Boycotts and Barflies (41 page)

The four-ball sank into the pocket like a stone.

Bianca and Meg cheered as Grace stalked around the table with newfound determination  and started to methodically clear the table, one ball at a time. With each ball that sank, Jack’s cursing increased. Ryan was dumbfounded, especially when Grace pulled out all the stops and jumped the cue ball over one of theirs to sink the one -ball. Even  Michael looked impressed, but that damn

smirk still remained on his face.

Getting a bit too arrogant, Grace tried to make a really difficult shot, hitting the cue ball off the rail, but she missed her target and scratched. When she left the table, the guys had two balls on the table, and so did the ladies.

Jack downed the rest of his beer and went to the table with his cue stick in hand and a sly smile on his face. He confidently cracked his knuckles before bending over the table, examining the situation. Without even removing his sunglasses, he leaned over the table, pulled back on the cue stick, and fired. The white cue ball rolled across the table, looking like it had missed its mark, until it bounced off the rail and, with all the backspin Jack put on it, rotated, clipping the edge of the ten -ball. In slow motion, it rolled into the corner pocket.

“Woo hoo! Eat that!” Jack screamed as he high-fived Ryan. Michael congratulated Jack, slapping his hand on his friend’s back, and then he winked at Grace. Being the mature woman she was, Grace stuck her tongue out at  Michael, which only made him laugh harder.

When Jack finally settled himself, he looked down at the table and surveyed his options. He really didn’t have a shot at the thirteen -ball, which was their only ball left on the table. It was nestled up right next to the eight-ball, and he didn’t want to risk sending that into the pocket. Instead, he took evasive measures and lightly tapped the cue ball into the corner, leaving Bianca in a bind.

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“Great, now I have no shot, you asshole. How am I supposed to show off my  pool skills? Damn it, Jack,” Bianca fumed, her heels clicking loudly as she  walked around to look for a good angle.

Jack walked up to the other side of the table and started running his mouth,  which was a bad idea when Bianca had a cue stick in her hand. “Oh, come on,  baby. Who are you trying to kid? Your aim is really off, and you don’t seem to  know what you’re doing with that stick.”

As he waved his arm across the table, Bianca snapped. She picked up the stick, drew it back, and shot the cue ball. It bounced once on the table and then went airborne, hitting Jack squarely in the crotch.

Jack made a small yelp before crumbling into a heap on the floor.

“My aim is excel ent, and I didn’t get the nickname Ball Crusher for nothing. You better not forget that, baby.” She towered over his limp body on the floor. “Come on; let’s get you some ice for your nuts.”

“Note to self: don’t piss off Bianca,” Michael mumbled in awe as Ryan stood up to find the cue ball which had rolled under Meg’s chair.

“I believe that counts as a scratch,” Ryan proclaimed as he put the cue ball back onto the table, giving himself the easiest shot to sink their one remaining ball. “Shit,” Grace muttered as Ryan lined up the shot. She gave Meg a what-the -hell -

are -you -going-to-do look.

Meg smiled and immediately hopped off her stool, stood across the table from  Ryan, and began popping open the buttons on her blouse. Ryan’s head started  to shake from side to side as he tried to not look at her, but when she bent  down so her semi-exposed chest and red lace bra were hanging directly in his  line of sight, little beads of sweat formed on his brow.

“Hit it right to momma, Ry,” Meg said as she shook her chest in his direction. “You ladies really are shameless, aren’t you?” Michael asked, shaking his head  in disgust at Ryan as he watched the cue ball careen off course and miss its  intended target by a mile.

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Mikey. It’s just a game.” Grace laughed and  ran a single finger down the front of his shirt, stopping at the waistband of his  jeans.

Jack hobbled back to the table, followed by Bianca, who was carrying an ice  pack and rolling her eyes as Jack rambled on. “All I’m saying, Bianca, is if we  ever do have kids some day and they aren’t too smart, just remember it’s 318

because you gave my little swimmers brain damage with that trick of yours.”

He gingerly cupped himself as he sat down on the stool.

Giving him no sympathy whatsoever, Bianca slammed the icepack onto his

crotch. “Yeah, I gave them the brain damage, not the guy dumb enough to piss

off a woman with a pool cue in her hand. Sure, it’s my fault.”

