Page 85 of Clearly Charmed

‘Flip a coin to break?’ she asked.

‘No, you go ahead.’

She leaned her arms down onto the green felt, setting the white cue ball behind the head string. After she let out a smooth breath, the pool cue slid between her fingers and she launched the ball in a straight line toward the neat triangle.

The pack broke apart, shooting multi-colored balls out in several directions. She deflated when the cue ball careened into a side pocket. ‘Well, that was awful.’

I grabbed the cue ball and moved around the edges of the table, scanning the lines to figure out the best shot. The solid orange five-ball hovered on the edge of the right corner pocket. I leaned over, and with a gentle tap of my cue, it dropped into the hole.

‘Woohoo,’ Jessa called out.

‘Hey, whose side are you on?’ Bree grumbled.

‘I’m team McGuire Clinic,’ Jessa replied, taking another long pull on her beer.

‘You may have to call Stewey later, to come and take her home,’ I said as I passed Bree, sizing up my next shot.

‘Already way ahead of you. Texted him on my way here. Told him to be ready.’

‘Why am I not surprised?’

‘Because I was your best hire ever, and I’m always two steps ahead of you.’

‘That’s true. It’s why I pay you the big bucks,’ I said.

That finally got her to smile. I bent close to the table and banked the solid green six-ball against a bumper before it slid into a side pocket.

‘So you’re good at pool too, huh? Why am I not surprised?’ said a deep, honeyed voice.

Bryce stood a few feet away, his own pool cue gripped between his fingers. Faded, well-worn jeans hung across his hips. A dark blue Denver Broncos hat sat low on his head.

‘I have many talents,’ I flung back, too pissed that even after everything that’d happened, I still felt that tug toward him.

‘Yeah, I know that.’ He gave me that too-sexy grin that he thought would soften me up. He was wrong.

‘Funny hat for someone who’s from LA,’ I said.

‘Eric gave it to me. Said he has a ton of leftover gear from his playing days.’

‘Of course he did,’ I fumed. Why did it seem like everyone in this town was clearly charmed by this guy?

He set a handful of quarters on the green felt. ‘Next game?’

‘It’s girls’ night.’ Bree stalked around the table, sizing up her next shot.

‘Yep,’ Jessa hiccupped. ‘Go away, troublemaker.’

Bryce arched a brow.

‘Nothing is a secret in this town,’ I said, ignoring the way he tried to get closer. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, Bree is about to miss this shot.’

‘Am not!’ She tried to bank in the nine-ball and missed the pocket by an inch.

‘How about a little wager?’ Bryce pressed.

‘You have nothing I want.’ I moved to the far end of the table. ‘Four-ball top corner pocket.’ I took the shot, banking the solid purple ball against one side of the table before it careened straight into the pocket.

‘Impressive.’ Bryce leaned against the cue, his forearms flexing.