My sister, who hated this game almost as much as I hated riding a bucking horse, took the cue and missed her shot, not even trying to aim. She clenched her teeth. “Maybe I should sit this one out? I’ll go grab the next round.” Abi didn’t even wait fordrink orders; she just took off, and I watched as she spun, giving me a wink before making it to the bar.
I shook my head at her before giving Quinn my full attention once again. She was studying the stripes, her eyes narrowing as she stared. Sam copied her expressions and leaned in, aiming his cue. Once the ball bounced off the edge, he stood up and glowered. Kyla let out a small laugh and began to circle the table, her thumb at her lip as she concentrated. Like he had done with Quinn, Sam mimicked the way Kyla studied the balls, no doubt trying to see what she was seeing.
“You gonna keep mimicking me?” Kyla asked, not taking her eyes off the set.
Sam scoffed. “No, I see exactly how I’m going to win this game.”
With a laugh, Quinn popped her hip. I made my way closer and closer to her, telling myself that I had to keep my hands to myself. What I wouldn’t give to brush her hair off her shoulder and kiss under her ear.
“So, your dad taught you?” I asked Quinn, leaning in towards her.
She nodded. “He would play with me until I started beating him. How did you learn?”
“I grew up in a town where pool was the only source of entertainment.”
“That”—Abi placed another beer in front of me—“is not true.”
“It is,” I remarked. I gave my sister a look, knowing full well she knew what we did when we were younger.
“You legit live on a ranch.” Quinn gave me a small glare, which quickly morphed back into a smile before she said, “Pool couldn’t have been your only source of entertainment.”
“You made your own entertainment.” That time, Abi jumped in. “When we were seven, he and Rhett jumped off the roof ofthe stables to try to land on the trampoline. Rhett landed safely. Wyatt broke his arm.”
“My point has been made.” Quinn held her palm out to Abi, but her eyes never left me.
“Okay, so I’ve done some pretty stupid stuff.” I frowned. “But if I recall correctly, you were on the roof with us.” I looked at my twin, raising my brow knowingly at her.
“Yeah, but I didn’t jump. I climbed down the ladder to save you.” She winked.
Quinn shook her head, laughing as she turned her attention to the table, aiming to take her shot, sinking two more balls. We were definitely going to lose the game. “What’s another thing you stupidly did?”
“In the past or recently?” I took a step towards her, and her scent filled the air between us. Fruity—blackberries and coconut, and my mind went right to wondering if she tasted the way she smelled.
“Recently.”
I raised a brow and went through the many stupid things I had done in the past two years, but for some reason, I landed on, “Not asking you out the right way.” I responded, my voice heavy, leaning into her.
Quinn’s eyes widened. “Well, sorry, I’m not a girl who likes a pick-up line.”
A pick-up line? I had an arsenal of those, but she didn’t want that, huh? So…why not cut to the chase? “Get a drink with me after the game.” I locked my eyes on her, not faltering in the slightest.
“That’s all you got?” Quinn pinched her brow. “Not even a ‘let me buy you a drink,’ just ‘get a drink with me.’” She took a step back. “Not even bothering with the pick-up lines now, are you?”
“You said you didn’t like pick-up lines.”
“Rhett legit asked me what I was drinking. His pick-up line was perfection.” Kyla chuckled, leaning to take her shot since Quinn and I had seemingly forgotten about the game. “They aren’t bad if they’re cute.”
“Yeah, but Wyatt’s aren’t cute,” Quinn retorted. “You look like you belong on the dirt. How about we make it official?” With a roll in her eyes, Quinn looked over at me, giving me one quick smile—a tease?—before watching Kyla take her shot, with her head tilting just enough that her hair fell over her shoulders. I had the urge to brush it off to the side, tuck it behind her ear, and feel it between my fingers.
Damn, how could I get this girl to have one single drink with me?
“Ok then.” I closed the gap she created. “What would it take for one drink?”
She shook her head, her lips parting as she let out a small breath. Her eyes searched my face before they fell. “Nothing, Hartwell,” she said blandly.
“How about this,” I said softly, standing so close to her that our breaths began to match up. “You beat me at this game, and I’ll leave you alone. I’ll walk out of this bar with my drunk friend—”
“Hey!” Sam interjected, but I ignored him.