“You know the least you could do is,” and Jack started laughing, “kiss them and

make them better.” Bianca’s hand flew up to the back of his head. “Ouch!

I think I need more ice …”

“My shot!” Meg squealed as Ryan sulked away from the table, having let down

his team.

“Nice focus, Ryan,” Michael snarled. “They’re just boobs.”

“Yeah, well, you did really well under pressure yourself there, Mikey,” Ryan

spat back as he watched Meg skip around the table and sink the first ball.

Groans came from all the guys, but they were overshadowed by the vibrant

cheers from Grace and Bianca.

Meg pretended to yawn in boredom before she lowered her body across the table and took her next shot, sinking the remaining solid ball into the far pocket. The only balls left on the table were the cue ball, the eight-ball, and a single striped ball. Meg grinned as she lined up her final shot.

Jack started screaming to try and distract her, Michael coughed, and Ryan tried tickling her, but nothing could break Meg’s concentration. She closed her eyes, pulled back the cue and sank the eight-ball with authority into the center pocket. Screams of victory erupted from the ladies.

“Rematch!” Jack whined loudly as he jumped up, dropping his ice pack onto the floor. “Come on,” he pleaded with Bianca, who simply shook her head no.

“You guys are buying the beer. Suddenly, I feel very thirsty. How about you, ladies?” Bianca filled her friends’ glasses, and they toasted their victory.

“Let’s do a little couples tournament,” Meg suggested.

“What does the winning team get?” Ryan asked with raised eyebrows. “Another free kiss,” Michael blurted out too quickly, and then blushed.

Um, that works for me. Wait, how about free sex? Yeah, that’d be better.

Damn it! Next time, think bigger, Michael.

“Aw, Michael wants to kiss our fair Grace again,” Meg teased. She glanced in  Grace’s  direction and found her the same shade of red as Michael. “OK, fine. Winning team gets one no-holds-barred kiss. Only catch is that you have to do it right here, in front of us, so we can judge your skills.” Meg glanced over 319

at Jack and Bianca. Just to rub in the fact they could do whatever they wanted

win or lose, Jack grabbed Bianca in his arms and kissed her deeply.

“Agreed!” Michael and Grace said in unison.

First up were Meg and Ryan versus Jack and Bianca. While they started their

game, trading taunts back and forth, Grace pulled Michael aside to work on

their strategy.

“OK, so listen. First of all, drop the beer!” She snatched the glass from his hand.

“I really want to win this, so you need to be focused on the prize,

namely me, and we don’t need any beer messing with your aim.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m very focused on you, Grace.” He stepped closer and ran

his hand down her cheek, brushing it softly and then running his fingers

through her long black hair.

“Stop being all sexy, Michael. Now is not the time. I need to be focused on the

game. Distractions like butterflies and shaky hands won’t win me that kiss. I

want that kiss!” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him so close their chests

brushed against one another. “I need that kiss,” Grace whispered breathlessly.

With a devious grin on his face, he asked, “What can I do to help?”

She quickly told him Meg’s strengths and weaknesses in pool and what shots

she struggled with so he could make sure to take advantage of that when he

played. He told Grace that Ryan was probably the weakest player of the guys,

which made her feel a bit better; but Meg was the strongest player of the three

ladies, so they evened each other out. Michael needed to outsmart Meg with his

shooting, and they’d be fine.

Motivated by the prize, Meg and Ryan made short work of Jack and Bianca,

beating them handily. After their victory, they went and sat down, watching

while Michael and Grace took their turn against Jack and Bianca. Right off the

bat, Jack became cocky and miscalculated his angles, sinking the eight-ball.

Grace launched herself into Michael’s arms in celebration. Bianca stuck her

tongue out at them, having been eliminated, and then proceeded to stick her  tongue down Jack’s throat  just because she could.

When Jack collected himself, he strode over to the table and racked the balls  for the final round. A coin toss determined that Grace and Michael would

break.

