Page 46 of Beneath Your Beautiful

Zeke and Hailey paired up, and she looked all animated now, like she’d gotten a second wind. Killian had let go of my hand and I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. All shaken up and confused, as usual.

We chalked our cue sticks, and a flip of the coin decided that Zeke and Hailey’s team would break.

“How’s your pool game?” Killian asked me.

“They don’t call me Shark for nothing.” I winked at him. What an idiot. Killian chuckled. “How’s your game?”

“I’ve got skills,” he said with a sexy grin.

I gripped my teeth between my lower lip. “I bet you do.”

He nudged my arm and jerked his chin at the pool table, reminding me of the reason we were here. “You’re up. Let’s see what you’ve got, Shark.”

What I’ve got is a racing pulse and a hammering heart. I stared at the pool table. Were we stripes or solids?

“Stripes,” Killian said, his voice laced with humor as he answered a question I hadn’t voiced.

“Yeah. I knew that.” I walked around the table. My dad had taught me and my brothers to shoot pool on the table in our basement. Just concentrate, I coached myself. Line up the shot. Don’t jiggle your cue stick. I leaned over the table and lined up an easy shot to the corner pocket and sunk an orange stripe.

Zeke and Hailey were good. Killian was better than good. I wasn’t a bad pool player either. “You need some pointers?” I teased Killian as he leaned over the table, looking for his shot.

“What do you recommend, Shark?”

“The green in the corner pocket.”

“Too easy. I’ll leave it for you.”

I smacked his arm and he laughed. “Step aside,” he said. “I’ll show you how it’s done.” And he did.

“Show-off,” I teased.

He winked at me, and I decided that I liked this fun, cocky Killian, a big change from the stressed-out Killian from earlier. As the pool game continued, he was fun and sexy and flirty, and I gave it right back to him.

“This is for the win,” he said, as we both studied the table, sizing it up. It wasn’t an easy shot, but I was feeling confident. Or cocky.

“I’ve got this.” I leaned over the table and positioned my cue stick. Killian was watching my ass, not the table. “Enjoying the view?”

“Oh yeah,” he said, with another sexy grin, those dimples on full display.

Honestly, I didn’t know how I was still carrying on with this pool game or how I’d be able to concentrate on my next shot. “Step aside, Hustler,” I said. “I’ll show you how it’s done.”

By some miracle, I nailed the shot. I stared at the table for a few seconds dumbfounded. “We won.”

“Nice one, Shark.” Killian and I went in for high-fives.

“Stop gloating,” Zeke said, but I didn’t think he cared.

I decided to be sensible and call it a night. Hailey and Zeke decided to stay a while, and Killian said he’d walk me home. As we were leaving, a willowy brunette in a black slip dress and silver stilettos walked in the door. Overdressed for a dive bar but she looked like a Victoria’s Secret model. And Adam was right behind her. I grabbed Killian’s arm. Adam’s eye caught mine and he said something in the girl’s ear.

“Fuck,” Killian muttered.

Fuck was right. I didn’t even know the half of it.

“Killian,” the girl said, stopping in front of us. “Have you met my brother, Adam?” She smirked at Killian then her eyes narrowed on me. “You must be Eden.”

I nodded like an idiot. What was going on here?

“I’m Joss. Killian’s former fuck buddy. And Adam’s sister. Small world, isn’t it?” She laughed harshly, and her beautiful face turned ugly.