Page 26 of First Chance

He smirks as I stand up, but it’s hardly noticeable aside from the slight crinkle around his normally serious eyes.

Lochlan confidently sinks five solids before missing, andthat’s only because he was going for a double on the last two.

“Shit,” Hayes mumbles.

It’s just a game, but my body is tingling with nerves. I don’t like to lose, but I also think Lochlan attending charity events with me will truly benefit the sanctuary, and this is the only way to convince him to do it.

Hayes takes his turn and puts the 15-ball in the side pocket, but misses our last stripe. He curses again under his breath, and I know that’s a bad sign.

“Seiver, don’t fuck this up,” Lochlan threatens lightly before Seiver makes one and misses one.

One stripe left.

One solid.

And, the 8 ball.

I chalk the end of my stick for no other reason than luck. I’m not confident in my skills here, especially when my ball is on the opposite side of the table from the cue ball and the 8-ball is in between.

Okay, Jo. Don’t hit the 8-ball. Don’t hit the 8-ball. My stick punches the cue ball and…

I hit the 8-ball.

“No!” I gasp as it rolls closer to the side pocket. If it falls in, then I lose.

It rolls to the very edge of the green felt and stops. My head thunks down on the top rail, and I take a deep breath before standing up.

It’s not over yet, but it feels like it is. All Lochlan has to do is hit his 4-ball in and finish with the black.

As he lines up his shot on the 4, Hayes leans over and whispers in my ear, and I catch Lochlan’s gaze shifting to us. He makes his shot anyway.

“I can’t do that,” I whisper back to Hayes.

“It’ll work, I promise,” he insists, stepping back.

A desperate woman will do desperate things…

As Lochlan leans over to fire on the 8-ball and win the game, I step to the side and directly into his line of sight. His dark eyes flick to mine quickly before lining up on the corner pocket directly in front of me.

My fingertips hit the skin of my left thigh, and his stick freezes mid-strike. As my hand moves upward, his eyes follow it, snapping to my face when I catch the hem of my flowy skirt and drag it higher.

A few whistles and innocent catcalls ring out around me, but I’m locked in on Lochlan. He’s trying to focus, but a magnet can only resist its opposing force for so long. His pupils darken as he lines up his shot again, and just as the fabric of my sundress hits my upper thigh… He shoots.

And, misses the black ball completely.

The cue ball rolls toward the corner pocket, depositing into the hole with athunk, and the entire room erupts in cheers.

I win.

He stands up without tearing his gaze from mine, and my skirt falls from my hand.

He’s pissed.

Everyone is congratulating me, but I can’t stop looking at him. I’m paralyzed watching him back away from the table and turn to go out one of the back doors.

“I knew it would work,” Hayes jokes from beside me.

“I think I made him mad, Hayes.” I look at him worriedly and he cocks his head at me.

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