“I’ve got to relieve Grandma at seven so she can go to bingo at Schmidt’s, so I’m out,” Jared says.He sounds excited about his Friday night, single-dad plans.
Quinn tugs her ponytail.“I’m happy to play, but I’m not as good as Silas or Kit.Maybe I can catch the next round?”
Kit and Silas look at each other.“Rock paper scissors?”Kit offers.
“Two out of three,” Silas agrees.
They bust out a quick 3-2-1-shoot, 3-2-1-shoot, 3-2-1-shoot, and Kit wins.I’m bummed not to be playing with Silas, but when a young, scruffy guy in a threadbare shirt with a beard pokes his head out of the doorway to let us know it’s our turn, all five of us head in.
Kit and I school the tourists with Jared, Quinn, and Silas cheering us on.The campers—there are six of them—move over to the pool table while Quinn and Silas challenge us on the dartboard.Jared gets on his soapbox about the best off-piste skiing with the visitors paying rapt attention.
I’m lining up my shot—just need double bulls to close out—when Hunter appears at my elbow.
“There’s my favorite sister.”He slings an arm around my shoulders, and I have to lower my dart to avoid stabbing him.
“I’m your only sister.”
“Technicality.”He grins, then nods at Silas.“You keeping her entertained?”
Silas doesn’t miss a beat.“Trying to.She’s beating me pretty badly.”
“That’s my girl.”Hunter squeezes my shoulder with pride.“Listen, I’ve got to get back to the bar, but you two have fun.Silas, make sure she doesn’t leave without saying goodbye, yeah?”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Silas promises, and there’s something in his tone—something private—that makes my stomach flip.
Hunter doesn’t notice.He’s already turning back toward the bar, calling out to Morgan about something.
The moment he’s gone, Silas reaches for his beer with one hand, and sneakily finds my lower back again with his other hand, that same spot from earlier, and this time his thumb makes small circles that have nothing to do with friendly and everything to do withI want you.
I glance over my shoulder.Kit’s been sucked into the hiking conversation and Quinn’s MIA.“You’re playing with fire,” I murmur, not moving away.
“Worth it.”He steps back before anyone notices, but the heat in his eyes doesn’t fade.“Your shot, temptress.”
Kit and I win, and then we switch up the teams, women versus men.Quinn and I still win.Then she gets called away to chat with some friends about a book club, Kit goes to get another drink and never returns, and Jared looks at his watch and says, “Fuck me.I’ve gotta go.”
That leaves just Silas and me and the campers.
The game room is slightly off from the main bar, around the corner and more secluded.Silas twirls a dart between his fingers and leans on the table next to me.
“My brother’s pretty occupied,” I point out.It’s only seven-ish, and the crowd has only thickened.“We could go back to your place.”
Silas smiles down at me.I’m sitting on a barstool and he nudges my knee with his hip.“We’ve got time.Your brother will probably be behind the bar till ten or eleven, especially if you’re busy doing other things.”
“Other things like...”I tilt my head back.“You?”
Silas leans closer, his gaze darting to the doorway over his shoulder, checking to make sure my brother can’t see us.“Why don’t I order us some dinner, get you another beer, and then we can make a wager?”
“A wager?”My thighs tighten in anticipation.Silas is so close now, his breath warm on my cheek.
He taps my thigh with a dart, and even that small touch sends electricity through me.“You win, you get to come on my dick.I win, I get you coming on my dick.”
I laugh so loudly it draws the attention of the guy closest to us at the pool table.“So it’s a win-win, is what you’re saying?”
“Exactly.”His eyes twinkle, but there’s heat behind them too.“I’ve been thinking about you for three weeks, Bailey.I’m not picky about the details.”
My breath catches.Three weeks of morning texts and late-night phone calls where we talked about everything except how much I wanted him.Three weeks of him dropping pebbles while I tried to convince myself this was still just getting it out of our systems.
“Just a game of darts?”I manage.
