“Me neither.” Callie takes a sip of her soda. “So are you rethinking your position on the whole baby thing?”
“Why should I?”
“Because look at him. He’s all over that new girl.”
“They’re playing pool,” I say. “He’s hardly all over her. Besides, why should I care?”
“Hey, I never said you should care. Except you should. Don’t you care about the kind of man the father of your child is?”
“I care about his genetics. His personality isn’t part of that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it just isn’t.”
“Maybe it isn’t, but maybe it is. I took a few science courses in my day.”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t. Except for what was required in college. Then I forgot every bit of it once I passed the final.”
“So maybe personality is a part of genetics,” Callie says. “We just don’t really know, do we?”
“Why are you trying so hard to talk me out of this?”
“Because, Rory, this is serious. This is you talking about having a child that’s half you and half Brock Steel.”
I say nothing. I want a baby so badly. But Callie is probably right. Brock Steel? I figure it will take him about another half hour until he finds a way to get Sadie whatever her name is into bed.
He’s definitely a man whore. Nothing I didn’t already know.
I polish off the rest of my beer and pretend not to stare at Brock.
And I try not to think about the fact that I wish I were the object of his attention instead of Sadie.
Chapter Six
Brock
Why did Rory Pike have to show up here tonight? I was doing just fine with Sadie. She’s pretty—flat-chested but pretty. And she’s interested. Really interested. Totally up for a one-nighter.
But damn. She’s worse at pool than Dave is.
In reality, Dave isn’t all that bad, but the Steels are notoriously good. Dave’s just not as good as the rest of us. But this woman? Sadie doesn’t even know how to hold a cue stick. Why the hell did she offer to play pool with me?
I know the answer to my own question, of course. She’s hoping to get into my bed. Which is where we were headed before Rory Pike walked in.
Now, the best Sadie’s going to get might be a kiss good night, and I’m honestly rethinking that as well. I’m kind of getting turned off by her complete ineptitude with the pool cue. Not that you have to be a champion pool player to get into my bed, but you can’t hop off a barstool and be ridiculously excited to play when you don’t have the first clue what you’re doing.
I’ve done my part. I introduced Sadie to my cousins, to Maddie, to Jesse and the band. To Rory and Callie. To everyone else who’s walked into the bar and headed back toward the pool tables.
I’ve attempted to teach her how to handle a pool cue with no luck at all.
I bought her two drinks.
Now, I’m done.
“It’s after two o’clock,” I tell her, “and I have to go to Grand Junction tomorrow with my cousin. I’m afraid I’m going to call it a night.”
“I understand. Let’s get the hell out of here,” she says.
“You need a ride home?”
“Yes. I would love a ride home.”
Yeah, she’s not getting my point, but she will when I drop her off and leave.
“Where are you staying?”
“I’m staying with Nora, but she happens to be visiting a friend tonight, so I have the place all to myself.”
Great. Just great. An hour ago, this would’ve been good news.
I glance toward the door just as Callie and Rory are leaving. Definitely nothing keeping me here now.
“It’s just down the block,” Sadie continues. “Above Lorenzo’s.”
“I’ll walk you home,” I say, feigning a yawn. “Then I’ve got to go home and get some sleep.”
She grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers together. “Are you sure? I’d really love to get to know you better.”
“Maybe some other time.”
Her lips curve downward into a pout. “Promise?”
I can’t promise anything at this point. Not until I screw Rory Pike and get her out of my system. And I have a sinking feeling that getting Rory Pike in my bed won’t be easy. She’s not like other women. I’m not talking about her bisexuality, or the fact that she’s the most gorgeous woman on the planet, or anything else about her looks or personality.
She has something more. Something special radiates from her. Something that’s starting to ignite inside me.
I’m not sure I like the feeling.
I went into this thinking I could seduce her, catch her on the rebound from Raine, have my way with her, and give us both a night to remember.
Now?
I’m not sure one night with Rory Pike will suffice.
What I do know? I’m going to find out whether one night will suffice, and I’m going to find out before I tempt any other woman into my bed.