While Beck and West took care of the dishes, Jase ushered her into the poolroom, where the mighty fine table he had never allowed her to polish or clean awaited. He helped her pick a cue. The shortest one he owned.
She pretended to pay attention when he planned the break, the first shot of the game. He told her about the scratch, when the cue ball jumped off the table, and how to continue afterward. He let her start, standing behind her to help her line up her shot, his body flush against hers.
Suddenly, fighting a grin wasn’t her biggest problem. Can’t breathe...can barely stand. Her knees wouldn’t stop trembling.
“See how the balls are laid out? The solids will be easiest to sink this game, so that’s what you’ll pick,” he said.
The connection screwed with her concentration, and missing her shot proved easy.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Even the best players miss sometimes. I rarely do, but that’s just me.”
Oh, Jase. You have no idea what’s in store for you. “But I haven’t hit a single one,” she said, turning to pout at him.
Had her uncle always had this much fun with his cons?
The thought sobered her. Shake it off. She wasn’t doing this to get something out of someone, but to have a good time with someone who liked to tease her to the edge of insanity. Huge difference.
Jase sifted a lock of her hair between his fingers. “How about we play doubles eight ball? We’ll be partners, and we’ll alternate shots. I’ll be able to set you up.”
No, no, no. But she said, “That’s so sweet of you.”
The doorbell rang. Jase frowned, and Brook Lynn pretended not to know her sister—who she’d secretly texted during dinner—had just arrived. A few minutes later, Jessie Kay strode into the game room with Beck and West trailing behind her. West now had a beer in hand, and Beck was watching him warily while Jessie Kay just looked tired.
Brook Lynn felt a flicker of unease. Jase and Jessie Kay in the same room not long after they’d seen each other naked may not be a great idea. Don’t go there. Such thoughts wouldn’t do any of them any good. She forced herself to concentrate on the situation at hand.
“Come here.” Beck turned away from West and swung an arm back to pull her sister forward. That arm remained around her waist as he rubbed his knuckle into the crown of her head.
She giggled like a freaking schoolgirl. “Stop it!”
“Only when you pee your pants,” Beck said. “You don’t call, you don’t write, and I’m just supposed to forgive you?”
West watched the interaction through narrowed eyes before draining his beer.
Something had obviously angered him, but Brook Lynn had no idea what it was.
“I came to speak with my little sis, but if y’all are playing pool, the conversation can wait.” Jessie Kay pushed away from Beck and threw her purse in the corner. Strawberries had stained her hands red. “I’m in!”
“We were fine without you,” West muttered. “You may go.”
His uncustomary rudeness surprised Brook Lynn—and ticked her off. She opened her mouth to demand an apology.
“Dude,” Beck said to his friend. “Don’t think I can’t kick you out of your own house. The lady deserves respect, and she’ll get it.”
“Seriously. What the hell is wrong with you?” Jase demanded.
“Yeah!” Jessie Kay bristled. “Clearly everyone else is happy to have me.”
“Maybe they’re just better at hiding their emotions,” West said.
“Or maybe they hope my delightful personality will make up for your crappy one.” Jessie Kay fluffed her hair. “Or are you just jealous you’re the only one who hasn’t nailed me?”
West’s nostrils flared. “The day I let you in my bed is the day I want to be smothered by a pillow.” He took a seat at the poker table in the corner, cut off the end of a cigar and began to smoke.
Wow. What had gotten into him?
If Brook Lynn allowed herself to dwell on it, she might unleash the viper’s tongue she’d been known to use...or actually physically hurt him.
What the heck? Why not both? “Talk to my sister like that again, West, and I will rip out your intestines and use them as a jump rope.”