Page 13 of Choosing Skyler

“She saved all the crazy for me. Didn’t you, Sky?” he says with a grin.

My smile returns and I stick my tongue out at him. “I needed the reserve. That’s for sure,” I answer, making them both laugh.

Devon looks around the bar before turning back to me. “Did you talk to Tracey, Sky? I thought for sure she’d be here tonight.”

“Yeah, she couldn’t make it. She’s going to the movies with Joey,” I say with a shrug.

Devon’s face turns sour, making me laugh as I glance over and notice that one of the pool tables has just opened up.

“Do you play, Brady?” I ask him.

He follows my gaze and his eyes light up. “I’d love to play,” he says, bumping Devon with his shoulder since he’s blocking him in the booth. Devon laughs and stands. “You playing with us, Dev? We can play nine-ball, so we all have a shot. No uneven teams.”

“Uh huh.” Devon grimaces. “That’s a great plan as long as it’s not ‘ladies first’.” When Brady gives him a confused look Devon explains, “We won’t get a shot. She’s a shark, man. You’ll see.”

“Well, my mama taught me to be a gentleman. So, of course it’s ladies first,” Brady says and winks at me when Devon groans.

I point at Devon. “Just for that… Rack ‘em, crybaby,” I say with a smirk.

“Don’t point, it’s rude.” He smirks back, and I laugh.

When I break, the four ball falls into the side pocket. Then, I sink balls one, two and three. The five hits the corner of the bumper and bounces back.

“Damn it,” I mutter as Devon smirks and lines up his shot.

He sinks the five and six, but scratches on the seven.

“Looks like it’s all you, Hot Stuff.” I grin at Brady.And there goes my damn mouth again.

He stalks toward me since I’m at the head of the table where the cue ball will fall. Before he bends down to grab the cue ball, he runs his finger down the side of my neck again before cupping the back of my neck under my long ponytail.

“Want me to go easy on you, Beautiful?” he asks in a husky voice.

I lean back into his hand. The pressure feels so good. Like a security blanket. It’s almost possessive, like he’s claiming me. No, like he’schoosing me.

“Please,” I murmur, almost a whisper.

Then, I jump at Devon’s wolf whistle. “We gonna finish the game before you two combust, or what?” he jabs as Brady straightens.

“You asked for it, Devon. You’re goin’ down. If I don’t finish it, my girl will. Either way you lose this one,” Brady taunts back with a blinding smile.

“Yourgirl, huh? I may be a little heartbroken,” Devon jokes, placing his hand over his heart with a mock frown.

Brady turns that smile on me and his eyes flame when he says, “Yep, my girl.”

Then, he turns back to the table and proceeds to sink the seven and eight. Before calling his shot for the nine ball he steps back up to me. “Whatcha think, Beautiful?”

“Um, I think you should sink the nine so we can go dance,” I reply, a little breathless.

“Day-um!” Devon exclaims. “You better not miss, man. She may change her mind. I’ve never seen her willing to dance with anyone else.”

Brady preens and lines up his shot. He sinks the nine, tosses his cue stick on the table and grabs my hand, pulling me to the dance floor like he’s really worried about me changing my mind.

No chance in hell,I think.

Deciding to dance at TG’s is like playing roulette. They have a digital jukebox with access to just about every song on the planet. So, there is never any telling what will be playing when you reach the dance floor, or what song will play next. Right now, the songs are shuffling and we’re waiting for the next in the queue to start playing.

I love to dance, even if I’m not very good. But Devon wasn’t lying. I haven’t danced with anyone except him and occasionally Tracey since starting college. I’m not interested in getting groped or sneered at by random guys here. That’s what always happened in high school. But I trust Brady.

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