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“Let’s get out of here, for old times’ sake.”
“Those times are dead and buried. No sense digging them up. Besides, if I sink two more balls, you owe me twenty bucks.”
She stepped away and leaned over the table and took her shot, sinking the last striped ball.
“Come on, honey, you know you’d rather play with my balls.”
“Jeez, Charlie,” her friend Teri called from the table behind her. “No amount of beer will erase that image from my head.”
Charlie’s laughter halted abruptly when she sank the eight ball. He dipped his hand down his Wrangler’s front pocket, pulled it free, and smacked the folded bill into her outstretched hand.
“I shouldn’t play with you when I’m drunk.”
“You’re not playing with me when you’re sober, either,” she teased, and pulled her hand free.
Caleb’s eyes blazed from across the room. She ignored him. If he wanted her, all he had to do was come over here and claim his place beside her. She’d made it clear without saying the words outright that she wanted to take their friendship to the next level. He was the one who backed off. Not her.
Teri bumped a shoulder into hers. “That is one gorgeous man.” She cocked her head in Caleb’s direction.
“Ew, that’s my brother.”
“I’m not talking about Jack,” she said on a laugh. “He doesn’t smile much anymore, does he? His friend, either.”
Summer frowned and let her gaze rest on Caleb. He ended whatever he said to Jack and looked up. Gazes locked, he raised his beer in a kind of salute. She mimicked him and gave a smile. He didn’t return the grin, but his eyes took on an intensity that both drew her in and made her pause.
“That man is hot for you.”
With a heavy sigh, she turned away from Caleb. “He’s a stubborn one.”
“The war took both their smiles, huh?” Teri read her mind.
“Yes. And their sense of humor. It’s like living with two bears fresh out of hibernation. They’re pissed off and hungry.”
“He certainly looks hungry for you.”
“They’re hungry for normal and the way life used to be, but it will never be that way again. Not after what they’ve seen and done. Look at them, a room full of women, all of them interested in those two guys, and yet no one approaches them. Everyone can see the minefield around them, keeping everyone away.”
“Come on,” Teri said, slipping off her stool.
“Where are we going?”
“To get those two hot and sexy guys to play pool with us.”
“Okay, but you’re partnering with Jack.”
Teri laughed. “No doubt. Caleb is all yours. The way he looks at you. You’re the light to his dark.” She tugged Summer’s hand and drew her through the crowd. They stepped up to the table, and Caleb and Jack stared up at them.
“Finally ready to go?” Jack asked.
“No,” she shot back. “I’m ready to play another round of pool. Come on, Caleb.”
“Let’s go, Jack,” Teri coaxed.
Caleb remained quietly passive, but Jack spoke up for them both. As usual.
“We didn’t come to play pool. We came to keep an eye on you and that yahoo you used to date.”
She spoke directly to Caleb. “Charlie is an old friend. Nothing more.”
