Free Slow Hands by Lauren Bach Page B

their balls at the same time. Grunting slightly, he indicated she should go first
    Wiping her hands on her jeans, she lined up, found her mark, and tossed the ball. She took out seven pins.
    While her lane reset, Reggie moved in to take his turn. Keira studied his profile, thoughtful.
    As a worker, Reggie was reliable. More importantly, he did quality work. He had moved to Freedom the previous month when his lease expired in Hot Springs and had caused quite a stir among the town's single female population.
    It was easy to see why. Reggie had shoulder-length blond hair and—as Franny called them—bedroom blue eyes. He also had a great tan and an equally great physique. Without a shirt, he was the penultimate fantasy construction worker.
    Next to Alec.
    Frowning at the thought, Keira narrowed her eyes, studying Reggie's shoulders. Maybe Franny was right Maybe it was time to break a few rules, broaden her horizons. Reggie might not be a bad place to start.
    Reggie's ball split the pins, leaving the two corner ones standing. He swore, then shrugged. "Your turn, boss lady."
    Keira took her second turn, picking up a spare. She did a little victory dance as Sally and Mabel applauded. Franny waved from the rear booth, catching her attention. Keira nearly tripped when she saw Alec leaning down, talking to Franny.
    "Alec was just telling me he's your new neighbor," Franny said.
    Keira glanced suspiciously at her friend. Why was she acting like this was news?
    "Maybe you and Reggie could invite Alec to a cook-out one night. Oh, there's Darryl!"
    Finished causing trouble, Franny scooted out of the booth and took off toward the entrance. Keira knew exactly what Franny was doing—inventing her sort o/boyfriend.
    "Reggie?" Alec questioned.
    "Reggie Reeves. Works for me."
    "Surfer dude? Not your type."
    His response irked her. "What's it to you?"
    "Just checking the turf, babe."
    "My turf is none of your business. Reggie's turf either."
    Alec smiled. "Fifty bucks says you're not involved." He leaned in close, brushed the hair back from her face with a single finger. "I saw you checking out his ass, and it wasn't a gee-I-know-that-ass kind of look. It was a gee-is-that-as-good-as-other-asses-I’ve-known look."
    Keira felt her cheeks grow warm. She used to brag that Alec's backside was the best in the South. A long time ago.
    Damn him and his smug little look. "I've known some bigger asses in my time. I wouldn't necessarily say they were better."
    Alec's hand closed around her upper arm, pulling her close. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'd forgotten how cute you look when you're mad."
    She tugged her arm away, remembering how Alec used to tease her. Just to rile her. "I'm not mad."
    "Right. You look like you did at fourteen. When I gave you your first spanking."
    Keira's eyes flared with the heat of unwelcome recollection.
    When she was in eighth grade, she and Franny had followed the high school football team to their annual bonfire at Culverleaf Pond. The rumors were true—the football players all went skinny-dipping.
    Unfortunately, they were caught spying by a couple of drunken seniors, who threw them in the pond, clothes and all.
    Alec had come to their aid, driven them home. He wasn't happy. After they dropped Franny off, he had headed up Fire Mountain. Halfway there, he pulled over to lecture her on the danger she and Franny could have faced.
    Keira made the mistake of sticking out her tongue and telling Alec nobody told her what to do. Alec yanked her over his knee and gave her a couple hard wallops, right through her wet jeans.
    She'd been mortified then.
    She was mortified he brought it up now.
    Grinning, Alec pointed to the scoreboard where her name flashed. "Your turn again."
    Red-faced, she huffed to the lane.
    Reggie had just thrown his ball, scoring another split. He swore again. "Can you believe it?"
    Keira lined up her ball. She looked at the head pin, envisioning Alec's smirking face. Aiming for his nose, she let the