Page 7 of Brick

The guys from the crew bunched around the pool tables in the back. He arrived last, since he’d run home to shower after sweating it out in the sun all day. He didn’t expect to get close to her, but he didn’t want to offend Will’s sister with the stench of B.O.

As usual, Robby made a beeline straight for him. The kid damn near bounced on the balls of his feet. “You made it. The guys said you wouldn’t come, but I knew you wouldn’t ditch us.” Robby linked a lanky arm in his and dragged him toward the group. “Told you he would come.”

He barely stopped himself from shuffling his feet at Robby’s proud pronouncement. Not because the guys all looked at him, but because she did too.

Will’s sister wore jeans and a light blue T-shirt. Even in her casual clothes, she still carried the same ethereal beauty she had wearing her white dress two days before. A high ponytail made her neck look long and graceful. It also gave him a better view of her face. She wore hardly any makeup, and with her natural beauty, she didn’t need it. Everything about her fucking glowed.

She’d been playing pool one-on-one with Cyrus.

He resisted the urge to try and spook the good-looking Iranian bastard right out of the bar. Cy was an okay guy, ex-military, and he did good work. He always got it right the first time. He just didn't do well with loud noises. The guys learned their lesson when Kane used the nail gun without warning and Cyrus tried to tackle him for his trouble. It was no small thing, since even he would think twice before throwing down with that tattooed motherfucker.

So, it probably wasn’t fair to call Cy a bastard, but the man needed to find someone else to play pool with. Cy cleared his throat and pulled Will’s sister’s attention back to the game. Brick turned his body away entirely to make himself stop staring.

Kane waited two tables down. He lifted his pool cue in greeting, his smile showing he didn’t hold a grudge from the elbow thing on Wednesday. “Brick. Get over here. I need someone else on my team. Robby can’t play for shit.”

Robby’s smile faltered for a moment. Then, he brought it back, even if it didn’t shine quite as bright as before. “Kane’s right. Pool’s not really my game.”

Brick pressed a twenty into the kid’s palm and spoke softly. “Why don’t you get us some beers? My treat.”

Nodding, the kid scampered away to the bar.

Kane rolled up the sleeves on the red and black checked flannel he wore, revealing the intricate skull tats on his left forearm and the array of female devils and angels inked on his right. “You missed the free booze, brother. Will’s sister bought us all shots.”

He would not think of—fuck, she’s bent halfway over the table trying to hit the shot. Those jeans are hugging her ass in all the right places. Stop. Looking.

Cursing under his breath, he squeezed his eyes shut briefly, then grabbed a stick from the rack on the wall. “Stripes or solids?”

“Solids,” Kane growled. “The kid didn’t sink a single shot.”

Brick shrugged as he knocked the two-ball in the side pocket. As much time as he spent in Sucre’s bar, he had plenty of practice at pool. “He only wants to belong. The kid’s got a lot of heart.” Did he sound like a fucking Boy Scout or what? He shook his head at the drivel coming out of his mouth, then banked the four into the corner pocket.

He waited for Kane to call him on it, but instead the guy nodded in agreement. “I know. Anyone else talk as much as him, I’d tell ’em to shut the fuck up, but with Robby, it’d be like kicking a puppy, you know? I don’t get why he wants to latch on to us. There’s not a soul in this crew who’s not fucked up in one way or another. We’re going to corrupt him, brother.”

The one-ball sank, and he chuckled, the sound of his own laughter foreign to his ears. “I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already.”

Will grumbled from the other side of the table. “You ladies going to keep giggling over there, or are we going to move this game along?”

Brick raised his eyebrow, which in his neighborhood would usually leave a man shaking in his boots. Here, it went ignored. Will snarled and stood next to his teammate, Matt, folding his arms like a pouting child.

For the second time in as many minutes, he wanted to laugh, but this time, he stifled the urge and focused on the table. As he moved to sink the five, Robby returned, jostling his arm.

“Got the beer.”

The shot went wild, and the cue ball scratched. Kane sighed deeply and raked his hand through his long dark hair.

Robby looked totally clueless. “I hope Bud’s okay. The bartender gave me two pitchers. Who’s thirsty?” He held up the beer, one pitcher in each hand.

No glasses in sight.

He could tell the moment Robby realized his mistake, that proud smile starting to slip. “I’ll grab us some cups, kid.” It would be a while before his turn again anyway. He stepped over to the bar, then froze. The hair stood up on the back of his neck, a sure sign someone watched him. He turned his head a fraction and caught sight of her, barely two feet away.

She looked dead at him. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth before sliding free.

As his stomach did a slow flip, he tried to center himself. Maybe she was looking at someone else. He faced her full-on, and her gaze didn’t waver.

Instead of turning away, she tilted her chin and offered a friendly smile. “You work with my brother.” She stuck out her hand. “My name’s Olivia. But everyone calls me Liv.”

Her hand stayed outstretched. Did she want him to touch her? He moved slowly, giving her plenty of time to retreat, before wrapping his big hand around her delicate one. He squeezed gently—carefully—noting the softness of her palm and the warmth of her skin before letting go.

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