“I want a clean game, ladies and gentlemen. No distracting, flashing, or g oosing  the opposing team. You will remain silent while they shoot and the prize for  the winner is a big fat smooch, with tongue, and I guess you could cop a feel if  you were so inclined, in front of all of us. Do you understand the rules?” Jack  asked 320

in his most official voice. The players all nodded their heads in agreement.  “Who from team ‘Naughty Librarian’ is going to break?” Jack teased.

Grace decided to let Michael break, that way his turn would fall right before  Meg’s. Taking a deep breath, he leaned over the table and gave the cue ball a  solid hit, sending the other balls scattering in every direction. Luckily, he sank  the four-ball, making them solids which annoyed Meg right from the start.

The game progressed like a chess match. Ryan flubbed more shots than he  made, while Michael and Meg were locked in a battle of the minds. Each kept

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thinking two shots ahead of where they were, trying to leave the other without  a move. As Michael gained the upper hand, Meg became so frustrated that it  began to affect her play.

Sensing her weakness, Grace too stepped up her game and made a good run,  sinking two balls, which left Michael with one solid and the eight-ball when his  turn came around. Ryan conferred with Meg before he sank one of theirs and  then missed, leaving them two striped balls on the table.

“No pressure, Michael, but it comes down to you. Meg just might be able to run  the table if you don’t clear the balls, so please, I’m begging you, sink the balls.”  Grace stood back and held her breath as he considered his options. Meg  watched his analysis and crossed her fingers, pressing them nervously to her  lips.

“Eight-ball in the corner pocket,” Michael called as he took his position at the  side of the table. He looked away from the ball for a split second to give Grace a confident wink, and then took his shot. As the black ball rolled to the pocket,  Grace nearly passed out, watching it bounce off one corner of the pocket, then  the other corner, and finally falling back into the pocket with a dull thud.

“You did it!” Grace flung herself at Michael, a huge smile on her face.

He lifted Grace up into the air and immediately sat her down on the pool table.  He waited for her knees to part then stepped between them, his fingers  leisurely trailing up her thighs. His hand went to her face, caressing her cheek  as his thumb ran across her plump lower lip.

“I’d like to claim my prize right now, if you don’t mind,” he whispered as she  looked into his smoldering eyes. “I don’t think I can wait another second.”

As his face moved closer, Grace felt her heart explode to life in anticipation of  feeling his powerful lips on hers. Grace’s body burned as his chest made  contact with it, his hands grasping her face and tilting her head to the side. “Michael,” she muttered as his lips brushed against hers.

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Her mind vaguely registered the screams and clapping coming from their friends. Michael’s heated breath on her skin caused her whole body to explode into a mil ion pieces. With each second that passed, she forgot about everything but him.

Once Grace felt his lips part and his tongue stroked passionately into her mouth, she was lost in her desire. The searing heat of his mouth on hers erupted throughout her trembling body. As Grace pulled herself closer to him, her legs locked around his back, their hips making forceful contact. She

couldn’t contain her moan as his tongue continued to caress hers, the taste of  him filling her as no one ever would again. Grace’s hands locked around the  nape of his neck as she held on tight and refused to let him go.

Michael lowered his hands from her face and ran them along her sides, his  thumbs purposely running across the edge of her breasts, sending visible  waves of pleasure throughout her body. Grace felt one of his hands on her  lower back as he tipped her backwards onto the table.

Grace’s hands fell back to support her as Michael pressed the full weight of his  body against her, urging her to lie back and let him be in control. She couldn’t  remember how long it had been since she  had drawn a breath and she didn’t  care. Grace was more than willing to pass out on the pool table before she  would dare break the kiss with Michael. She would have kept kissing him all  night if she hadn’t heard a strange male clearing his throat next to them.

“Um, excuse me there, folks. Sorry to interrupt. My name is Jason and I’m one  of the bartenders here. Listen, I hate to break it to you, but she can’t be up on  the pool table like that. Her weight will throw off the balance, and we’ll have to  take the  whole thing apart to get it level again.”

Can’t you see we’re busy here?

Grace was prepared to ignore the unfamiliar voice and kept right on kissing  Michael until this Jason guy forcefully removed her lips from Michael’s, but  Michael had other ideas. She felt the corners of his mouth turn up into a smile,  and a second later, she felt herself being lifted up off the table with her legs still  clamped around his waist in a death grip.

