Drew came up next to her. “So? Afraid you’ll get beat?”
“Not a chance.” She took off her jacket and went to pick out a cue. “Stella, let’s show these boys how it’s done.”
Two hours later, she had won two games and lost two. All in all, not bad. Stella, of course, was kicking major butt, not surprising considering how good she was at pool.
“Your friend is a hit with my friends,” Drew said as they stood and watched Stella line up her shot.
Carolina grinned. “Men love Stella. And she’s a natural with them, always so comfortable around guys.”
“And you’re not?”
She shrugged. “Men don’t naturally gravitate toward me.”
He laughed. “You must be blind, babe, because every set of male eyes in this place has been on you since you walked in the door.”
She looked around, and caught several gazes quickly darting away.
Huh.
“Plus the guys on my team. I’ve had to glare at all of them to keep them away from you.”
She turned back to him. “And why would you do that?”
He leaned in closer. “I think you know why.”
She warmed as he looked down at her, his gaze direct, his intent obvious.
“I don’t pay much attention to men.”
“Maybe you should. Because they sure as hell pay attention to you. I sure as hell pay attention to you.”
And then it got hotter in there and she lost herself in the beauty of his face, the way his shoulder brushed against hers. It was like they were all alone in the bar despite the shouts of his friends and Stella’s raucous laughter.
“Why did you text me tonight?”
“Because Stella wanted to come meet the guys.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Yes. Of course.”
He cocked a brow. “You didn’t want to see me.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
He tucked her hair behind one ear. “Because you missed me.”
Her eyes held his. She should step back and go hang out with Stella, but something about him, about the way he looked at her, held her there.
“I didn’t miss you. I’ve been working.”
“And not thinking about me—at all.”
“No. Not at all.”
He leaned closer and wrapped an arm around her, tugging her closer. “I’ve been thinking about you, Carolina. A lot.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Don’t hold you like this, or don’t think about you?”
She didn’t know which way to answer. She didn’t know what to think. Right now she wasn’t thinking, because Drew’s hard body pressed against hers. She reached up and palmed his chest.
“Don’t—”
“Hey, are you two going to stare into each other’s eyes all night, or are you going to play pool?”
Thank God for Stella. Drew moved away, and Carolina took a breath.
“Definitely play pool,” Carolina said, picking up a cue and moving back to the table.
After she took her shot, she moved alongside Stella.
“So what was going on over there?” Stella asked.
“We were just talking.”
“With what? Your tongues?”
Carolina laughed. “There were no tongues involved.”
“I don’t know about that. I could feel the heat transfer all the way over here. You two have something hot going on.”
“We have nothing going on.”
“But he wants to get it on.”
Carolina rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Stella. I think you’re the one who needs to get laid.”
Stella eyed Trick’s butt as he bent over to take a shot. “You’re right about that. But it has nothing to do with you and Drew.” She took a long swallow of beer, then turned to Carolina. “Don’t hesitate, honey. Take what’s so obviously being offered. Sex is fun, you know.”
She did know that. Sex was fun.
And oh, so complicated.
But maybe it didn’t have to be. After all, Drew had offered her a no-strings romp. So why not take it and ease some of the tension tightening her muscles? She already knew how good it could be between them. This time she wouldn’t be timid and inexperienced. She’d be relaxed and could enjoy herself.
She didn’t have time to cultivate a relationship with someone new. And actually, the last thing she needed right now was something complicated.
With Drew, she’d know exactly what she was getting—or rather, not getting. He was easygoing, and he didn’t want a girlfriend. He wanted to get in her pants. She would certainly enjoy getting in his again. Then she could get back to work, a lot more relaxed.
She searched the room and found him at the bar, chatting it up with one of the guys from his team. As if he had some kind of psychic connection to her, he lifted his head and turned it her way, then smiled at her, as if he knew what she’d been thinking about.
She took a deep breath and smiled back.
It was on.
ELEVEN
THE GROUP HAD STARTED TO THIN OUT AS THE NIGHT wore on. It was late, and some of the guys headed out.
After a while it was only Drew and Carolina and Stella and Trick. It was obvious that Trick was into Stella, and Drew got the feeling Stella was into him, too, since they had hung together since the start of the night. Though he hadn’t paid all that much attention since his focus had been on Carolina.
Now Stella and Trick were huddled together at the bar, their foreheads nearly touching as they talked and laughed, which left Carolina and Drew to stick it out together, since it was obvious Carolina wasn’t leaving without her friend.
Though, knowing Trick as well as Drew did, he didn’t think Stella would be leaving with Carolina tonight.
“Need another glass of wine?” he asked.
Carolina shook her head. “No, I’m already woozy enough and I’m going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow while I work. I should have said no to the last . . . two glasses.”
She wasn’t slurring, so she held her liquor well enough. He signaled for the bartender. “Maybe a club soda?” he asked her.
“Great idea.”
He ordered one for her and another beer for himself.
Stella slid from her stool and came over.
“I’m heading out.”
“Oh,” Carolina said. “Let me get my coat.”