Page 39 of Always a Bridesmaid
He peeked over her shoulder so he could line up his shot—thanks to her “rule” about him going in order, he had to aim for the thirteen instead of the easier fifteen.
Since he was a cocky bastard, he pulled back enough to look her in the eye.
Right as he went to take his shot, she slid the toe of her shoe up his inner thigh. His stomach relocated in the vicinity of his throat, and thanks to the involuntary jerk of his arm, he missed the cue ball entirely.
Violet burst into laughter. “Still a fan?”
His mind concocted several ways he’d like to punish her for throwing his concentration. Only he rather liked where it was right now.
If there weren’t other people in the Old Firehouse, he’d tackle her. They’d crash onto the table, billiard balls scattering in every direction. Then he’d kiss her until her breaths became his as well.
Heat replaced the blood in his veins, spreading up to his brain and setting fire to the few logical thoughts that were left.
If he followed through, it’d be juicy gossip by morning. He used to be a regular feature in the local grapevine when he and Trina were dating. If they were cuddly, the story morphed into a sordid tale about them practically having sex in public.
During their volatile periods, he’d heard tales of thrown objects and domestic disputes that’d never happened.He’s too much like his dad,they’d say. Or granddad, depending on the age of the blabbermouth.
After that, he’d tried to keep his dating life out of the public eye. More than that, he had a feeling Violet wouldn’t want to be reduced to town gossip, the way she was when she was a kid.
Since they’d caused enough of a scene as it was, he simply loomed over her with a mock stern glare. “You’re so going down for that.”
“Big talk for someone who missed his shot. Can’t say I wasn’t warned you might be a sore loser.”
“The word was competitive, and you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” He bent so that their noses were almost brushing, her lips so intoxicatingly close his entire being became tethered to them. He wrapped his hand around the back of her knee and jerked until she was teetering on the edge of the table, his body the only thing preventing her from falling.
She sucked in a breath but didn’t move away. Her fingers clasped his elbows, and her tongue darted out to lick her lips.
His self-control floundered in the exquisite deluge of desire, and the list of reasons he needed to hold back evaporated. Gossip City here he came.
“Excuse me,” a shrill voice cut in, popping their intimate bubble, and Ford cursed the interruption that had Violet jumping down and away from him. “Aren’t you Larry Hurst’s daughter?”
Apprehension bled into Violet’s features.
“Wow, it is you,” Nellie Mae said. “You look so much like your daddy. Not as much as your siblings, but I could certainly pick you out of a crowd.”
Could and had.
“Sorry, how rude of me.” The older woman gestured to herself. “My name is Nellie Mae Pruitt, and I work at the town hall with your daddy. I can’t believe he didn’t mention you were visiting.”
“Oh, I haven’t been in town long.” Violet’s words came out rushed and a pinch squeaky, likely due to her loose interpretation oflong.
Nellie Mae narrowed her eyes on Ford.
Don’t get him wrong—there were plenty of incredible, kind-hearted people in town. Even though the woman belonged to the Craft Cats, who were infamous for sticking their noses in others’ business, she meant well. For the most part.
She also had the memory of an elephant, and he and his friends had wreaked a lot of havoc. Houses toilet papered; tearing through town on their bikes, focused on winning a race instead of townsfolk on peaceful walks; and leaving open cans of sardines in a locker so an entire wing of the school smelled fishy.
“Ford McGuire. People keep insistin’ you’ve changed since high school, but I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.” She scrutinized the minimal distance between him and Violet. “In my experience, people rarely change.”
“You must’ve not noticed I’m taller now. A whole two inches.”
After aharrumph, Nellie Mae directed her next comment to Violet. “Most folks ’round here are real nice, but you best mind who you spend your time with. You’d hate to sully your reputation.
“Anyway, I’ll be sure to tell your father I ran into you when I go into the office tomorrow.” The amount of superiority she aimed his way insinuated he’d be mentioned, too. As if drinking a couple of beers and playing pool was the equivalent of planning a bank heist.
If so, most everyone in Uncertainty was guilty.
“Oh. Um,” Violet said. “Could you hold off on mentioning it? I haven’t caught up with him yet.” Nellie Mae frowned, and Violet gnawed on her lower lip. “I’ve been…busy.”