Michael reluctantly pulled his lips from hers to address this lunatic. “Sorry,  Jason, my bad.”

There was nothing bad about that kis , Michael. It was real y, real y good …

Bad, Grace, bad!

She wasn’t at all amused by the situation and was still a bit tipsy from the kiss  and her lack of oxygen. Grace began her usual nervous rambling. “Jason, 322

let me ask you a question. Have you ever made a bet? A stupid bet you regret  about two weeks into the flippin’ thing, and yet for some strange reason, you  stay in the bet simply to win a stupid pair of shoes and eternal bragging rights,  whatever the hell that even means? Of course, the catch is, in order to win the  shoes and bragging rights, you can’t go on a date or kiss the person you are  madly in love with. You ever do something that stupid? Because I did, and that  kiss you just interrupted for the sake of a pool table was the last kiss I’m going  to get until New Year’s, damn it! And that was a really good kiss you

interrupted, right judges?” She looked over her shoulder at their friends, who

were all hysterical.

Meg held up a napkin with a large number ten boldly written on it. Bianca held

up ten fingers and waved them in the air. Jack and Ryan were on their feet,

applauding the spectacle they had made. Grace glared at Jason with a raised

eyebrow, waiting for his official score.

“Um, it looked pretty good. I’d give it a nine.” Jason’s evaluation irritated

Michael.

“Why’d we only get a nine?”

“Because you didn’t lay her down on the pool table, man. Now that would have  been hotter. Her sprawled out up there, with that long black hair spread out  around her head. That’s what I would have done if it was my girlfriend,” he said  nonchalantly, like he had spent a lot of time thinking about it. “Anyway, stay off  the table or I gotta throw you guys out. Next round is on me for cutting things  short. We good?” Jason held his hand out to Michael and tipped his head  apologetically in Grace’s direction.

As Jason left, she leaned her head against Michael’s chest. “If you kiss that well,

I can only imagine how good you are at  other things,” she thought out loud,  fanning herself.

Glowing with pride, he lifted her chin up to his face. “I’ll be happy to show you,  just say when … and it doesn’t matter where,” he whispered, his eyes looking

as mischievous as the grin on his face. “Just not on the pool table or Jason will  throw us out.”

“Grace, are you going to hang onto Mike like that all night?” Jack boomed from

the table as the free pitcher of beer arrived, just as promised. “And if you are,

I’d suggest ditching the clothes; it’d be much more fun that way.”

An image of her and Michael, naked on the pool table, flashed briefly in her

head, sending an erotic shiver down her spine.

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“Are you all right?” Michael asked as he watched her cheeks turn red with

embarrassment.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just counting down the hours. Hey, do you realize we only have

ninety- seven hours to go?” They were going to be the longest ninety- seven

hours of her life, but the end was in sight. Grace just had to behave a little

longer.

She grabbed the nearest glass of beer and chugged  it, suddenly feeling very hot.

The group played a few more games, but then it was time for everyone to head home. Michael followed the girls to make sure they made it back to their apartment safely and then dropped Ryan and Jack off at their place. He

teasingly invited Grace over for a “sleepover” if she wanted, but she politely  declined, thinking it would be a very bad idea after that not-so-little kiss. Her  heart was still fluttering wildly in her chest when she thought about it, and her  self-control was  at an all -time low.

Grace washed her face and was sitting on her bed in her pajamas when there was a small knock on the door.

Bianca stepped in, dressed for bed. “Hey.”

“Missing your giant bed warmer?” Grace teased until she saw how sad her friend looked.  “What’s wrong?”

She crawled into bed with Grace, laying her head on the pillow. “I just got used to having him around these last few days. I miss him. I even miss his obnoxious snoring and the way he spent twenty minutes spiking his hair in the morning.  Go d, I know I sound lame and I hate feeling this way, but I need him.

I feel like there is this terrible ache in my chest right now, do you know what I mean?” A single tear fell from the corner of Bianca’s eye.

