris throughout the evening. That is, when she hadn’t been openly flirting with Keith, which had clearly bothered Chris. JR felt bad for the guy. He suspected Sara Daniels wasn’t as immune to Chris Alex’s reputed charms as she pretended to be. And since he had a bone to pick with her, anyway, he decided to put his theory to the test.

  “Sara, I have a proposition for you.”

  “Oh yeah JR? What’s that?”

  “I’m willing to bet all the guys here, except for myself,” he smiled and grabbed for Samantha’s hand, “would be willing to put up some good hard cash for a little friendly kiss from the famous Sara Daniels. What do you say?” He looked at Chris, Keith, and then Danny. “Five thousand upfront for each of you for one game of cut throat with the winner getting the kiss and the cash going to whatever charity Sara chooses. I’ll chip in five grand to sweeten the pot, of course.”

  Sara rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding?”

  “Ah, come on now, Sara. It’s for charity,” JR urged.

  “Yeah, Sara, come on,” Keith cajoled, obviously taking to the idea immediately.

  Sara glanced over at Chris.

  He gave a slight nod but his expression remained poker face neutral, giving nothing away.

  She rubbed the back of her burning neck, feeling everyone watching and waiting to see what she would do. JR was up to something. This she knew, but what he hoped to accomplish she had no clue. There was no way she was going to back down, though. She hated more than anything letting anyone think they were getting the upper hand on her. “Ok JR, I’ll do it.” She gave him a pointed look. “I choose Alcoholics Anonymous for the charity. You’re familiar with them, right?”

  JR frowned.

  “And I want ten thousand each. I’ll take IOU’s. No hands,” she gave each of the men a level stare, “and no tongue.”

  JR whistled between his teeth. “Ten grand’s a lot of money, Sara, especially for someone like Danny who’s just starting out.”

  Danny’s blue eyes narrowed to slits. “I’ve been in the business just as long as you have JR. I can handle ten grand.”

  “Ok. It’s settled then. Danny, Chris, and me,” Keith declared. “One game of cut throat. Winner takes all.” He pursed his lips at Sara.

  The men lined up to determine who got to shoot first. Whoever shot their ball closest to the edge of the pool table without actually touching it would earn that privilege. Danny got the ball really close and smiled. Chris was next. His shot got so close it looked like the ball was touching the velvet lined edge, but JR was able to get a coaster between. Keith was last and his ball stopped well short of the other two.

  “Ok. I’ll rack,” Keith said.

  When he stepped out of the way, Chris leaned over the table and shot the break. The five ball went directly in the corner pocket. Knowing he wasn’t lows, Chris checked the table for the best high or medium ball available. Spotting a real easy shot with the eleven, he took and made it, calling, “I’m medium.” After that, he tried for the thirteen ball in the center pocket but missed.

  He stepped back and leaned on his stick while Keith selected and lined up his first shot. Keith’s shot grazed the seven ball but didn’t knock it in. Chris let out a breath. Keith must have been trying to strategically block him, knowing he was the best player.

  Danny smirked as he sized up the table. There were at least three relatively easy shots for him. One after another he sank each of them.

  Chris stood in the corner, watching Danny wink at Sara before he took his next shot. Chris couldn’t hide his smile when the drummer missed. Straightening, Chris approached the table and walked around the perimeter with his brow furrowed. The balls were bunched up pretty good. There was really only one shot he could take, and it was a tough one. He took a deep breath and glanced up. Danny was smirking as if he had the game wrapped up. Chris focused back on the shot, taking his time and thinking it through before he leaned back over the table. With a decisive crack, the four ball went straight into the center pocket.

  “Whoa. Good shot, man,” Keith acknowledged.

  “Thanks,” Chris replied, looking first at Keith and then at Sara. He held her gaze and watched her visibly swallow. Smiling smugly, he chalked his stick and turned back to the table. He was getting that kiss. In short order, he then proceeded to hole every remaining shot like he was in some kind of zone. Danny never even got a chance back at the table.

