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Rory blinked, her pupils dilated, her lips parted. Close enough to kiss.
“We’ll see,” she whispered back.
Then she put a finger in my chest and pushed me out of the truck. She wasn’t kidding when she said she wouldn’t make it easy for me to win her over. But I was a born and bred cowboy. A little hard work never scared me off.
Ten minutes later, Rory and I were in the Big Bull Bar & Grill, with old black and white photos of cowboys on the walls from the early days of Ash Ridge. After ordering our drinks—a margarita for her, a beer for me—we gravitated toward one of the available pool tables in the corner.
Rory selected a cue stick and gestured with it in my direction.
“I’ve heard you’re a menace at pool.”
I shrugged as I racked up the balls.
“It was an easy way to earn some extra cash when I was a teenager. Let’s just say I was a quick learner. But don’t worry, I’ll let you win.”
Rory smacked me lightly in the shoulder.
“Don’t even think about it, cowboy. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“If you insist.” I fished a twenty-dollar bill out of my pocket and placed it on the table. “Put your money where your mouth is, darlin’.”
Rory matched my bet with her own twenty dollars.
“Let the games begin.”
It didn’t take long before I realized I was in a fight for my life. Rory sank one ball after another with deadly precision. Of course, it didn’t help that I was so damn distracted every time she lined up her shot—the arch of her back, the stretch of her body, the way her breasts swelled and strained at her halter top when she inhaled a breath to steady her aim.
God, she was gorgeous.
The crack of the balls echoed against each other. Rory straightened to a standing position with a triumphant smile and snatched the money off the table.
“Winner takes it all,” she said.
“You wiped the floor with me,” I replied, mock offended.
She smirked.
“Maybe you should have been paying more attention.”
I huffed a laugh.
“Fair enough. Best two out of three?”
“Sure, I’ll take your money.”
As I retrieved my wallet, I shook my head. I had no idea she was so competitive, let alone such a trash talker. But I loved seeing this side of her—confident, brash, sassy.
The second game was tight. This time, I didn’t let myself get distracted by Rory and I focused on making the most out of every shot. It would be a close call to see who was the winner. As Rory took aim for her next shot, I attempted a little distraction of my own.
“I was thinking the next game we play should be strip poker.”
She flicked her gaze up to me.
“You fight dirty, cowboy.”
I grinned.
“You’re considering my suggestion though, aren’t you?”
