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

own. Anger still glittered in his eyes as he reached out for her hand.
    Dale stiffened beside her, his body tensing as he rose to his feet. The two of them crowded her, making her feel small and insignificant, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the sudden show of testosterone exploding around her. Kenny didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't acknowledge her brother in any way. He grabbed her hand, his eyes still focused completely on her.
    "We need to talk."
    "No. We don't."
    He clenched his jaw, the muscle there jumping every few seconds as he continued watching her. He tugged her hand again.
    "Yes, we do." His eyes cut to her brother, just for a split-second before turning back to her. "Please."
    Dale inched closer, his leg pressed against hers as he leaned toward Haskell. "She doesn't need to talk to you."
    Now Rick stood up as well. Lauren glanced around, noticed that Haskell's teammates had inched a little closer, their gazes changing from curiosity to something a little harder as they watched.
    Great, just what she needed. Lauren rolled her eyes, pulled her hand from Haskell's, and stood. She nudged Dale away from her, frowning. "Dale, knock it off. And you." She faced Kenny, giving him another frown. "This way."
    She pushed her way between the two men, shoving them both out of the way as she made her toward the concession counter. Nobody else was there so they'd have a little bit of privacy. And it was close enough that she could keep her eye on Dale, just in case he decided to go all big-brother on her and interrupt them.
    Lauren turned and leaned against the counter, not bothering with any of the empty stools. She crossed her arms in front of her, clenched her jaw, and watched Kenny. Waiting.
    Except he was just standing there, his posture a mirror image of her own. Time stretched around them, quiet and tense. Lauren finally blew out an exasperated sigh and raised her eyebrows. "Well? Talk."
    His jaw worked, the muscle tightening and smoothing over the sculpted bone. He opened his mouth, shut it, took a deep breath. He glanced over his shoulder then back at her. Anger still shone in his dark eyes, but she could see other emotions as well. Confusion. Bewilderment. Hurt? Maybe she was just imagining that last one.
    "Why do you think I slept with your sister?"
    "Because—" Lauren stopped. Because Lindsay had told her as much. Lindsay, who was completely out of control. Lindsay, who never took responsibility for anything. Had she taken up lying as well?
    An image of Lindsay's face popped into her mind. Her anger at Casino Night. The calculated gleam in her eyes and the not-quite-hidden smirk on her face when she told Lauren she'd gone home with the man in front of her.
    How Lindsay had bragged about their graphic phone calls, telling Lauren she hoped Kenny called during the day so she wouldn't be home. Except Kenny hadn't called. At any time.
    Lindsay had stolen her credit card, had bid on tonight's event using Lauren's name. Why? Did it have something to do with the man in front of her? Did it matter?
    No, not really. And that answered Lauren's question about whether or not her sister was a liar. She was, she'd already proven as much. But why? Why would she lie about this ?
    "Why do you think I slept with your sister?" Kenny repeated the question with more patience than she would have. Lauren took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair, pushing it behind her ear.
    "You didn't leave with her last weekend? After the Casino Night?"
    "No. The last time I saw her, she was hanging all over—" Kenny stopped, his jaw working again. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "She was hanging all over someone else."
    Who? Lauren thought about asking then decided against it. She didn't really want to know, and she didn't think Kenny would tell her even if she did. She wasn't sure she could blame him.
    She watched him for a few quiet minutes, surprised he didn't fidget under her