Impatience flashed across Grant’s face. “People don’t always simply know they’re around their mate. Hell, some bonded pairs have known each other all their lives but didn’t guess they were fated until they hit their thirties or even forties. It happens.”
Camden sighed. “I see now why she has no wish to speak to you. You don’t truly hear what people say to you. You don’t listen, you don’t take it in, you don’t believe anything other than what you want to believe. In which case, we’re done. I’ve got far better things to do.” He skirted around the enforcer, ignoring Grant’s “you’ll soon see I’m right” bullshit.
Returning to the pool table, Camden took his bottle from Aspen. “Thanks, babe.”
She studied his face, her eyes narrowed. “Everything okay?”
He settled his hand on her lower back. “Yeah. All good.”
“So, you had a number two, huh?” asked Bailey.
Taking a swig of his beer, Camden looked at the mamba.
She patted his arm. “You didn’t need to lie that you just needed to pee. There’s no shame in taking a shit. People do it every day. Some even do it multiple times a day. Hell, there are some who even talk shit. Right, Eye Candy?”
Deke’s brows snapped together. “The fuck? I don’t talk shit. And my name is Deke.”
Bailey gave him a long look. “But … you just said you’re the best pool player here. Alex is way better.”
A smile lit the wolverine’s eyes. “On that, I’d have to agree.”
“If you weren’t on the team, Alex, there’s no way the guys would win,” she insisted.
Deke squinted at her. “I see what you’re doing. You think I’m going to say we don’t need Alex and that he should sit this game out.”
Bailey’s nose wrinkled. “I think that?”
“Yeah. And I’m not going to.”
“Well of course you’re not. Because it’d prove my point. But it wasn’t actually what I was thinking at all. No, I was thinking it’d be interesting to one day watch you and Alex compete against each other to establish once and for all who’s the best male player.”
Deke cocked his head. “Is this you trying to get out of a ‘women versus the men’ game?”
“Hell, no. I’m looking forward to getting started. It should be fun.” She eyed the pool table as if she’d never seen one up close before. “I mean, the game can’t be that hard, right? It probably would have been fairer if me and the girls had had a practice run, but I’m still feeling confident that we’ll beat you guys fair and square.”
Deke’s gaze lit with a hint of deviousness. “Really? Well, I see no reason why you can’t have a practice run. I’ll tell you what. How about you and I have a friendly one-on-one game? I’ll give you some tips.”
Aspen exchanged a smile with Havana. Oh, he’d fallen into the mamba’s trap far too easily. And now Bailey was awkwardly holding the pool cue, asking Alex to recite the rules of the game.
Deke was looking awfully pleased with himself. The enforcer was sharp and hard to fool, but he seemed to have a blind spot when it came to Bailey. “I’ll let you take the first shot,” he told her, sounding ever so benevolent and patronizing.
“Aw, that’s sweet of you.” Bailey bent over the table, aimed the cue at the white ball, and then hit it like a pro. The triangle of balls scattered, and one tumbled into a pocket. Then she pocketed another. And another. And another.
It was a little painful to watch realization dawn across Deke’s face. Amusing, but painful.
Bailey smiled up at him. “Tell me, Boy Toy … will you cry when I annihilate you? Will your soul weep in utter despair? Do you hear the fracturing of your itty, bitty ego?”
Deke’s jaw hardened, and he shot her a look that could have flayed the skin from someone’s bones. Bailey only snickered.
Stifling a smile, Tate slapped his friend’s back. “Don’t worry. Me and the other guys will get you through this.”
Elle snuggled into Deke. “I’m here for you, too.”
The enforcer growled. “You’re all assholes.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Aspen’s eyes snapped open, and her senses went on high-alert.
Someone was in the apartment.
Hell, Camden must have had another nightmare, which meant his tiger was no doubt taking out his anger on him. She officially hated his uncle. In fact, she loathed each member of Camden’s ex-pride. They had no right to disrupt his life and ask to be part of it. Not after they’d let him down when he’d most needed family, friends, and the support of his pride.
She lifted her head from the pillow as her bedroom door creaked open. It wasn’t his cat who padded into the room, though. It was a figure dressed in black. And as an unfamiliar male scent wafted her way, her entire body tensed. Not Camden.