His words send another bolt of desire coursing through me, and I lean forward, showing off what little cleavage I could boast about.
“How about if I beat you at a game of pool?”
His laugh is a man’s laugh. It’s deep and loud, damn near raucous as his leather vest-clad friends laugh along with him.
“Beat me? At pool? How many birthday shots have you had, sweetheart?”
Oh yeah, I love a good challenge. “Just enough to make sure I wipe the floor with your hot ass.”
Heat flares in his eyes, and I feel a thrill of excitement rush through me. I can’t remember the last time I felt so bold. So sexy. So free.
“Yeah?”
I nod, defiance oozing from my pores.
“Fuck it, let’s do this.” He turns to his friends, all of them wearing broad white smiles, so sure his win is guaranteed.
“Watch and learn, boys.”
“Don’t worry, cutie, I’ll make sure they have a good view of me so they can learn all they need to know.”
Blue Eyes smiles, and, hot damn, I felt tiny fires ignite all over my body.
“I like you.”
“I’m a likable girl,” I assure him. “And I think I like you too. I’m Kelsey.”
“Shooter.” His big meaty paw dwarfs mine, and I like it. A lot.
“Nice to meet you, Shooter. I’ll break.”
My legs are a little wobbly as I round the table, but I keep my spine straight, shoulders squared, and chest out to convey confidence.
“You?”
His laugh pisses me off, but I’m used to people underestimating, and I love the look on their faces when I surprise them.
“Right.”
“Double-shot says I sink three balls on the break.”
“Three?”
Shooter laughs again, and I feel my anger growing at his clearly sexist words, which were growing less attractive with every passing moment.
“Why not just sink them all?’
“That,” I purr in his direction until his blue eyes glaze over, “would be impossible. I’m magic, but no one is that fucking magical.”
I let out a slow breath and stare at the racked balls, picturing the way they’ll scatter when I crack them with my first hit. I’m ready.
I’m beyond ready.
I can see exactly how it’s going to play out, and I’m looking forward to that shocked, slack-jawed look on his handsome face. It’s always a thrill to surprise people. “Ready?”
“When you are, darlin’.” Shooter nodded toward the table, and as I stand there, I take a deep breath, bend at the waist to line up my shot, and let the pool cue fly with just enough might to send the balls flying across the worn green felt.
The balls scatter, and I hold my breath as the nine falls into a pocket, followed by the two ball.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath just as the thirteen rolled into another pocket. The balls are slowing down, and my gaze bounces around every corner of the table until twelve falls in.
“Yes!” I turn to face Shooter, his handsome face twists in disbelief. Then, humiliation. I brace myself for the fallout.
“Get us some shots,” he roars to his buddies over his shoulder. “All right, sweetheart, looks like we’ve got ourselves a game.”
His smile is wide. Handsome and a little rough around the edges.
Just my type.
“Careful girl, that one looks like real-world trouble,” Ruby whispers her warning in my ear while I figure out my next shot.
“Maybe so,” I agree easily because it’s no secret that I like my men with a little bit of trouble, a few scuff marks on their reputation. “But I’m just looking for a birthday bang, not a boyfriend.”
“Staring all night ain’t gonna make an easier shot appear, babe.” Shooter flashes a crooked smile that puts an answering smile on my face.
I look up at Shooter and shrug. “It might. You never know."
A deep laugh bellows out of him just as his friends return with a tray full of shots.
“We gotta go, man. Moody just reached out. Some assholes are holding our shit hostage.”
Those words change the whole vibe of the evening, from easygoing and lighthearted to serious and full of vengeance. Shooter gifts me with an apologetic smile and a wink. “Sorry babe, duty calls.”
“Bummer,” I tell him. “I’ll think of you fondly as Ruby and I take care of these shots for ya. Be safe.”
“Next time,” he promises, and I watch in disappointment as his long legs carry him away from me.
I turn to Ruby with a shrug. “Shots and pool?”
She nods. “I’ll even take stripes since it’s your birthday, and you sank three solid balls, at least until the next batch of hotties arrive.”
I take a shot glass from the tray and lift it high in the air. “To birthdays, tequila shots, and best friends, not necessarily in that order.”
“Cheers!” Ruby taps her glass against mine, spilling a few droplets, and we knock the shots back with satisfied sighs.
It’s not as exciting as a few minutes before, but the night is still young, and so am I.