Rodeo Romance (Contemporary Western Romance Short) Read Online Free Page B

a little shaggy. She seemed to edge more toward men with dark hair and eyes. Her own eyes flickered toward Jake.
    “Good.” Cindy took another swig of beer. “You’re playing him in a game of pool.”
    “What?” Trisha’s eyes flew to Cindy’s, narrowing. “I’m not playing anyone in pool. As a matter of fact, I’m ready to go back to the cabin and get some sleep.”
    “Ah, go ahead.” Jeb took Cindy’s side. “Go let loose. Have a little fun.”
    The man walked up, placing his hands on their table leaning toward Trisha. “Cindy said you wanted to shoot some pool. I’m Hank. You know how to shoot?”
    With a tight smile, she nodded. “I know how to shoot.” She only wished it was with a gun, so she could shoot her ex best friend. She stood then glared at Cindy when Hank turned his back to head toward the pool table.
    “Lose.” Cindy grabbed her arm and whispered when she pulled Trisha down.
    “What?” Trisha pulled away with a large frown.
    “Helpless,” Cindy reminded her with a wink, and then laughed at the look Trisha tossed her way.
    “I’ll rack, you break,” Hank instructed as she walked up. “The pool sticks are over there.”
    Trisha looked at where he nodded and moaned. Of course they were right behind where Jake and his brother were sitting. Taking a deep breath, she headed toward them while thinking of ways to torture Cindy.
    “Excuse me.” Her voice shook. Lord, she was an idiot.
    Jake pulled his chair closer to the table, but she still had to squeeze between his chair and the other chair occupied by a cowboy. Not even paying attention she just grabbed a pool stick and started to squeeze between the two chairs again, but this time, her foot caught on one of the chair legs sending her off balance. Reflex had her grabbing a shoulder and of course, that shoulder belonged to Jake.
    “I’m sorry,” Trisha groaned, trying to dislodge her foot and keep her balance without falling on her face.
    Jake slid out of his chair, grabbing her arm to steady her as he moved his chair out of the way. “I should have gotten up.” He smiled down at her. “You okay?”
    “Yeah, I’m good.” She gave him a shaky grin. Seeing him this close, she noticed how brown his eyes were, like warm chocolate with gold flecks. His nose looked to have been broken. Realizing she was just standing there staring at him, she made a quick movement to brush past him, and to her horror, the tip of the pool stick whacked him in the cheek. She was mortified when a blue streak from the chalk on the tip of the stick streaked across his cheek.
    “Oh, my God.” She pulled the stick safely away. “I’m so sorry.”
    He actually laughed. “Damn glad you missed my eye.”
    Hating herself didn’t even describe how she felt. He tried to rub the blue from his cheek, but it just smeared. “You didn’t get it all.” She frowned. Her hand, as if her brain went to mush, reached up, wiping the rest of the blue chalk from his cheek. Snapping her hand back as if she’d been burned, she spun back to the pool table and decided then and there, Cindy was going to die a painful death.
    “Go ahead and break.” Hank passed her, going for a pool stick of his own.
    Nodding, she quickly glanced toward Cindy. She and Jeb were sitting where she had left them laughing so hard all she saw was teeth. With a curse, she grabbed the cue ball, placed it and hit it as hard as she wanted to hit Cindy.
    “Nice break.” Hank eyed her as the balls scattered everywhere. Nothing went in, so Hank walked up to the table checking for his shot.
    Trisha watched as he hit three balls in the pockets easily, but missed the forth. Glancing once more at Cindy, she rolled her eyes when Cindy mouthed, ‘lose’. And she proceeded to do just that.
    After Hank hit the eight ball in the corner pocket, he gave her an arrogant smile. “Hey, you didn’t do so bad.” He winked.
    “Thanks,” Trisha replied, wondering what to do with the pool stick. No way in hell