Chapter Five
Joe settled the cue into the crook of his fingers and lined up the last shot. With just the slightest tap, the cue ball hit the eight ball, sinking it gently into the corner pocket. Only the cue ball remained, teetering softly as it settled against the cushion. “And that’s game,” he said.
“That’s hustling,” she corrected.
“You’d have hustled me just the same. Hell, you’ve got your own cue,” he protested. “You just got cocky and let me have the break.”
“Which was my second mistake of the night… The first one was agreeing to your bet,” she snapped. “One date. That’s it, that’s all, don’t angle for anything else. Don’t try any funny business and you sure as hell don’t cozy up to my sister trying to worm your way into our lives. And no sex. I’m not giving you a chance to bite me and make this insanity permanent!”
Joe shrugged. “You should never say never. And I don’t even know your name. Generally speaking, I like to have at least that much info before I start trying to get in your pants.”
She crossed her arms, stood there, looking mad as hell with her hip cocked. Prickly as she was, he still wanted her. He’d never liked things to be easy. Easy meant it wasn’t worth it, in his way of thinking. If it came easy, it left easy, and that wasn’t what he wanted for either of them. So he’d field her barbs and tolerate her bad temper. He imagined that the loss was pretty fresh, and all the emotions that came with it.
“I’m Joe, by the way. Figured you ought to know that before I pick you and your sister up for our date. You think she likes ice skating?”
He watched as his mate shuffled her stance so that her hip cocked in the other direction, inadvertently plumping up her breasts in the process. He wanted to groan in appreciation at the sight but was smart enough to hold it in. The last thing he wanted to do now was give her a reason to call this whole thing off and run. Instead, he stood there, waiting for her response while silently calculating his next moves. He had to stay on top of his game if he was going to make this mating work.
Giving him a stern look, she finally responded. “Sarah’s too little to ice skate. I don’t want her to get hurt.”
Joe propped his hip up on the table and crossed his own arms to match her pose. “I’m sure we can keep little Sarah on her feet between the two of us. But if you don’t want to do that, we can always do something else. How about a carriage ride through town to get some hot chocolate?”
His mate bit her bottom lip in thought, then nodded. “That works. When do you want to do this?”
“Well, I have my Santa shift until eight in the evening. After I get done and changed, we can meet at the front of the outlet mall. It’s a short walk to where the carriage rides start from there. I know that might seem kind of late for the little tyke, but she’ll get to see all the Christmas lights around town that way. Sound good?”
She nodded again and then stood there as if she wasn’t sure what to do next. Joe decided to make that decision easier for her and walked around the pool table, closing the distance between them. Holding his hand out, he murmured. “It might make this date a little less awkward if I knew your name, sweetheart.”
Something flashed in her eyes before she quickly covered it up. Interest perhaps? He certainly hoped so. After taking his hand, she shook it firmly. “My name is Nikki, but don’t think that just because you know my name now it’ll be any easier for you to get in my pants.”
Joe barked a laugh. “Remembered that line, did you? That’s okay. I’m going to make you a promise, Nikki, that when I do get in your pants, it’ll very much be because you want me in there…and everywhere else.” He swiped his thumb over the back of her hand. “Until then.” Joe brought her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss. “Have a good night, Nikki, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Not wanting to give her the chance to throw another quip at him, Joe turned and walked away. Leaving her with the feel of his lips on her skin and hopefully the same painful arousal that he was experiencing as well. He pushed through the bar’s door and let the chilly night air hit him full force. Hoping the weather could cool some of the lust that was burning through him. His lion roared inside of his head to go back and throw their mate over his shoulder to carry her away like a caveman. Then they could take her somewhere private, strip her naked, and rub their scent all over her.
Damn, but he wished he could give in to those animal instincts.
He took one more look at the door before he walked away with thoughts about his mate clouding his mind. His mate was determined they weren’t going to work. Guess he would just have to show her he was just as determined to prove that they would.