Fighting For You (The Connor Family 5)

“So, Mark is generally friendly. Luke plays the tough guy, but if you compliment his game skills, he softens. Don’t approach Henry after we lose. We’re all in a bad mood, but he takes the cake. Even his wife avoids him. Andrew will try to get in your pants.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “You can’t know that.”

“You’re a beautiful woman. He’ll try, trust me.”

He thought I was beautiful? Until now, I’d figured Jace was fooling around because he was a rule breaker in general and didn’t think much of work barriers. But what if there was more?

“Gaston is an open book. Be careful though, once he gets started, there’s no stopping him.”

“Thanks for all the information. I should go talk to everyone.”

“Go ahead. But I didn’t forget about our pool game.”

“I didn’t think you had.”

Maybe it was the informal ambiance, but the players were more open with me than I’d expected. I’d briefly wondered if Jace had exaggerated anything, but he’d been spot on, right down to Andrew trying to flirt the pants off me.

“Can I tempt you with a pool game later on?” he asked after I’d turned down his offer to buy me a drink.

I’d barely opened my mouth to decline when I realized Jace had stepped next to me.

“I don’t think so.”

He laced an arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer. I felt the heat radiating off him. His jaw was nearly touching my forehead, and my nose was close enough to his neck that I couldn’t ignore the light whiff of his body wash.

“She’s mine tonight.”

His voice was determined, his stance straight and self-assured, as if he wanted to dominate Andrew, as if he’d staked his claim on me.

I licked my lips, hoping Jace couldn’t tell that my pulse had sped up at his words.

“My bad. Should have moved faster. Whenever we have the next outing, I’m calling dibs on those games.”

I laughed, going for the diplomatic route. “Easy there. I’m not booking my time so far in advance.”

“I’ll be the first to ask next time, then.”

Andrew pointed his forefinger at me before leaving me with Jace and joining two other teammates who were playing darts.

“Told you there’s no stopping him.”

“Or you, apparently,” I volleyed back good-naturedly.

“So you’d rather I hadn’t saved you?”

“Who said I needed saving?”

Jace set his jaw. “You want that game with Andrew?”

“I promised I’d play with you, and I keep my word.”

He opened his mouth, but before he could add anything else, two of his teammates dragged him to the darts board.

I admired Jace as he moved through the room. The man was simply beautiful. Not just hot, or handsome... but beautiful. Maybe it was that permanent joy of his that lit him up, but whenever he captured my gaze, I found myself unable to look away.

Apparently, I couldn’t look away even when he had his back at me. In my defense though, that back was just as impressive as the front. Muscle-laced and broad, tapering to a trim waist and a very impressive ass. He wore those jeans so well that he should come with a warning sign or ten.

Close to midnight, as the crowd thinned, most of management left, but I chose to