Page 29 of Slow Burn
She pursed her lips, unimpressed.
“Come on. It’s fun.”
She shot him what could only be characterized as a scowl.
“You do have fun sometimes, don’t you?” He rattled the bucket.
A grin stretched across her face as she raised a brow in challenge. “You playing?”
Well, hell. Hadn’t planned to. But he couldn’t walk away from a challenge. “I will if you will.”
She pulled out two sets of cards and slid one across the table. Invitation made.
Cole sighed, muttering under his breath. “Be right back.”
Turned out she was good. Better than good. She knew her music like she’d been raised on every station the dial had to offer. Her grin widened each time she beat him to a title, lips moving along with the words, shoulders bouncing. The game fired her up, and Cole found himself caught in it, leaning forward, pressing harder, until she finally slammed him with a sing-o win.
She practically danced her way back to the table after going up to match her card to the DJ’s list to make sure she was right.
“What do I get for winning?” she asked gleefully, sliding into the booth. Her eyes glittered with triumph.
He leaned back, arms crossed. He tried to look stern, but his grin wouldn’t quit. “Ain’t winnin’ enough?”
She placed her hands flat on the table, scoffing. “Come on. There’s gotta be some reward. A free milkshake or something?”
He raised a brow. “That what you want?”
She shrugged, looking around the room, but that smug smile still curled the edge of her mouth. It gave him real pleasure to see it, and to find that she hadn’t looked at the file she’d brought in with her since the game started.
Her attention touched on the families around the restaurant, maybe noting what he always did: there was not a phone or tablet to be seen. Folks usually distracted kids with screens to keep them quiet in restaurants, even this one.
But tonight, parents were interacting with their kids, only laughter and happy conversation filling the room, filling himwith the rare buzz of contentment. He wondered if she felt it, too.
Her smile told him she did. “This is so great, Cole.”
He shrugged. “It’s not bad.”
Her hand slid onto his arm. “Really, though. I love this.”
He locked in on where her hand rested, something entirely different stirring inside him. Not just the electric reaction he’d had the second he’d seen her. Something entirelyotherthat was just out of reach.
“I’ll get your prize, then,” he said, though he didn’t—couldn’t—move until she took her hand away.
But then she did, and he frowned, sliding out of his seat.
Air felt easier to get in and out of his lungs the farther he was from her, but he still felt the touch like she’d never removed her hand, even as he put in the order for the milkshake.
He made a point of checking in with the families closest to the bar until Jocelyn’s prize was ready and while Garrett got set up for the next round of sing-o. Bea made sure new cards were handed out, but Cole didn’t take new ones.
When he came back with the shake, Jocelyn was staring out the window, folder still tucked to the side, but it was only a matter of time.
“Thank you,” she murmured, smiling only briefly.
The easy banter from the game had burned out quick, smothered under whatever was clawing at Jocelyn now. Cole glanced at the folder she’d shoved to the side, neat and tidy, like hiding it made it less dangerous.
“What’s that?” he asked, deciding to quit circling. So much for him not being interested.
Her mouth twisted like she wasn’t going to let the explanation loose. But she’d already laid her suspicions bare once.
