Free Bear to the End (Bear Claw Security Book 5) by Terry Bolryder Page A

the waitresses eyed him, and she didn’t much like it.
    Mate , her mind said.
    She told it go away.
    There was too much going on to even consider that now.
    “None,” he said, surprising her. She just gaped at him. He took an extremely easy shot and sank a ball. He pumped a fist in the air and grinned at her. It was fun seeing a guy who was usually so formal letting loose. “My turn. How about you? How many hearts have you broken?”
    She frowned. “I guess that sort of violates the ex rule. But sort of not. Two.”
    He shrugged. “Not bad.”
    “Why none for you?” she asked, unsure why such a handsome guy would be single so long.
    “You have to sink a ball first,” he said.
    She sank two. “Okay. Now I get two questions. Why haven’t you dated, and also, why me?”
    He scrunched up his nose adorably. “Wow, tough. You hustler, you.”
    She shrugged.
    “I guess I’ve just been really busy with business, and the right girl hasn’t come along. As to why you, well, I guess the right girl finally came along.”
    She rolled her eyes. “So smooth. How do I know you’re not just trying to sweep a girl off her feet?”
    He smirked, and his blue eyes twinkled in the low light. “Of course I’m trying to sweep you off your feet.”
    And it feels great , she thought.
    “All right,” he said. “How about higher stakes? We’ll play a brand new game, and whoever wins gets to choose their prize.”
    “No,” she said, waving a hand. “The only fair way is to decide prizes in advance.”
    “Fair enough,” he said. “I want a kiss. As long as I want.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “I would have asked for the same thing. But instead, I want a back rub.”
    He nodded. “Fair enough.” He cocked his head and folded buff arms over his chest. She loved that he was getting more comfortable with her. “Only thing is now I don’t know whether to win or lose. Both sound tantalizing.”
    She laughed as she gathered and racked the balls. “Something tells me you don’t have much choice in the matter.”
    His eyes twinkled. He was so handsome he nearly made her knees buckle when he smiled at her. “You’d be surprised.”
    “I’ll break this time,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “Yours was pathetic.”
    He put up his hands in surrender. “Whatever you like. But remember, the one who goes first gets the advantage.”
    “In this case, I’ll take my chances,” she said with an eye roll. She did an awesome break, and then he walked to the table, eyeing the balls with a sharp gaze she hadn’t seen before.
    Shit, he was totally lining up angles.
    She’d been hustled.
    He saw her look and grinned as he sank the first ball and then the next. “You see, I’ve always liked pool because it’s all about the angles.” His grin deepened. “And the stroke .” He made a smooth motion with his cue that sent another ball in, and the play of muscles in his arms under his blue tee nearly made her collapse.
    If she’d known there was a man on this earth that could have this effect on her, she never would have even looked at Clay.
    “What are you thinking?” he asked smoothly as he finished the table.
    She folded her arms over the pool cue and scowled at him. “I’m thinking I just got hustled.”
    “The stakes were high,” he said, shrugging and putting up his hands. He whistled as he took her cue, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and put away all the equipment. She didn’t even flinch when he came close anymore. It just felt natural.
    She put her arm through his as he walked to the waitress and told her to pack their stuff to go and gave her a generous tip.
    “Now home to claim my prize,” he said. “Did you have a fun time?”
    She felt herself blush. “Maybe. Why did you get our stuff to go?”
    He grinned. “I could tell I was having quite an effect on you. It’s empty now, but I want to be the only one to see that. I don’t want anyone else to walk in and see you looking at me like you want to