Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Sawyer’s wearing jeans and a black shirt, dirty work boots, and a teasing smile that makes desire curl in my stomach in a way it definitely shouldn’t. I reach out for the cue he’s holding, but he doesn’t relinquish it right away. I don’t tug. There’s no sense in fighting him for it. Sawyer has me trumped in every way that matters here: height, strength, confidence. He’s grown up into such a man, and though I know I’ve grown up too, here and now, I feel as small as ever.
“I like that dress,” he says, holding my gaze.
I look down at the white sundress with its short hem and thin spaghetti straps. My mom bought it for me for my last birthday knowing it would look great on me. Back in high school, I would have killed for the body I have now. I was knobby kneed well into college, and now that I actually have curves to show off, I’m all too happy to do it.
“Little fancy for John’s though, don’t you think?”
I smirk. “At least one of us dressed for the occasion.”
He laughs. “I came straight from the vineyard. Next time I’ll wear a tuxedo.”
He lets go of the cue and I step back, grateful for the distance he puts between us when he takes his turn and breaks, easily pocketing two solid balls in one go. Then he takes aim at another one and sinks it too. His turn continues until he’s pocketed five balls.
“Guess I’m stripes…” I mumble under my breath.
Obviously, he’s playing to win. I feel his eyes on me when I step around the table and try to act like I’m employing high-level geometry skills to triangulate my shot when in reality I’m just trying to keep my hands from visibly shaking as I bend down and aim for the cue ball.
“Want a little help?”
I can picture it: him sidling up behind me, leaning his heavy body over mine. “No thank you.”
I pull back and whack the cue ball, but it spins out, hits the side rail, and loses momentum before it manages to connect with anything. I stand and push my shoulders back.
“And that’s how it’s done,” I quip.
Sawyer tosses his head back and laughs, and I shamelessly watch him do it when I should be girding my loins and hightailing it out of here. What the hell am I doing playing pool with Sawyer Garnett? Kendra would have a field day if she saw us; she will have a field day when I tell her about it tomorrow.
“So is any of that gossip true?” Sawyer asks on his next turn.
“Which part?”
He takes another shot and easily pockets another solid. Then he keeps his attention on the table as he positions himself for his next shot.
Whack.
“You being single now.”
I refuse to consider the possibility that Sawyer might actually be interested in my dating life, so I deflect. “Well I was, but didn’t you hear? Apparently Hunter wants to take me out on the town tomorrow.”
“Damn, a guy’s gotta move fast, I guess. Had I known, I would have been waiting for you at the airport.”
My smile slowly drops as I stare, waiting for him to look up and toss me a wink or a “Gotcha,” but his focus remains on the table as he takes aim and sinks another ball.
I’m out of my depth here. I had plans for tonight. I was going to soak in an overfilled bathtub and drink wine straight from the bottle. I should be crying on my mom’s lap and demanding karmic retribution for Matthew’s behavior.
Instead, my hands are sweating around my pool cue as I try to decide whether or not this is real or just a figment of my imagination. It was really hot in that car earlier. I could have passed out. This could all just be…a fever dream. Actually, it’s my teenage dream.
“How about this? If I win this game, I get to take you out tomorrow instead of Hunter,” he suggests confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll break it to the poor guy.”
I balk at the suggestion as I sweep my hand over the pool table. “You’ve practically won already. Who in their right mind would take that bet?”
“All right, then we’ll do the opposite. If you win, I take you out.”
I don’t reply because I have absolutely no idea how to respond to him, but it doesn’t matter. He proceeds to scratch his next turn, and the next four after it as I watch in bafflement. Never mind that I haven’t actually agreed to his bet…I’m too shocked! I’ve always been a kid in his eyes, David’s little sister, Kendra’s friend.
When it becomes clear I’m not going to win even with him playing poorly, he can’t help but give me pointers. “Stand over there and aim for the green striped ball in that corner. A blind person could make this shot, Madison.”