“Scooter married Teller’s ex, but they weren’t exes when Scooter started sleeping with her. Madison was the one who told Teller, and from the way he tells it, she enjoyed breaking the news.”
Ouch. “That doesn’t help the bad blood.” I thought more about what Madison had said. “Is Teller a player?” I shook my head. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”
I hadn’t seen that side of Teller. There were other single women who worked at Copper Summit, but Teller and Tenor—until me—were nothing but professional around them.
“No. He’s decisive about what he does and doesn’t want, and he won’t make any promises. He also doesn’t date much.” Tenor shrugged. “It’s hard to date a lot in a small town. Not many options.”
Or in Tenor’s case, he didn’t want to risk getting shamed for his interests again. I would not be doing that. Everything about Tenor was interesting. “Do you have other games you play? I don’t think I could get into Warhammer, but is there anything else? Cards? Board games?”
His expression tightened. “I joined the board game club in middle school.”
“That’s cool. What was your favorite?”
He stared at me.
Suddenly nervous, I took a drink of my water. Had I said something wrong?
“I got a lot of shit for being in the board game club,” he admitted.
I wrinkled my nose. “People find anything to step on to make themselves feel better.”
He relaxed. “Trivia games were my favorite. And Jenga. Now I have a closetful.”
I smiled. “Only a closet?” His Warhammer collection spilled beyond an entire room.
He chuckled. “I might have to add on just for them. Tate’s oldest, Chance, comes to play. He’ll hang out with me, Lane, and Cruz sometimes, so he’s not always lumped in with the younger kids.”
“Let’s play some tonight.”
He pushed his glasses up. “You want our date to be Curly’s and a board game?”
“Sounds fun.”
His expression turned calculating. “I think we should add some stakes.”
Tenor
I placed a green chip on the Sequence board. “That’s five in a row. Take your shirt off.”
Ruby blinked and pursed her red lips. “You did not—” My diagonal line of green chips couldn’t be denied. A scandalized gasp left her. “Another joker? You are too damn lucky!” She’d already lost her pants in the last game—after having dressed in her pajama top and bottoms when I’d suggested the stakes.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Still squeezing her eyelids shut, she ripped her shirt off. I drank her in. A pale-yellow lace bra cupped her creamy tits. She peeled her eyes open.
“Now that’s incentive to win a game.” I discreetly adjusted myself. How easy would it be to haul her to the back bedroom? If I asked, would she get herself off again? Would she let me watch?
I shouldn’t have tossed down the wager, but a small part of me feared she’d be bored by a dinner-and-board-game date night. Another part of me was just a selfish guy with a sexy woman under his roof.
Her full tits jiggled with a shiver.
“Cold?” I asked. I’d bundle her in one of my sweaters if need be.
“Exposed.” She scowled at me, but her lips twitched into a smile. “I’m fine, but we should try another game.” She got up, her hips swaying in matching underwear. She tugged at the hem. “I can’t believe you talked me into this, but it’ll definitely make us seem more familiar with each other next weekend.”
That goddamn wedding.
The date was bearing down on me. Did Ruby feel the same sense of impending loss?
Perhaps she wanted to return to weekends in her own home. She probably missed her friends. She might even want to get a real boyfriend.
