Page 6 of So in Love
Cam gave her a disgruntled stare.“I still got twelve points,” he grumbled.
“What else have you learned about Bird’s Nest Ranch?”Jamie asked.He cocked his head to the side.“Hmmm, maybe we should name one of the new vineyard blocks Bird’s Nest Ranch.”
“Or Dorinda,” Crystal said.“She’s the person at the heart of everything.It was her farm before it became a brothel.”
“Didn’t the house burn down around the turn of the century?”
Crystal nodded.“About 1902.I’d love to know the cause of the fire and what happened to the women who worked there.It’s just such an interesting topic, a brothel here in Ribbon Ridge.”The sound of Brooke reracking the balls drew Crystal to look toward the table.“Good job, Brooke!”
Jamie leaned toward her.“What do you plan to do with all this research?Or are you just curious?”His proximity sent a flutter through her, heightening her awareness.
She sipped her Scotch, taking a rather large mouthful, and welcomed the burn as it slid down her throat.“Just curious, I guess.”
Kelsey stepped around the bar.“She’s more than curious.Try obsessed.”She winked at Crystal, who rolled her eyes in response.
“That’s a bit of a stretch,” Crystal said.
Jamie looked at her with…admiration?“I think it’s cool.Intellectual pursuits are always worthy.And satisfying.”
Crystal wasn’t sure this qualified as an “intellectual pursuit,” but she wouldn’t correct him.She kind of liked that description.
“Crap.”Brooke stepped back from the table.“Who’s next?”
“Jamie, you go,” Cam said.
With a nod, Jamie finished his whiskey and set his empty glass down on the bar.He grinned at Crystal.“Wish me luck.”
She laughed.“Hell no.We’re not on the same team.I hope you foul out immediately.”
His answering laughter reignited the heat in her belly, and he made his way to the table.His jeans were the perfect blend of slouchy and fitted, outlining his athletic ass and thighs to great effect.
What the hell?
Crystal looked at her whiskey and decided she’d had too much to drink.Oh well.She took another sip.
Kelsey took Jamie’s vacated stool and leaned toward Crystal.“What was that about?”she whispered.
Crystal turned her head and gave her a brief look.“What?”She knew perfectly wellwhat.
“Jamie.It looked like he was flirting with you.”
“Eh, not really.It probably only seems that way because we’re the only two not paired off.”
“Hmm.Maybe.”Kelsey rested her elbow on the bar.“It was cute, whatever it was.”
Crystal sent her a pointed stare.“That wasnotan invitationtopair us off.”
Kelsey’s gaze traveled to the table.“Damn it, he’s good.”
Crystal finished her Scotch and deposited her glass on the bar.She moved closer to the table to watch him.Hewasgood.She looked down at the cue in her hand and sent it a telepathic message:Curse someone else for once.Like that guy.Make his next shot go wide.
Crystal watched as Jamie indicated sending the four ball in the corner pocket.It was an easy shot.Come on, Humiliator,she urged,you can do it!
A second later, the ball jumped the edge and dropped to the floor.
Crystal whooped in delight and pressed a quick kiss to her new favorite cue.“That’s my boy,” she said softly.
Jamie turned toward her.“What did you say?”
She shook her head.“Nothing.Tough luck.”
He snorted.“I’ll say.It was likeIwas using The Humiliator.”
“Speaking of, it’s Crystal’s turn,” Tori said.
Crystal turned the cue in her hand, eager to prove everyone wrong about this poor, misunderstood cue.She knew what it felt like to be the underdog, to know that everyone had written you off as a failure.And that was why she was going to end this ridiculous curse.
She sent the cue another silent message:let’s do this.
