Page 2 of Rhoni & Dreaux

I snatched my hand from under his, taking the two fifties with me. “I don’t share.”

“Didn’t think you did, and you’re right, let me rethink my pickup line because I am attempting to get your attention.” He rounded the table and leaned against it next to me, gripping the edge. His long body was angled, legs spread wide, chest expanded and shoulders wide. “You’re beautiful. I want your time. Play me.”

“I play for money.”

“Understood. Name your price.”

“One game, three hundred.”

“Don’t you want to start off easy. Feel me out. See if I can actually play?”

“No. Even if you can play, you won’t be better than me.”

“Confident, I like that.”

“Most men do.” I shrugged. “So you playing or what?”

He was nice. The money I’d won from Tyren was nothing to me. I could risk losing it. There was also the feeling of humbling this guy making me eager to rack up for a new game. He was just as confident, in a cocky way.

“So…” He lowered his eyes until they met mine.

“One game, three becomes six, when I win?”

“Ifyou win.”

Not if, I would win.

“Yep…” I mumbled and angled my head to the side. “We playing or not?”

“Yes, but with one additional rule…”

“I’m listening.”

“If you win, I give you six hundred. If I win, you give me two hours of your time, completely alone.”

I reared my head back shaking my head. “You want to buy my time.”

“No.”

“You’re turning a game of pool into a proposition for my time. My pussy isn’t for sale.”

His smile was beautiful and taunting because he was amused and I was annoyed.

“I didn’t think it was…”

“Then keep it about the money,” I shot back.

“I don’t want your money; I want your time and I didn’t say I wanted to fuck. You assumed that’s what I was asking.” His eyes unabashedly traveled from my face down the rest of my body. “Not that I would be opposed. You are beautiful, but you know that.” He winked and my body agreed with the promise it delivered.

“If you want to play, we play for money.”

“Scared you’ll lose?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“Then why worry about what I’m asking for as payment. If you don’t lose, you owe me nothing.”

I wouldn’t lose. I had a pool cue in my hand before I could hold it steady. My father was a professional. He taught me. I loved the game, could have also been professional but it reminded me too much of what I’d lost.

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