Grace sighed, understanding completely. Last night, she had been curled up in  Michael’s warm arms, and tonight, she would be in her big bed, alone. “I know exactly what you mean, Bianca. You love him and never want to let him go.  Why don’t you just call Jack and ask him to come over? I’m sure he’d be here in less than five minutes.”

“No, I don’t want to sound like some helpless, lovesick girl. I’m a grown woman,  damn it, and I can spend one night alone.” She gave a small sigh and then

asked, “Actually, would you mind if I stayed in here with you?”

“Not  at all.” Grace laughed. “As long as you don’t mind me mumbling about  Michael in my sleep.” As she reached out to turn off the light, her hand brushed  along the picture frame Liz had given her.

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“Can I see it?” Bianca leaned over and held out her arm, wanting to get a better  look at the photograph she had heard so much about. “Oh, Grace, look how  sweet you two are! And his hair has always been messy, hasn’t it?” She giggled,  and then became very quiet. “You two were meant to be together, Grace. I’m so  happy for you.” Bianca leaned over, placing the picture back on the nightstand.

She gave Grace a kiss on the cheek and laughed. “And by the way, that kiss on the pool table tonight was so hot. I can only imagine the night you two are going to have on New Year’s. And I expect details—lots and lots of details.” 325

Chapter 26

M eg, I know there are dresses in this store with more fabric on them,”

Grace growled from behind the dressing room door. “Go find me one of those, please. I want something that screams sexy, not slutty.”

They were at the mall once again, searching for the perfect dresses to wear to the New Year’s Eve party at The Vault. The theme this year was black and white, so the girls were scouring the mall for the perfect outfit for the evening. So far, most of the dresses Meg picked barely covered Grace’s body, and she didn’t think it was wise to wear something that short around Michael during the final hours of the boycott.

Everyone had been busy since the night at Bumpers. The guys were diligently working at The Vault every night until close so they could have New Year’s Eve off. Not to mention how busy they were making all the preliminary arrangements to help get Tryst up and running.

Meg and Bianca had spent the better part of the weekend returning phone calls from clients and arranging appointments for after the holiday, while Grace had to get ready for the new semester that would be starting only a few days after  New Year’s. Before they knew it, New Year’s Eve had arrived, and there were only hours left in the agonizing bet.

There was a loud knock on the door with Meg grousing from outside the dressing room. “Quit your complaining. Here, try this one on. I think it’ll be perfect.” A black and white dress flew over the door, landing on Grace’s head.

There was a loud ruckus from the dressing room next to her as Meg began barking orders at Bianca too. “Bianca, this is the dress for you, trust me. I want to see them when you have them on,” Meg ordered from her position near the triple mirror.

Grace quickly stripped herself of the spandex nightmare Meg had given her previously and took a moment to look at the second dress in her hand. It was a bit bolder than what she might have normally chosen for herself, but if ever there was a night to be bold, this was it. Whatever dress she chose, she would only be in it until just before midnight; then she was planning to change into the dress Michael had given for their date. She didn’t want to risk it getting ruined; she wanted everything about the night to b e perfect.

“Let’s shake a leg, ladies. We have manicure appointments in two hours.

Move it, move it!” Meg rapped her knuckles on the dressing room doors,  hurrying her friends as much as possible.

Grace swiftly stepped into the dress, secured the zipper, and when she looked  up into the mirror, there stood a beautiful, sexy woman with a confident smile  on her face. She barely recognized herself in the reflection. “Meg, this is the  one!” Grace squealed as she thrust open the door to make a dramatic exit.

“Let  me see … Oh, it’s perfect on you! Come here.” She grabbed Grace’s hand  and pulled her over to the mirror. “Your ass looks fantastic with the way this  dress is cut.” Meg admired her friend from behind as she spun in front of the  mirror. “And look at your curves, girl.” She ran her hands over Grace’s hips and  gave them a little shake. “Michael will love you in this.”

The dress was spectacular; it was a short, mid thigh, sleeveless, sequined dress.  The sequins made a cool geometric black and white print of squares and  triangles which covered the dress. It was cute, flirty, and sexy—exactly what  she had been searching for. Grace was amazed at how a simple piece of fabric  could make her feel so confident and almost powerful.