Read Online Up to the Challenge (An Anchor Island Novel) by Terri Osburn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Terri Osburn
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no lack of determination or skill. It seemed whatever Sid Navarro attempted, she did well. His new-found admiration had more to do with the person he was coming to know than the killer body she inhabited.
The fourteen careened across the table, dropping cleanly into the pocket. Sid gave a triumphant “Yes!” then turned for a high five. He complied, but something told him to hold on. They stood there next to the pool table, hand in hand, eyes locked. Sid licked her lips and Lucas nearly gave into the urge.
Instead he dropped her hand and sauntered to the other side of the table. “It’s not over yet. You still have to make the eight ball.”
Sid continued to look dazed for several seconds. Lucas gave her time to recover, since he needed a moment himself. This was only their second day together and he was already struggling to keep his hands off her. A complication he did not need.
“Right,” she finally said, her voice low and unsure. She stared at the table while chalking her stick, presumably figuringout her shot, though Lucas saw her eyes dart in his direction more than once.
“I’d go for the side,” he said, anxious to finish the game. He didn’t give a shit about the money. He’d pay twenty-five hundred to break the spell she was weaving around him.
With a nod, Sid bent to take the shot. Lucas had replaced his cue on the wall before the ball dropped. “We need to open in five. I’ll hand over your winnings this afternoon.” Before she could respond, Lucas headed back to the bar.
CHAPTER SEVEN
W hat the hell had just happened? One minute they were bickering and trash talking like normal, then Lucas got all weird again. First, he’d insulted her, which would normally have pissed Sid off, but the way he’d looked at her, as if he wanted to pick her up and carry her off somewhere, screwed with her wiring and anger was trumped by lust.
Sid had wanted Lucas to notice her for years, but never believed he ever would. Maybe she’d been wrong. Just imagining the things
he
might be imagining sent heat to the tips of her ears. But if he was interested, why did he keep backing off?
Maybe he was just a sore loser. Except without his help, she never would have won. She’d underestimated his skill going in. If he’d gotten another turn, the game would have been over in seconds. Instead, he’d helped her win. A fact she’d never admit aloud, but true all the same.
This was why Sid didn’t spend time with a lot of people. She sucked at figuring them out. Joe was a simple guy. He didn’t say much, but when he did, the words were straightforward, easy to understand. No hidden meanings. No games.
When Lucas talked, he might as well have been speaking another language for all she understood him.
“Sid?” said Annie, dashing into the poolroom, short black hair dancing around her face.
“Yeah?”
“Lucas said to come get you. We’re opening the doors.”
Only then did Sid realize she was still holding the cue stick, standing next to the pool table like an idiot. “I’ll be right out.”
The rest of the day was a blur. Saturdays were always the busiest, especially the lunch crowd. Dempsey’s was known throughout the Outer Banks for the best fish and chips in the mid-Atlantic, but the burgers ran a close second in popularity. Both featured special recipes concocted by Patty in the early days of the restaurant.
By the end of the day, Sid wanted only two things: a cold beer and a hot bath.
“Tough day?” Beth asked, coming up beside Sid as she counted her tips at the end of the bar.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because your ponytail is falling off the back of your head, and there’s enough ketchup on your shirt to fill a couple bottles.”
Sid looked down. “Gross.” She grabbed a napkin and rubbed, but the red sauce had dried long ago. “It’s not coming off.”
Beth laughed. “Nearly every time I see you, you’re covered in either fish slime or grease. But ketchup bothers you?”
“Shut
The fourteen careened across the table, dropping cleanly into the pocket. Sid gave a triumphant “Yes!” then turned for a high five. He complied, but something told him to hold on. They stood there next to the pool table, hand in hand, eyes locked. Sid licked her lips and Lucas nearly gave into the urge.
Instead he dropped her hand and sauntered to the other side of the table. “It’s not over yet. You still have to make the eight ball.”
Sid continued to look dazed for several seconds. Lucas gave her time to recover, since he needed a moment himself. This was only their second day together and he was already struggling to keep his hands off her. A complication he did not need.
“Right,” she finally said, her voice low and unsure. She stared at the table while chalking her stick, presumably figuringout her shot, though Lucas saw her eyes dart in his direction more than once.
“I’d go for the side,” he said, anxious to finish the game. He didn’t give a shit about the money. He’d pay twenty-five hundred to break the spell she was weaving around him.
With a nod, Sid bent to take the shot. Lucas had replaced his cue on the wall before the ball dropped. “We need to open in five. I’ll hand over your winnings this afternoon.” Before she could respond, Lucas headed back to the bar.
CHAPTER SEVEN
W hat the hell had just happened? One minute they were bickering and trash talking like normal, then Lucas got all weird again. First, he’d insulted her, which would normally have pissed Sid off, but the way he’d looked at her, as if he wanted to pick her up and carry her off somewhere, screwed with her wiring and anger was trumped by lust.
Sid had wanted Lucas to notice her for years, but never believed he ever would. Maybe she’d been wrong. Just imagining the things
he
might be imagining sent heat to the tips of her ears. But if he was interested, why did he keep backing off?
Maybe he was just a sore loser. Except without his help, she never would have won. She’d underestimated his skill going in. If he’d gotten another turn, the game would have been over in seconds. Instead, he’d helped her win. A fact she’d never admit aloud, but true all the same.
This was why Sid didn’t spend time with a lot of people. She sucked at figuring them out. Joe was a simple guy. He didn’t say much, but when he did, the words were straightforward, easy to understand. No hidden meanings. No games.
When Lucas talked, he might as well have been speaking another language for all she understood him.
“Sid?” said Annie, dashing into the poolroom, short black hair dancing around her face.
“Yeah?”
“Lucas said to come get you. We’re opening the doors.”
Only then did Sid realize she was still holding the cue stick, standing next to the pool table like an idiot. “I’ll be right out.”
The rest of the day was a blur. Saturdays were always the busiest, especially the lunch crowd. Dempsey’s was known throughout the Outer Banks for the best fish and chips in the mid-Atlantic, but the burgers ran a close second in popularity. Both featured special recipes concocted by Patty in the early days of the restaurant.
By the end of the day, Sid wanted only two things: a cold beer and a hot bath.
“Tough day?” Beth asked, coming up beside Sid as she counted her tips at the end of the bar.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because your ponytail is falling off the back of your head, and there’s enough ketchup on your shirt to fill a couple bottles.”
Sid looked down. “Gross.” She grabbed a napkin and rubbed, but the red sauce had dried long ago. “It’s not coming off.”
Beth laughed. “Nearly every time I see you, you’re covered in either fish slime or grease. But ketchup bothers you?”
“Shut
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