"Not much other than he’s been doing a lot of the money and weapons handling."
"How do you know it’s not the drugs?"
"Because I can read and write Spanish and I listened to the guards as they walked down the tunnels. Also, I was one of the few girls taken to Alejandro's office and saw papers."
"That’s how you knew the password on his computer. You really are something else," Ben told her proudly.
Hannah beamed under his praise and kept writing. Once complete Hound left to get the information to his contact. The rest of the team hung out for a while getting to know Hannah.
It didn’t take Hannah long to discover there was a basement to Ben’s house and that he had a pool table downstairs. It was the complete bachelor pad. The guys took turns playing pool while Hannah sat on a stool and watched them. They were so at ease with each other. They laughed and made fun of each other and called each other names when someone missed a shot. She was finding herself relaxing around them.
“Come play,” Ben asked sidling up to her.
Hannah looked at him like he grew a second head. She couldn’t have heard him right. Play pool? She didn’t know how and she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of everyone. “No, thank you.” She said politely thinking the conversation done. She should have known Ben didn’t take the word no easily.
“What are you afraid of? Do you not know how to play?”
“I’ve played before but it was years ago. I was never very good at it.” Hannah looked around the room uncomfortably.
“Well, there’s no time like the present. Come,” Ben held his hand out to her waiting for her to accept it.
Hannah looked at his proffered hand and debated to accept or not. She had told him no and she should stick by her decision. So why was she debating it now? Because she wanted him to touch her again. She enjoyed his touch.
Hannah reached up and his large warm hand clasped hers and helped her off the stool. He guided her to the pool table and the guys stood back to give them room and just watch. The table was already set up and the cue ball in front. Ben kept a light touch on her lower back and helped her get into position. He handed her the cue stick and showed her how to grip it. She tried to ignore the zigs shooting up her body every time he touched her but failed. Ben leaned against her as he lined her up to hit the ball.
“Just take your time.” He whispered in her ear.
Hannah readjusted her stance and wiggled her ass against his hip earning a groan from him. Hannah bit her lip and did it again.
“Behave yourself.” He husked and pinched her ass.
Hannah yelped and struck the cue against the ball and it rolled into the others and dispersed them around the table and several sunk into the pockets.
“Good job.” Ben commended with a bright smile. A strange twinkle came into his black eyes that Hannah couldn’t identify.
“Thanks.” Hannah beamed under his praise. She moved around the table and continued to sink a few more balls in before she scratched. “Shoot.” Hannah pouted.
“Not bad for a novice. Now let’s see if I can catch up.” Ben’s face turned from playful to serious in a second. A steely look of determination came over his features, the same he had when he rescued her. This was his warrior's face and it was intimidating. He lined up and sunk several balls in quick succession. She was going to lose. Ben sunk all his balls and the black eight ball was all that was left. He announced which corner pocket it would go into and struck. As if in slow motion Hannah watched the cue ball hit the number eight ball and it rolled towards the corner. It hit the edge and rolled back towards the middle of the table as the cue ball fell into the pocket. A hush fell over the room.
“I can’t believe it,” Tiny said in disbelief. “He lost. Ben never loses.”
“Way to go, Hannah,” Doc said. “Hound is going to be upset that he missed this.”
Hannah ignored them and watched Ben’s face. Given his name, she was sure he didn’t lose often. Would he be upset? Would he lash out? He didn’t look like it. He just looked at where the cue ball disappeared and shrugged then looked back at her and smiled.
“Congratulations, Hannah.” He set down the stick and kissed her on the forehead. It wasn’t sexual and yet it still filled her with warmth. The spot he kissed tingled. If so many people weren’t here she might be tempted to kiss him again. What was wrong with her? She told herself nothing can come of the together and that she needed to keep a distance. And here she was trying to coax kisses out of him.
“All right love birds. We’re calling it a night.” Tiny announced.
“Thanks for everything, Hannah. We’ll be back over tomorrow to go over a plan. Hopefully, Hound would have heard something from his contact and we can shut this Fox guy down and find out who set us up.” Hawk said with a backward wave.
Suddenly they were alone and Hannah didn’t know what to do. Did she go to her room? Stay and see what Ben would do next? Ben placed a hand over hers holding the stick and pulled it out of her hand. She forgot she was still holding it.
“I better go to bed myself.” Hannah rushed out. She liked Ben but she didn’t trust herself being alone with him. She responded to him in a way that didn’t make sense. She needed to focus on helping them get the information they wanted and go back home.
Hannah all but raced back upstairs to her room and shut the door and locked it.
