Page 38 of Ice Rebel

I barely caught her expression, far too locked into playing the big he-man to notice until she walked directly in front of me. Pool cue in her hand. “I’m winning, Roy. Time for a showdown.”

In rarely being the one to pick a fight, I was surprised at my reaction. Maybe so was the jerk confronting me. Or perhaps the fact I’d bulked up by thirty pounds in the last few months was partially responsible for the questioning look he suddenly wore.

He darted his eyes toward Clementine and at this point, she was resting both hands on the table, shifting her gaze from one to the other. It was his call to make and I only hoped he made the right one.

Now was my chance to put him in his place. The debate was on. Punch him in the face or put him in his place.

“Woof,” I growled with enough deep husky tones the guy flinched.

With a huff, he turned away, immediately grabbing his beer.

Damn good thing or I’d beat his ass.

Laughing at myself was easy, maybe much too much. I turned toward her, eyeing the table while allowing the near interaction with the gruff dude to wash off my back.

Some would say easier said than done, but not this time. Why? I’d have the joy of sharing some news with her.

“I bet I’m going to win this game,” she mused as I walked closer. At some point I’d learn to swagger with the best of them. She caught the forward movement, planting her hands on her hips. “Let me guess. You can’t stand the thought of a woman winning. Right?”

“Seeing a beautiful woman winning fair and square in a game doesn’t bother me in the least.”

“So your manhood isn’t in question.”

I stopped short of my destination, holding my arms out as I glanced down to my boots. “Does it look like my manhood is in question?”

I’d never seen another girl blush the way she was doing, but she managed to hold her look of contempt even when sucking her bottom lip into her mouth.

“Why are you smug? I’m winning fair and square.”

Nodding, I leaned back, glancing at the balls that had dropped into the holder below. One by one, I pulled them onto the table. “Well, you are successfully dropping balls into the pockets, and I feel the need to thank you.”

“For closing in on winning a game?”

I backed up until I’d flanked her side, leaning in enough to crowd her space while folding my arms. “Do you see those five balls over there?”

“I sure do. Bright and colorful.”

“Yep. They are. Red. Orange. Blue. Do you notice anything different about three of them?”

Her body stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you popped in the red and orange ball immediately. Excellent job on your first shot.”

“Yes,” she managed, taking a step forward. “And I knocked the other three in after that.”

“You did. Solids. Stripes?”

She turned her head just enough, her eyelashes skimming across her cheeks as the information slowly dripped into her mind. “Oh, my God.”

“I assure you it wasn’t divine intervention, but I’ll take the win however I can get it. Maybe you’d like to go ahead and concede the win to me. I don’t mind giving credit where credit is due. I couldn’t do it without you.”

Steam rolled from her ears, the wistful gaze from before turning into full blown competitive venom in her eyes. “Take your best shot, Roy. Time to get it on.”

CHAPTER 9

Chelsea

“I can’t believe you won.”