  “Way to clean up, dude,” JR told Chris.

  Sara took Danny and Keith’s handwritten IOU’s, folding the pieces of paper into tiny squares and tucking them into her pocket before looking up. Chris casually leaned back against the pool table while he stared intently at her, eyes gleaming, a hungry lion ready to pounce. She gulped, her heart beating wildly knowing she was the prey. She might not be able to handle him quite as easily as she’d previously thought.

  Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Sara crossed over to him, stopping when her cowboy boots touched the tip of his steel toed boots. Gaze tangled with his, she felt him slowly slide his IOU into her pocket. She licked her dry lips.

  Chris’ entire body thrummed with anticipation as Sara leaned in, her lush curves almost touching him. She smelled like spring water scented bath gel and the heat of her arced across the limited space between them, inflaming his senses. He had to grip the edge of the table to keep from touching her. When he felt her hands skim against the sides of his waist, his breath caught. She didn’t embrace him, though, instead, she slid her hands down into the back pockets of his jeans. Palming his ass, she drew him closer. Holy shit. Suddenly there was no more space between them at all, just her softness and his…hardness.

  Sara stilled, every nerve ending exploded with heat. The taut outline of Chris’ backside in her hands felt divine. She could feel every tantalizing inch of him. Watching him watch her was a huge turn on. Her heart thundered so loudly surely Chris could hear as well as feel it. She took in a ragged breath of spice scented air and imagined tasting his hot cinnamon laced tongue in her mouth. Her pulse ratcheted up in response to her thoughts. Chris’ gaze lowered to her lips, and his brown eyes took on a sultry hue. Crap, I’d better make this quick before I end up making a total fool of myself.

  As soon as her lips touched his, her plan for a short brief kiss flew out the window. He slanted his head and moved his mouth in a way that left no doubt to who was really in charge. The guy could teach an advanced course in the art of kissing. His lips were warm and smooth against hers, hypnotic and seductive. She parted her lips, swallowing the deep moan that echoed her own. She wanted to surrender to her passion and let him do whatever he willed.

  Too much.

  Too intimate.

  Too intense.

  Frightened, Sara ended the kiss, blinking rapidly. Surrender… to Chris Alex… Oh. Hell. No. She’d only ever called one man her lover, and she wasn’t going to risk being hurt like that ever again. The experience had taught her to bury her desires deep down beneath layer after protective layer, but Chris threatened to break through them all at this moment.

  Ripping her hands out of his pockets, she took a step back. Her knees were weak but she managed the movement without stumbling. One step. Two. She gasped for air, noticing that many of the players at the other pool tables had stopped to watch. Making a big production, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and stared at Chris. “Had way better,” she lied, relieved that her voice came out sounding even, “like kissing your grandpa.”

  Chris raised a brow. Without taking his eyes off of her, he pushed away from the table. “Yeah, a little disappointing for me too, Sweetheart, but it’s for charity so I won’t embarrass you and ask for a refund.”

  “Yo
u know what I think, Sara?” JR interjected into the shocked silence that followed. “I think you protest too much.”

  “Huh?” She was still reeling from the kiss and Chris’ comment. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “It’s a line from Shakespeare, and I think you know exactly what it means. You’re full of Texas bullshit. Your face is flushed and you’re out of breath.” JR shook his head. He’d found out what he’d wanted to know. Chris definitely had her number. Rubbing his bearded chin, an idea started to take form.

  “You’re imagining things,” she told him, but had to clasp her hands together to hide their trembling.

  Sam’s gaze alternated back and forth between her sister and Chris before she crossed over to Sara. “Hey,” she said softly patting her clasped hands. “We’d better get going. I have an early start in the morning.”

  “Hold up a minute.” JR grabbed Sam by the arm. “Can I speak to you for a second?”

  “Sure, just for a minute.” Sam gave her sister a worried look before following JR.

