I frown. “If they weren’t strategically important to us, I’d be tempted to just walk away. They’ve been consuming all my time in the last month. Each conference call produces some bullshit objection. Now, it looks like their board is going to fight.” I pour half the bottle of beer down my throat. “And do you know why? Because they don’t want to be exposed to New York values. Those were their actual words.”
“What are New York values? Paying too much money for real estate? Ordering takeout more than five times a week?” Sebastian asks dryly. “Is Cyrus riding your ass, then? Telling you to stay out of the tabloids?”
Sebastian knows my family dynamics well. I’m about to confirm his guess when I’m distracted by the sight of a woman walking toward Clark.
She’s not Clark’s type, that’s for sure. Her figure’s more generous than Clark typically prefers, and her black dress wouldn’t be out of place at a nunnery. She’s wearing sensible flats and her red hair is pulled back into a ponytail.
Though she’s sending out absolutely no signals, there’s something about her. I can’t tear my eyes away. The primness of her dress can’t hide her body’s curves. Her breasts are round and lush, and I can’t wait to see her ass as she bends over a table.
At that image, my cock stirs. Pavlov would have been proud of me. Bend a woman over a table, and I either want to spank her or fuck her, or both.
“That’s the woman Clark was talking about?” Sebastian’s eyes are glued on her as well. “She is a hot piece of ass. Let’s go over and say hello.”
When we reach them, Sebastian sticks out his hand. “Hi,” he says smoothly. “I’m Sebastian.”
“This is our newest teammate,” Clark interjects. “Bailey Moore, meet Sebastian and Daniel.”
“Welcome to the team.” I smile at her. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Thank you, but it’s probably not a good idea before I play.” Her voice is soft. Pretty. She makes a face. “I’m already terrible at pool.” She looks at Clark. “Gabby warned you, right? But I’d really like to learn.”
The sincere, fervent need in her voice startles me. She wants this. Though she’s doing a good job hiding it, she’s nervous. I can feel the tension emanate in waves from her, and I wonder why. It’s just a stupid pool game.
Clark nods ungraciously. “Juliette’s almost done,” he says. “Why don’t you go up next so I can see what you can do?”
“Okay.” She bites her lip, and desire clenches through my groin as I see her straight white teeth indent her tender pink flesh. A sideways look at Sebastian reveals that she’s having the same effect on him. Clark’s the only one who is immune. Fool.
* * *
She’s as dreadful as she said she’d be.
Clark’s set her up to play a game opposite a woman on the other team. Pool players are ranked based on skill level. Bailey’s been marked as a three - the default skill level assigned to a new woman player until the league figures out how to rank her. Her opponent is a two. Technically, less skilled. It’s still slaughter.
Clark shakes his head next to me as he watches. “Great.” He sounds pissed. “She’s a dog, and she can’t play. Fucking perfect.”
“Come on, man,” I say, a little shocked. Seriously, that crosses a line. I guess no one ever told him that women exist for more reasons than to look pretty for him. “Don’t be a prick. Besides, we need newbies on our team. Aren’t we skating close to twenty-three right now?”
The league mandates that the total skill level of the entire team is less than or equal to twenty-three. I’m a seven. Sebastian’s a six. Juliette’s a solid three, and Clark is a wobbly four. This week, Bailey’s playing as a three, though she’ll drop a level for next week after today’s scores have been tabulated.
Long story short, Clark shouldn’t be bitching. We need Bailey to be terrible.
“What’s going on?” Sebastian’s at my side again. He’s got a great nose for trouble, and my clenched expression must have given me away. I’m not going to hit Clark. That’ll make the headlines of every tabloid in the city. But it doesn’t mean I’m not tempted.