“Why?” I demanded skeptically as herudely waved away the waiter who’d come to take our order. “Why are you so protectiveover some girl you just met?” I demanded, watching the waiter back away.
“What do you think?” he asked with atilt of his head.
When I didn’t reply he sighed. “I’mprobably this way with you for the same reason that you’re going on a date withme when you haven’t gone on one for years. There are exceptions to every rule.How about we leave it at that for now?” he suggested, his gaze still intent onmy face.
I bit my lip and thought about that.He’d made a fair point-- he was different for me. I supposed there was a teensypossibility I was for him as well. “Fair enough,” I allowed.
He sighed, seeming relieved that wecould move on and sat casually back in his seat. “So how about the barbeque?”he asked again, bringing the subject back when I thought I’d successfullyderailed him.
“You’re asking me to put myself on thegrid,” I practically whispered.
I saw several emotions pass over hisface, but the one I saw the strongest was possession. I knew he wanted fiercelyto protect me. I didn’t doubt that.
He reached out and took my hand overthe table, squeezing lightly. “Baby, you don’t think you already are?” he askedgently.
My eyes widened as I considered whatI’d been denying for the last few days. “For now I’m going to play the part ofan optimist,” I said as I tried to smile. “It’s new for me, we’ll see how itgoes.”
He smiled at my attempt of lightheartedness.
“Can we let the poor man take ourorder?” I quipped when I saw our waiter making his way back over to us,desperate to change the topic. I took my hand back and placed it in my lap.
“I suppose,” Cole smiled, forcing histone to lighten.
We talked easily for the rest of themeal about relatively frivolous topics-- music and movies we liked, our closefriends, favorite spots to eat. I was surprised to learn that he was quite areader, and we spent a fair amount of time on books.
“Want to go shoot some pool for alittle bit?” he asked when he’d settled the bill. I nodded, not wanting theevening to end just yet.
“Thanks for dinner, it was delicious.”I smiled sincerely, hoping it hadn’t cost too much.
“You’re welcome,” he grinned, throwingan arm around me as we walked to his bike.
We rode to a bar I’d never been tobefore close to downtown. It was a total dive but that suited me just fine. Heordered us a couple of beers and we started playing a game of pool. I hadn’tplayed in years, but we’d had a table at my dad’s club and I wasn’t a slouch.
“You’re pretty good for a girl,” Colesaid as he smirked at me over the table, looking impossibly gorgeous in histight black T-shirt. His eyes shined in the dim light as he leaned against hiscue.
“You did not just say that.” Inarrowed my eyes at him.
“I may have,” he allowed playfully.
“You won’t be so cocky when I kickyour ass,” I retorted, my competitive streak coming out with a vengeance.
Snarky and competitive, wow I wasreally laying on the charm with him.
“Oh really?” He cocked a brow. “Howabout we make this interesting and make a bet?”
“Fine.” I never could turn down adare.
“I win, you come to the BBQ. You win,I might let you kiss me at the end of the night,” he said, clearly enjoyinghimself.
“No deal,” I scoffed with a laugh.
He sighed in mock exasperation. “Fine.Iwin,you let me spend the night. No expectations,”he added when my eyes got wide. “You win…”
“You wash my car and take out ourtrash this week,” I butted in.
He laughed. “Fine, deal.”
We got down to it and I was off to agreat start. I definitely used my cleavage to my advantage when I bent over, aswell as any good angle I could leverage when he was behind me. I heard him suckin his breath a few times and I grinned to myself. But then he hit a roll, andbefore I knew it he was sinking the 8 ball victoriously.
