“Sorry about her but she isn’t a big fan of Sawyer’s parents, so anything connected to them is instantly questionable. She’ll warm up to you after she gets to know you.”
I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to get to know Honey Vincent. She reminded me of an adult version of Nicole. Instead of sharing those thoughts, I just nodded. Beau grinned and walked over to stand behind me.
“Now, for your first lesson in pool. We’ll do a few practice rounds before we actually play.” Beau sat his stick down and nodded at the one in my hand. “You’re going to hit the white ball into the other balls and break them,” he explained.
I took the stick, bent over the table and tried to remember all the times I’d watched people play pool on television. Before I could think too hard, Beau’s warm body closed in behind me. His hand covered mine, making me light-headed. It took me a second to remember to breathe.
“This is the part I’ve been looking forward to,” he murmured in my ear as he adjusted my hands on the stick. The heat from his body made me want to snuggle up against him. I tried to stay focused but I could feel his warm breath on my ear and his hip was touching my behind. His chest barely grazed my back.
“You’re shivering, Ash,” he whispered.
I didn’t know how to respond. I couldn’t blame it on being cold. I was inside an overly warm bar in the middle of the summer.
“Now you’re ready to make the shot.” His voice sent chills over my body and I nodded, afraid if I gazed up at him I’d throw myself in his arms. Instead, I let him guide me into making the shot. Colorful balls rolled all over the table but I couldn’t seem to concentrate.
“Good job. We’ve got to decide which ball we want to sink and set up your next shot.”
I closed my eyes and took a steadying breath as he stood up and left the close proximity of my body. I straightened, praying my knees didn’t buckle beneath me.
Beau’s gaze made my cheeks flush. A pleased grin touched his lips and I suddenly wanted to know how those lips would feel pressed against mine. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. Even when his smile vanished I continued staring at his mouth.
“You’re gonna have to stop doing that, Ash,” Beau whispered huskily and closed the space between us. His body was suddenly pressed against mine. I managed to shake my fascination with his lips and gaze up into his eyes. He was staring down at me with a hungry gleam I wasn’t accustomed to seeing. But I liked it. I liked it a lot.
“Ash, I’m trying real hard to be good. Good isn’t my thing but Sawyer’s important to me. Please remember I’ve got my limits and you studying my mouth like you want a taste is pushing me dangerously close to the edge of those limits.”
Swallowing nervously I nodded. I couldn’t speak just yet because I was pretty sure I’d ask him to follow through with whatever he might be considering.
He let out a frustrated sigh then turned me around to face the pool table.
“Now, back to business. Looks like the solids have the best set up, so you can be solids and I’ll take stripes. Your red ball is in the best spot. It’s almost at the corner pocket over there and your white ball is very close to it. So back in position.”
I managed to stay focused on what he was telling me until he once again moved in behind me to correct the way I was holding the stick.
“Slow and easy, Ash.”
I took a deep steadying breath and hit the white ball. It rolled straight for the red ball and the red ball sank into the hole.
“I did it,” I squealed and twirled around to throw my arms around Beau’s neck. It wasn’t until his arms wrapped around me and I got a very yummy whiff of his soap smell that I realized this hadn’t been a wise move.
“Yes, you did,” he said, chuckling, then kissed the top of my head. I forced myself to drop my hands and step back away from him.
“Okay, now which one do I hit?” I asked, smiling up at him like my heart wasn’t racing in my chest from having him hold me.
He studied the table and nodded. “The blue one is in a good spot.”
Two games later I managed to get the hang of it. Watching Beau play pool proved to be extremely entertaining. I’d never realized a guy leaning over a pool table could be sexy, but after watching Beau I’d decided this was a very sexy game. Other than bending his tall, muscular body over a table and a small frown line appearing between his eyes when he was concentrating making me want to kiss it, he also made leaning a hip on the table while waiting on me to take a shot appear as if he were modeling for a magazine.
“I can’t decide if I like the Ash who needed my assistance or the Ash who has it under control better. One way I get to touch you and get away with it. But the other way I get to watch you lean over the table and I’ve got to tell you that it’s one really hot look for you.” I kept my gaze on the table instead of meeting his eyes. Hearing him call me hot made me want to grin like an idiot. I didn’t want him to get a chance to see my reaction to his words.
“It’s getting late. You ready to head out?” Beau asked.
I walked over to him and handed him the pool stick. “Probably should go,” I replied.
He nodded and took the sticks and put them away. I stared down at the only beer he’d drank for the night and I realized he was being careful for my sake.
“I see you eyeing the beer and wanting to check it’s still half full.”
Smiling, I shook my head. “I believe you.”
He reached for my hand and led me toward the exit.
“See ya, Mom,” he called as we passed his mother, who was carrying a tray full of beer-filled mugs.
Her gaze flicked from him to me. She smirked, reminding me of Beau.
“Alright, y’all be careful on the way home,” she replied.
I hadn’t expected that sort of reply from Honey Vincent. She didn’t appear to be the type of mother who told you to be careful, especially since she served her son beer.
Beau’s hand slipped around my waist and pulled me up against him again.
“You’re getting checked out by some drunk men. I’m just keeping them away,” he said quietly as we walked outside. Telling him I didn’t mind being pressed up against his side didn’t seem like a good idea so I kept my mouth shut.
Once we were buckled in, I studied the run-down bar where I’d just spent the last couple of hours. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I’d thought a bar would be. After we’d started playing pool, I’d forgotten all about everyone else in the place. Beau pulled his truck out onto the two lane road that led back into town. The lights from the parking lot faded in the distance as we drove further away from the bar and closer to my house. I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Tonight had been the most fun I’d ever had on a date. Even if it wasn’t a date really. I laughed when I was with Beau much more than I ever did any other time. I’d forgotten how much fun he was. Maybe that was why I always chose him to sneak off with as a kid. Sawyer was always there keeping us in line and I loved him. But Beau always led to excitement.