Free Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis Page B

got to do is sigh and pant a little bit, mention a few body parts and do it in a breathy Marilyn Monroe voice, and you’re golden.”
    This time Sophie paused. “No,” she said less convincingly.
    “ Big bucks , Soph.”
    She sighed. “Okay, maybe I’ll think about it.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “I’m not thanking you yet,” Sophie said. “And for God’s sake, don’t tell Mom and Dad.”
    “Duh.”
      
    Body still humming with the need for something he wasn’t going to get tonight, Jacob left Sophie’s boat and strode toward the cabin.
    He could taste her. Feel her. And it hadn’t been enough.
    He’d had to forcibly remind himself he wasn’t here for this. For her. He had a limited amount of time before he had to go back to his duty, and he needed to get on with what he’d come to do. In light of that, he pulled out his phone and stared at his list of contacts.
    At one contact in particular.
    Hud.
    He hit the number before giving himself a chance to change his mind.
    Hud answered on the first ring, sounding a little breathless. “Jacob?” he asked.
    “Yeah.” Jacob scrubbed a hand down his face. “Uh, you busy?”
    “I’m at the Slippery Slope. You remember it?”
    “Yeah,” Jacob said. “I—”
    But Hud had disconnected. Okay, then. He walked. It wasn’t far, maybe two miles. When he opened the door to the bar and grill, he was hit by the scent of fried food and the sounds of loud country music and a boisterous, happy crowd.
    He was also hit with his past and present as they collided inside his chest.
    Across the room, Aidan and Gray were bent over a pool table, in the midst of what looked like a vicious game. Kenna was on the other side of the table, darts in her hand, staring intently at the dartboard. Next to her was a man Jacob didn’t recognize.
    Hud stood at the bar, pushing forward money for a pitcher of beer. As if he could feel Jacob’s presence, he quickly turned, and his eyes went straight to his twin.
    Jacob took a deep breath and started toward him. He’d never in his life felt more out of his comfort zone, and he wasn’t good at that. It made him itchy, as itchy as if he’d headed into combat without being loaded up with weapons.
    At the pool table, Aidan hit a shot that had him shoving his fist in the air and pumping it in triumph. Gray snagged Aidan, hooking his arm around Aidan’s neck and giving him what looked like a painful noogie.
    Aidan pushed free, put his hand on Gray’s face, and shoved.
    Gray fell back, the two of them laughing.
    A beautiful blonde came up behind Gray and slipped her arms around him. Turning in her arms, Gray nuzzled her in close while Jacob did a double take. It was Penny. She’d gone to school with them and Gray had always had a huge crush on her. She was wearing a big, fat diamond.
    Seemed Gray had gotten his wildest dream to come true.
    Nope, Jacob thought, standing still, he wasn’t any good at this. He’d manned up to come home and he had a lot more manning up to do, but at the moment all he could think was that he was an outsider.
    Your own fault …
    Hud left the pitcher at the bar and started toward him. Jacob took a deep breath and did the same. When they were each halfway to the other, Hud cocked his head, gesturing to the back. There, another room held more dartboards and pool tables.
    They met at an open dartboard. Once upon a time, darts had been their game. Neither could lose, and with the help of fake ID’s, they’d used the skill to their benefit.
    Jacob met Hud’s gaze. “We playing?”
    Hud shrugged and casually picked up a set of darts.
    Oh, yeah. They were playing. Jacob did the same and gestured for Hud to go first.
    “Five-oh-one?” Hud asked.
    “That’s a pussy game,” Aidan said. He and the others had come up behind them. Everyone but Kenna and the guy she was with.
    Penny jabbed an elbow into Aidan’s stomach, hard by the choking cough Aidan let out. “Excuse me?” she said. “ Pussy game?”
    Aidan