Page 14 of Highest Bidder
“Well, hello ladies! So happy you could join us.” JT’s deep, velvety voice is warm and inviting. “Can we get you anything to drink?” He comes around and gives each of us a brief hug.
We all order drinks, but I’ve decided I’ll drink one and go home. This isn’t my idea of a good time. Mr. Grouch is still sending daggers my way. I’m growing tired of his moods. After hearing what the block clerks think of him, it makes me jealous that I don’t have those types of encounters with him. Why can’t he move past everything and be friendly to me, too?
“Hunter!” Jess wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s play a round of pool.” She grabs a pool stick and tosses it across to me.
Catching it one-handed, I shake my head and hand it back. “No thanks. I'm going to take off soon.” I’m trying to get out of here with the least amount of drama and glaring as possible.
Myles walks toward the pool table from the corner he was sulking in. Standing in front of me, he leans back, putting his weight on the pool table behind him, and crosses his arms across his chest. He’s wearing worn jeans and a black T-shirt. I have to fight the urge to scan him. Did I know that he has tattoos? They are sexy as hell. I can’t lie, if he wasn’t such an ass and was the guy the girls talked about, I would have a very hard time not being into him. Fuck, I’m struggling even when he is an ass to me.
The muscles in his jaw flex. “What? Are you afraid you’ll embarrass yourself, and we’ll find out you actually suck at something?”
What the fuck is his problem?I drill him with a glare. He was giving me the evil eye earlier and then comes to intervene just when I decide to leave.
“No, I don’t want to hang out with you any more than I have to.” I put a hand on my hip. His eyes rake over me, and I wonder if he feels the same. Does he find me just as attractive? The heat is clearly in his eyes, and I guess there’s only one way to find out. “Also, I wouldn’t want to bruise your ego even more by whipping your ass in pool.” It’s hard not to be snarky when his whole demeanor asks for it.
His eyes flash. “Oh, it’s on, Hershey.” The danger in his low growl sends an unexpected thrill through me as he prowls closer with a toothpick balanced in the corner of his mouth.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.My body is screaming at me, as if it knows I’m playing with fire.
JT racks up the balls, beaming. His anticipation is palpable. I’m realizing JT loves to stir the pot. Okay, if these boys want a good time, fuck it, that’s exactly what I’m going to give them. There’s only one way to find out if he feels anything for me.
Squaring my shoulders, I prepare myself for what’s coming. “Fine, but let’s put a little wager on it. Shall we?” Looking directly at Myles, I arch an eyebrow.
His eyes darken. “Okay. Loser has to take three shots of whiskey,” he challenges.
“Fine.” I nod. “But then you won’t be able to drive home. It’ll be an expensive Uber for you.” Giving him a confident wink, I chalk my stick.
His eyes flare as he rolls that damn toothpick across his bottom lip with his tongue. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll break.” I saunter around the pool table, never taking myeyes off his. Our friends stand around the high tops as they eat, drink and talk. But I don’t miss the subtle glances they give each other during our exchange.
Sweeping his arm toward the pool table, he says, “By all means.”
JT jumps up and yells over to the bar, “Hey, can we get another round over here and four shots of whiskey?” The bartender nods his head and gets to work on the drinks.
I aim and hit the cue ball, making all the balls scatter across the table and sinking two solids into different holes. I look up at Myles and smirk.Take that, big boy.“Guess I’m solids.” I enjoy the devilish little smile I feel curling the corners of my lips.
Myles scoffs and fingers the rim of his hat as he adjusts it nervously. “Beginner's luck.”
“I don’t know, man,” JT says, leaning over the table to get a better look. “Might want to change your bet.”
“Yeah. I’m definitely on Hunter’s team.” Jess comes to stand next to JT.
Going around the table, I line up my next shot, which happens to be right in front of him. I make a show of bending over and getting into position. I make sure to give him the perfect view of my ass because I happen to know it looks good in these jeans. Giving my hips a little wiggle, I hit the white ball. I am not above using all myassetsto my advantage. If he’s thinking of my ass, he’s not thinking about the game. Before standing up, I peek over my shoulder to find him biting the knuckle of his fist as an inferno burns behind his eyes.
I sink two more balls before missing the next one. “Your turn,” I say in my most alluring voice. “Unless you want to give up now.” I brush imaginary lint from my shoulders as I peer at him from under my lashes.
Clearing his throat, Myles squares his shoulders and stares me down. “In your dreams.”
He goes around the table, looking for his best angle. Turning his hat around backward, he sinks four stripes before he misses. He walks around, leans close to my ear, and whispers, “Don’t choke.”
I hold back the shiver from his breath against my skin. Slowly looking up, I meet his eyes, then glance at his full lips. “I never do,baby.”
His eyes spark with hunger as his grip tightens on his pool stick. I smirk and bump him with my hip as I walk by.God, he’s fucking hot.
Charley leans over to Jess and JT. “Are they always like this?” she says in a low voice.
They both say in unison, “Yes.” Their shoulders slump, clearly exasperated by the whole thing.
