Page 37 of Long Time Coming

“I didn’t think I was physically hiding any feelings between us, especially since you were grinding yourself against me.”

“That’s so vulgar,” I say, “and so freaking hot.” Should I have admitted that? Probably not, and I can’t blame it on the alcohol since I haven’t had any, but why hold back now? Let’s just get it all out of our systems.

Staring at me like an equation he can’t solve, he asks, “Are you always this honest?”

I sigh, then glance around the place, noticing a few eyeballs on us. We’re giving quite the show to gossip about later. But if I ask him to go to the parking lot to finish this in private, the rumors will really fly around the county and probably get back to my dad or, worse, my brothers. I shrug. “I don’t lie well, so it’s better for me to tell the truth.”

“What am I going to do with you, Pris?” The quandary continues in his expression, contorting it in ways he doesn’t need to stress. I reach up and am just about to smooth the lines at his temple but stop myself, remembering we have an audience.

I tilt my head and smirk. “I have some ideas.”

“Okay. That has to stop, or I might take you up on the offer.”

Throwing my arms wide, I say, “Finally.”

“Damn.” He rubs the temple I wanted to. “Are you always like this? Were you like this in high school?”

I flip my hair over my shoulders and decide I’m ready to start drinking. “No, I couldn’t live down that nickname you guys gave me. No guy within fifty miles of Peachtree Pass would come near me, thanks to Baylor and Griffin.” I walk just past him and look back over my shoulder. “Now I’m just making up for lost time.”

“Fucking hell, woman.”

Beelining to Lauralee, I can see her already shaking her head. By the time I reach her, she hands me the bottle of beer again. “What did you do to that poor man?”

With the opening of the bottle pressed to my lips, I glance back at him once more. I may be easy to read, but he most definitely is not.

From under the brim of that sexy black hat, his gaze pins me to the spot. And then he’s storming toward me like hellfire’s cut loose.

My friend slips the beer from my hands, and I vaguely hear, “Let me take that for you.”

And then my hand is grabbed and he’s whisking me toward the dance floor in the back. “If you wanted to dance, all you had to do was ask.”

“I’m starting to think you prefer if I don’t ask and make the decision myself.”

With a shrug, I confess, “I’m not opposed.”

Pressed together, we two-step like we’ve been partners our whole lives. He looks down at me as we dance, not missing a step, and grins. “You’re the kind of trouble I’ve tried to avoid, Pris Greene, but here you are like Eve, tempting me to take just one bite.”

“Imagine how good it will taste.”

Pulling me even closer, his cheek against mine, I hear him mumble though I can’t catch what he said other than I distinctly heard a fuck in there.

He twirls me out from his body, then pulls me back against his chest with a thud. His arm is around my back, and by the grip he has on me, there’s no escaping. Not like I would.Nope.Not when I finally have Tagger Grange right where I’ve always wanted.

CHAPTER 13

Christine

Stampingthe end of the pool stick to the floor in pride, I stand back so Tagger can attempt to save his dignity. Even though I’m a girl, he foolishly forgot I’m a Greene, and Greenes usually come out on top.

He also seems to have forgotten that my eldest brother taught me how to be a pool shark from a young age. I had to keep up with the big kids, and it’s a gift he gave me that’s still giving all these years later. The extra money came in handy as well back in high school.

I don’t need the money now, but a bet is a bet, and when I win, I collect.

He sinks the eight ball, then tosses the stick in frustration on the table. Turning his back on the disgrace he left on that felt, he rests his hands on top of his hat. Annoyance shapes a tightened mouth, but then he seems to come to terms with the loss and grins. “Well played, Greene.”

“Thank you very much,” I say, holding out my hand. “Twenty bucks. Pay up, Grange.”

He slides his hand into his back pocket, making his pecs stand out against his shirt. Digging through a few bills, he settles on one and sets it flat on my palm. “I thought we were playing for fun?”

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