Chapter 16
SPENCER
Fuck, that girl was strong. Stronger than I would be in her situation. I reckon if I was Zoe I’d be a bloody mess right now, but there she was trying to be one of the boys challenging me to a game of pool. A game she had no hopes in hell of winning, but she was standing there, cue in one hand, drink in the other, looking cute as hell with her rosy cheeks. She was acting like she didn’t have a care in the world. We both knew that was bullshit, but I wasn’t about to ruin her buzz.
I’ll admit I was showing off a little when I broke, scattering the balls across the table and watching with a satisfied smirk as they bounced off each side before coming to a stop. I’d managed to sink three on my first shot. Not bad. I’d done better, but tonight wasn’t about winning, it was about having some fun. I lined up my next shot and hit quickly, sinking another. Three shots later and it was Zoe’s turn.
I know I shouldn’t have been but I couldn’t help myself. She bent low over the table and the denim of her jeans pulled tight across her butt. I couldn’t help but ogle…and I wasn’t the only one. Derek and Kane’s attention was firmly fixed on her rounded backside propped up in the air. I had to keep reminding myself that right now, Zoe needed my help. She didn’t need me to be yet another guy checking her out when she wasn’t doing anything to invite it.
I thought I was being discreet as I adjusted myself. Obviously it wasn’t discreet enough. Kane busted me and burst out in raucous laughter.
“Nice, big brother, nice.” He laughed as he swung back on his stool.
The urge to punch him filled me, somehow I managed to behave myself. He’d pay for that one. Later. Right now I had to get my traitorous body back under control and focus on the task at hand. Winning this game of pool. It would be just my luck to have a raging hard on and lose the unlosable.
Two more shots and I was down to the black ball. It was tucked up against the side, wedged beside another on an impossible angle. I knew I’d never make it. I had no chance. I wasn’t about to show any sign of weakness.
“Ready to lose, Pippi?”
“Seriously? You think you can make that shot?” she slurred. Zoe was officially smashed.
“Of course,” I lied easily.
“Care to make a bet on it?”
“Bring it on,” I dared stupidly.
“You miss this shot, I never hear the word ‘Pippi’ again,” Zoe declared, folding her arms across her chest.
Damn! I didn’t want to agree to that. I loved calling her Pippi. She always got so riled up and so damn defensive it was just fun to watch her explode. And she knew it. That’s why she was taking it away from me. I couldn’t concede to easily. “And when I win…”
“Ifyou win…”
“I will.” I knew I was being a cocky bastard but I didn’t care. I winked at her and waited.
“What do you want?”
Fuck me! Talk about a loaded question. There were a million thoughts running through my head right now and not one of them was appropriate to say out loud.
“Careful there, Zoe,” Derek warned with a wicked grin.
He knew me well. Maybe too well.
I shot him a look, which I hoped would shut him up once and for all, but all it did was cause him to choke on his beer. Maybe that would teach him. I wasn’t about to hold my breath on that one.
“How ’bout I just sink the ball and then we’ll discuss your punishment?” I asked, pushing the X-rated thoughts aside.
“Do it!” Zoe squealed.
Around the bar, heads turned in our direction to see what all the kerfuffle was about. I lined up my shot before stealing a glance at Zoe. She looked happy. Deliriously so. She smiled wide, her eyes sparkling, and her hands nervously clapping silently. Not even the scrapes and blemishes could dim her sparkle in that moment. In the corner of a dark, seedy bar, my girl shone. Fuck, I was a sentimental sap sometimes.
Without wasting another moment, I drew back and took my shot. It was like the room fell silent around me. No one spoke. No one moved. We all watched as inch by inch the ball rolled across the faded green felt until it tapped the ball. It wasn’t the black ball it connected with. Instead it was a bloody yellow one. I hadn’t sunk the black.
“Woohoo!” Zoe screeched, throwing herself recklessly into my arms. Thankfully my reflexes were still working and I was able to catch her before she landed on that cute ass of hers.
“Nice shot, big brother,” Kane taunted like the dickwad he was. “I need a drink after that disappointment. Anyone else want one?”
“Me!’ Zoe squawked in my ear, rendering me temporarily deaf.