  As Sara watched JR lead her sister away, Sam glanced back, her expression asking a silent question that Sara instantly understood. She gave her a confirmatory nod. Not that her approval really mattered. Sara sighed. She’d been off her game since her first momentous run in with Chris. Holy effing hell but that guy had messed her up! She liked to be in control, but the roles were reversed with him. Where Chris Alex was concerned, she was in totally uncharted waters.

  Shortly after the girls left, Danny bowed out. Keith took a seat at the bar and motioned for JR and Chris to join him. He turned to JR. “So…you and Samantha, huh?”

  “Yeah, don’t start, Keith… I think she might be the one.” After Sam had relented this evening and agreed to go out with him, letting her go with only a peck on the check had been rough. When what he’d really wanted was to kiss her long and hard and for real, but he hadn’t wanted an audience for that. He’d waited all week to be alone with her. He could wait one more day.

  “Dude,” Keith drew out, shaking his head. “I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.”

  “Seriously, JR.” Chris leaned back in his chair. “I mean Sam’s a sweet girl and all, don’t get me wrong, but if I were you I’d keep my options open. You’re too young to settle down. I keep myself out of that kind of trouble with a list.” He counted on his fingers. “Good looks, intelligence, personality, talent, and money. If and when I find a woman who has all of that, I’ll stop looking.”

  JR stared back at Chris for a long time. The dude was clueless. Did he really not realize how much trouble he was already in with Sara? “Whatever you say,” he said, grabbing a handful of pretzels.

  Chris pushed away from the bar. “Call of nature,” he explained.

  JR waited until Chris was well out of earshot. “Keith, did you happen to notice how affected Mr. No One Woman Alex was after lip locking with the infamous Sara Daniels?”

  “Yeah, who didn’t? Actually, I wouldn’t mind having a piece of that myself,” Keith said drolly. “But I get the distinct impression Sara is the type of woman who calls all the shots.”

  “I agree. I’ve never met a more arrogant pair. They deserve one another. What do you think would happen if Chris thought Sara secretly had the hots for him or vice versa?”

  “I don’t know, sounds very high school musical-ish. What are you getting at?” Keith asked suspiciously.

  “Shh,” JR warned. “He’s coming back, just play along.” In a loud, exaggerated voice, JR said, “Hey Keith, Sam just sent me this odd text. Really makes no sense, especially after the way Sara acted after that kiss…but Sam insists Sara’s got it bad for Chris. She said Sara’s just afraid that if Chris knew, he’d turn her down flat.”

  “Too bad. Too bad,” Keith hammed. “Sara’s probably right, though. Chris isn’t the type of guy to settle down with one girl. He has that list and all. Better if she just puts it out of her mind and moves on to someone else. Me for instance.”

  “Oh, hey!” he said as Chris approached the bar. JR cleared his throat, feigning guilt, conspicuously tucking his cell in his pocket. “You ok, Chris? You look kinda funny.”

  He’d taken the bait.

  The next morning, the sisters’ breakfast was interrupted by the doorbell buzzing.

  “I’ll get it,” Sam said, shuffling down the hall in her fuzzy Dallas Stars slippers and robe.

  Sara heard her exclaim, “Oh my goodness!” She peeked around the corner as three bell hops filed into the apartment each with a humungous lavender rose arrangement obscuring his face.

  “Who do you think they’re from?”

  “I can’t imagine,” Sara replied drily. “Why don’t you read the card?”

  Sam plucked it out of the closest bouquet as Sara directed the guys where to place the flowers.

  After closing the door behind them, Sam floated back to the breakfast table. The dopey expression on Sam’s face and the splashes of color on her cheeks only confirmed the obvious. She snatched the note out of Sam’s hands and read it out loud. “Sam, looking forward to our date tonight. To being alone with you. Love, JR.” Sara glanced up. “He’s a romantic. I’ll give him that.”

  Just then the instantly recognizable fiddle strains of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” emanated from Sara’s cell. “Speaking of Lucifer, why is he calling me?” she muttered.

  Sam frowned at her sister’s choice of a ringtone, as well as the comparison.

