“What if I don’t want him at my feet?”
“Then I guess you kick him away.”
“Like one of those irritating yappy dogs?” Krista let out a little laugh as she shook her head. “But then I’d‘ve lost a hundred bucks for nothing. Maybe I should just give him a big sloppy kiss instead and make my loss worthwhile?”
“Maybe.” Shane would rather she kicked him away, but really, it was none of his business. “Let’s grab that booth over there by the pool table.”
“Do you want a game after we’ve eaten?” she asked, seeming just as happy as he was to let the subject of Pretty Boy drop. “We could do best out of three.”
“Sure, but no hustling. I saw you play the other night, and you were pretty good.”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me,” Krista groaned. Her cheeks turned pink, and Shane’s brain filled with that strip of red lace he’d seen that night through the tear in her pants as she’d pressed her backside against his crotch. “I learned a big lesson that night and another one the morning after.” She took a seat in the booth, and Shane slid in opposite her, annoyed that the subject was back onto Ryan again. Shaking her head, she added, “Lisa told me to grab the bull by the balls.”
“Well, ouch. It’s horns, not balls.”
“I know, right? That’s what I told her! I should’ve listened to myself, and then...well, you know what happened.” Krista slumped over the table and sighed. “Should’ve known better than to try being someone I’m not.”
“And who were you trying to be?”
“My sister, I guess. Apart from her experience with Deranged Duane, she’s always so carefree and confident with men,” Krista sighed. “She has a good time, and then she moves on. She flicks her hair, and more come running. I sometimes wish I could be like that.”
“Why?”
“I guess it seems more fun. I dunno.” Krista shrugged. “I sometimes feel kinda boring by comparison.”
Krista boring?There hadn’t been a dull moment since they’d taken off together, but he didn’t want to mention it in case it soundedflirty.
So he settled for annoying instead and flicked a beer mat at her. “Are you feeling sorry for yourself again?”
“Yeah.” But she was smiling up at him, like she knew she was entitled to feel any damn way she wanted to feel. “Got a problem with that?”
“Not particularly.” Shane took a sip of her beer and pulled a face. “But if you’re gonna drown your sorrows, at least do it with a decent drink.”
This time, she flicked the beer mat at him.
He caught it as it slid off his shoulder and grinned. “You’re not bad just as you are, Krista Gervais.”
“Right back at ya, Shane McDermit.”
