www.samhainpublishing.com
Head over Heels
every direction, sinking three stripped ones at the same time. Standing, he eyed the table, calculating his next shot, before looking over at Cyn, who was frowning at the table. “For some reason, I’m not believing the whole you trying to be helpful thing.”
“Now why is that?”
“Corner pocket,” Parker called, as he lined up his next shot. “Hmm, could it be you’re a hustler.”
“Now, now, Parker, if I was trying to hustle you, I would have made a wager.”
“It’s not too late.” He could think of several things he’d be willing to bet on. “I’m willing.”
“So I see.”
He froze on the down stroke and looked up into her twinkling eyes. If he had any doubts before that she wasn’t aware of his attraction to her, those were now laid to rest.
He was certain she missed very little. “What do you mean?” he questioned as he took his shot, cursing to himself as he missed. She was getting to him.
“I just meant you look like a betting man.” Taking the stick out of his hand, she nudged him with her hip and leaned over to take her shot. She looked up before she thrust her stick between her long brown fingers and cocked a brow, “What did you think I meant?”
She executed her shot perfectly, winking at him as she stood. Fuck this, Parker thought, as he watched her bend over again. Her dress rose a bit in the back, flashing smooth, groin-tightening chocolate thighs at him, forcing a savage growl from his throat as he noticed he wasn’t the only one looking.
A couple of guys at the next table were watching her intently, too intently for his peace of mind. He didn’t mind she was teasing him, but the thought of anyone else enjoying the view was enough to piss him off. Glaring at the men in question, he walked behind her, blocking her ass from their sight.
“Aww,” one complained, earning a scowl from him as he twisted around to see who said it.
“What did you say?” she asked when she stood once again.
www.samhainpublishing.com 53
Lena Matthews
“Nothing,” he replied as he turned back to face her. “Did you make it?”
“Weren’t you watching?”
“No.”
“Then yes.” The laughter in her voice told him another story.
“Cheat.” He reached for the stick, brushing his hands against her. All the laughter froze as the touch forced them to make eye contact, real contact for the first time, and he really liked what he saw. He wasn’t the only one feeling the pull between them. He was just the only one not fighting it. “You know you worried me there for a moment.”
“Moi?” she asked, pressing her hand flush to her chest. Once again his mind went back to the pool table, and her on top, arms spread wide gripping the pool stick as he feasted on her body. “How did I do that?”
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to show tonight.”
“And stand up the Prince? Never.” Her pretty brown face was relaxed in a smile.
Never had he been turned on before by just simple foreplay. And that was what it was.
They hadn’t touched, not really, but he was just as aroused as if they had.
It was something about her—no—it was everything about her that was a turn on from her smooth, chocolate skin, to the sexy sway of her ass. He was intoxicated on her beauty and enraptured by her charm. “So does this mean I get your phone number this time?”
“If you’re a good boy.”
“Oh, baby, I promise you. I’m good.”
“I bet.” Glancing down at his outfit, she looked him over in a way that made him feel it as if it were her fingers instead of just her gaze. “I like you in black.”
He was willing to bet he’d like himself in black as well. “Thank you.”
She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes as she picked up her drink. “I have this theory.”
“Do tell.”
“All men look good in black. Black clothes, black cars…” she toyed with the straw in her glass, with a soft demure smile across her lips as she continued, “…black women.”
54
www.samhainpublishing.com
Head over Heels
Damn! He went from intrigued to aroused in two seconds flat. Leaning in closer so there was no chance she would miss his words, he teased back, “I’m a man of science you know, and I’m a big believer in theories. The ‘ big bang’ is one of my personal favorites.”
She coughed on her drink, bringing her hand quickly to her mouth to stifle the soda that was surely about to fly out. Sputtering, she reached behind her on the table and grabbed a napkin to wipe up her mess. “Boy…” she chuckled, in between coughs,
“…you are too much.”
“Just enough I’d say.” He could tell she was used to having the upper hand in relationships. She was in for a mighty fall if she thought he was going to roll over and play lap dog for her. “Are you a betting woman?”
“Could be. Depends on the bet I guess.”
“I win this game, you come home with me.”
“Hollywood?” She quirked her eyebrow questioningly.
“No, I have a townhouse here, as well.”
“Okay, and if I win…” Her voice trailed away as she waited for his response.
“We’ll go out for coffee instead,” he offered nonchalantly.
She pondered the comment for a moment, before setting her drink back on the table.
“Sounds like a great bet.”
Bending, he took aim. It was a win-win situation as far as he saw it. Yes, he wanted to go to bed with her, but half an hour spent in her presence was a great consolation prize.
As he pulled the stick back, she chimed in, “I want to change the bet a bit.”
Damn, he knew things were too good to be true. “You want me to change my wager?”
“No.” Walking around to where he was, Cyn ran her hands