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Scar shot him a look. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“Barely,” he replied with a grin before stepping back to give us room.

I circled behind her, selecting a cue from the rack before placing it gently in her hands. “First lesson: don’t strangle it.”

She glanced over her shoulder, pouting. “You’re making assumptions.”

I laughed, adjusting her grip. “Relax your fingers. It’s not going to run away.”

She loosened her hold. “Better?”

“Much.” I reached around her, lining the cue with the white ball. “The shot starts long before you hit anything. It’s about seeing where you want the ball to finish.”

She looked up at me. “I thought I just hit it and hoped for the best.”

I chuckled. “That’s Wes’s strategy.”

Across the table, Wes scoffed. “Heard that.”

I tossed him a cheeky grin. “You were supposed to.”

A round of laughter rippled through the garage before everyone settled back to watch.

Scar shifted her weight as I gently nudged her feet into position. “Left foot forward.” She obeyed. “Now bend a little.”

She gave me a teasing look. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”

I couldn’t hide my amusement. “I absolutely am.”

She rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.

I slid one hand lightly over her forearm, lowering it until the cue rested comfortably in her other hand.

“That’s your bridge.”

She snorted. “Pool has the weirdest terminology.”

“It gets weirder.”

“I’m almost scared to ask.”

I leaned closer, unable to resist brushing my lips against the shell of her ear.

“You should be,” I murmured and a tiny shiver ran through her.

“Focus,” Morgan called.

“I’m trying!” Scar shot back, and more laughter echoed through the garage.

I cleared my throat, pretending to be the picture of professionalism. “Right.” I nodded toward the striped ball near the center cushion. “See that one?” She followed my gaze. “And that corner pocket?”

She nodded. “The one you bet me on.”

“Exactly.”

I rested my chin lightly near her shoulder so we were both looking along the line of the shot. “Imagine a line from the ball to the pocket.”

She frowned in concentration. “I see it.”