Page 5 of Rhoni & Dreaux

Nearing the end of the game, she was annoyed. She watched me clear each ball like it was nothing. Her body was tense, damn near locked tight, and I was relaxed and amused. “Eight ball, corner pocket.”

She made a dissatisfied nose, as I moved around her to get a better angle. And after the ball dropped, I walked up behind her, pressing my body to hers, my lips moving close to her ear when I whispered, “That’s game.”

She wanted to renege on her promise. I could see it all over her face but to my surprise she didn’t.

“I guess I’ll have to pay up then.”

“I guess you will.” I pointed to a corner of the bar. “We can sit over there. What are you drinking?”

“Water.”

I chuckled, knowing she was trying her best not to curse me out. She was attracted, that was a give in, but she didn’t like losing. Neither did I so I couldn’t blame her.

“You might want to pick again. The way you’re dreading this, I would think you need something stronger.”

She narrowed her eyes then glanced past me at the bar. “What are you drinking?”

“Something brown.”

“Then I’ll drink that. Bring the bottle, unopened.” She turned and walked away. I watched her ass as she put distance between us. She had a really nice ass and thoughts of what I could do with it had my dick coming to life.

When I made it back to the table with two glasses and cognac, she pulled the bottle closer and did a thorough inspection. I almost laughed because she did not trust me for shit. Again, I couldn’t blame her.

“Satisfied?” I raised a brow and she pushed the bottle across the table toward me. I elected to sit facing her because I wanted a full view.

“Yep.”

Once I had the bottle open and our glasses full, I leaned back, focusing on her pretty face.

“So your ex cheated?”

“And yours snitched...” She smiled smugly and I nodded.

“She did but wasn’t good at it.”

“So no time?”

I wish.

“Four years.”

“How? If she wasn’t good at it.”

“I used her credentials to gain access to other people’s accounts. I had to take the hit for that.”

“You stole money?”

“From very wealthy people that probably stole it from other people by manipulating the system.”

She stared at me for a minute before she moved on. “Then I guess you made out for the better.”

“If that’s what you want to call it. I’m still losing four years of my freedom.”

“For decisions you made. You had to consider that would be an option.”

“I did, which is why I’m going to do my time like a man who understands he played a role in putting himself in there. Now, back to your ex?”

“I don’t want to talk about him.”