Free On Thin Ice (The Baltimore Banners Book 8) by Lisa B. Kamps Page A

that one really did make him sound like he was twelve. He didn't care.
    Wouldn't you like to know?
    Kenny didn't bother hiding his grin. Apparently he wasn't the only one with a streak of immaturity.
    Boyfriend?
    Lindsay's brother
    Kenny frowned. Who the hell was Lindsay? Is that the woman with you?
    He looked up and saw her mutter something he was pretty sure would have sounded like "ass" if she had said it out loud.
    Don't play dumb
    Wasn't. He hesitated, then typed another message immediately after that. So who's Lindsay?
    My sister you ASS!
    Why was she getting so pissed? And why didn't she just say the guy was her brother? Her brother, hm? That made him feel a little better. Maybe. But what the hell did her sister have to do anything? Didn't know your sister's name, sorry
    OMG. OMFG! Really? Really!
    Yeah really. Was I supposed to?
    Kenny looked up, not understanding the sudden tone of her texts. Only it wasn't just her messages. Lauren's face had turned a deep red and she was holding the phone in such a tight grip that he thought she might actually crack it. Her eyes blazed with anger when she looked at him and a muscle ticked along the side of her delicate jaw. Although maybe delicate was the wrong word, because she suddenly looked like she was more than capable of murder.
    His.
    The phone vibrated in his hand and he looked down, frowning as he read the message.
    I thought even asshole scum like you would get the girl's name before screwing her!
    Kenny blinked and read the message twice, blinked again and read it once more. What the hell? Was she really saying what he thought she was saying? Did she really think that he—? With her sister ?
    Kenny looked up, anger searing his tightened gut as he met Lauren's accusing gaze. He didn't bother with the phone this time.
    "Who the fuck said I was screwing your sister?"

Chapter Nine
    Shocked silence surrounded Lauren, disturbed only by the pulsing beat of a Top 40 song echoing in the now-still bowling alley. It hadn't been that noisy to begin with, not with the slight tension of discomfort that had been hanging over the odd assortment of eight bowlers.
    That tension and odd quiet was even worse now, after Haskell's outburst. Lauren knew everyone was watching them, felt at least six sets of eyes studying her. Studying Haskell.
    She didn't care, didn't even bother looking around her. She was too busy focusing on the man sitting across from her, trying to understand his reaction.
    He looked genuinely confused. And angry. Beyond angry. His face had turned a deep red except for the white of his lips, which were tightened in a harsh line. His heavy brows had pulled so low that his eyes were nothing more than dangerous slits. That didn't hide the seething anger that sparked in the deep brown of his eyes. That anger seared her skin and made her heart skip and jump in a crazy rhythm. Lauren didn't shy away from the look, didn't even flinch. Yes, Kenny Haskell was definitely angry, his entire body fairly vibrating with it. And even though he was looking at her, she didn't think the anger was actually directed at her.
    Because under that anger, she sensed confusion. Bewilderment. Maybe even a little hurt.
    Or maybe she was nothing more than a complete fool who was kidding herself into believing what she wanted. Because she wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that his denial was genuine, that he honestly had no idea what she was talking about. That he hadn't slept with Lindsay.
    Lauren didn't even want to think about why she wanted to believe his reaction was genuine, why she wanted to believe it had all been a lie. That would be like admitting she really had been jealous. If she had been jealous, that meant she must like him. She didn't want to like him.
    Kenny stood, the scowl still in place, still directed at her. He walked over to her, each step precise and calculated until he stopped right in front of her, so close she could feel the heat from his denim-clad legs against her