  “Hey, JR…Ah, ok… That’s fine, I guess. Just one thing, though. I’m warning you. You’d better not hurt her.”

  Sam closed her eyes in embarrassment and pulled on Sara’s arm. “Please don’t.”

  Sara shrugged her away and continued with her conversation. “Yeah, uh-huh… Good… Just so we’re on the same page. She’s not like those trashy girls you usually hang out with… Ok. Will do. Bye.”

  “Why did he call you?”

  “It’s a surprise, a very cool one. You’ll definitely like it. He’s picking you up at five. He said to dress up for dinner. I have to pack you some different clothes for later.”

  “What?” Sam giggled nervously. “Don’t hold out on me, Sara Jo. Come on, tell me.”

  “No way, chica.” Sara patted her on the shoulder and poured more cereal. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  JR arrived promptly at five.

  “You clean up nice,” Sara commented.

  JR had styled his long bangs to the side so they were out of his eyes, and he wore a button-down white dress shirt and thin black tie with black jeans and boots. He shifted his weight back and forth, obviously uneasy in her company.

  “She’ll be right out,” Sara informed him. On cue, the back bedroom door popped open.

  Sam emerged into the foyer, wearing a lavender silk slip-like dress with matching heels, and her curls tied back from her face with a matching ribbon.

  JR whistled. “You look beautiful.”

  “You guys behave,” Sara admonished before throwing her hand up in the air. “Oh wait just a minute.” She disappeared around the corner, returning a moment later to hand him the bag of clothes. “Treat her right, JR.”

  He took the bag. “Absolutely, Sara. I’ll have her back around midnight.”

  Inside the elevator, Sam smiled shyly. “Thanks for the roses, John. They’re my favorite color.”

  He gave her a cocky half grin. “John?”

  “It suits you. Doesn’t anyone ever call you that?”

  “No. Not since I was eight.” He shook his head, reaching over and impulsively twining one of her curls around his finger. Their eyes met, both intense with heat. They leaned toward one another just as the elevator doors opened and a crowd of people entered, ruining the moment. Sam buried her flushed face in JR’s shoulder.

  In the lobby, JR took her hand and escorted her to the front circle where his black Corvette was parked. Sam settled comfortably into the supple leather of the passenger seat, no longer intimi
dated by the luxurious sports car after riding back and forth with him to work all week. “Where are we going?” she asked. “And what’s the deal with the change of clothes?”

  JR chuckled. “Gotham Steakhouse for dinner. You said you haven’t had any decent beef since you left Texas. The rest will remain a surprise. You’ll like it. I promise.”

  “That’s exactly what Sara said,” she pouted.

  Leaving the keys with the valet at the restaurant, they descended a short row of stairs down into the basement of a brownstone. Dark wood floors and furnishings, antique fixtures, and a dark red color scheme dominated the five star restaurant. Sam enjoyed the art deco ambiance as the maître d escorted them to a secluded candle lit table in the back.

  They fell into easy conversation during the meal. Soon the topic turned to sports. Belying her girly demure appearance, JR had discovered earlier in the week that Sam was a rabid hockey fan.

  “The Stars are going all the way this year,” Sam boasted.

  “We’ll see. My money, what’s left of it after your sister cleaned me out last night, is on the Canucks.”

  “By the way, only for you,” she touched his arm, “would I go out tonight. The Stars are playing the Canucks in about an hour, you know.”

  JR stared down at her hand on his arm for a moment. When he raised his eyes his gaze was full of heated promise. “Yeah, about that.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out an envelope, and slid it across the table to her.

  “What’s this?” she asked, opening the envelope. She looked up, eyes wide, and squealed, “Oh my gosh! These are for tonight’s game!”

  A couple at the table next to them glanced their way.

  “Sorry, sorry,” she apologized, waving the tickets up in the air and scooting into his side of the booth. She launched herself at JR who happily caught her. “Thank you,” she whispered, kissing his whiskered cheek.