~ ~ Chris ~ ~

Standing with my arms folded across my chest, I watched.

Beth took her next shot and jerked upright. "Yessss!" followed by a victory wiggle of her hips.

I wasn't interested in her sinking another ball. My mind was all over the curve of her waist that was perfect for grabbing hold of.

And with the alcohol and little Chris ganging up on me, I didn't even try and fend off the x-rated thoughts taking centre stage.

I breathed heavily through my nose and Beth reached for her beer pressing the Bud-light bottle to her lips.

It had me wishing I was that beer.

She downed a hearty mouthful, swiped her tongue across her lips whilst she examined her options, and then setting the bottle down on the corner of the pool table, she bent over readying to take her next shot, and as she looked up, our eyes locked.

It was addictive having her attention on me.

Scraping my teeth over my bottom lip."If you keep staring at me, then you're gonna miss the shot."

One eyebrow rose. "We wouldn't want to ruin my winning streak, now do we?" Her twinkling eyes dropped and a little frown knitted her brows together as she concentrated on her shot. A lock of her dark hair—a wild, wavy tangle—fell forward over her shoulder, kissing the green felt. My gaze dropped to the press of her breasts against the constraint of her fitted dress and that enticing little v that formed her cleavage.

I was a sucker for that v and it made my jeans even tighter.

My attention shifted back to her mouth, and in seconds I remembered the feel of her kisses, and a rush of heat coated my skin.

The whack of a ball dragged my eyes back to the action. I watched as the white ploughed into the four, which smacked into the three, which sailed with a resounding thunk into the pocket.

I almost groaned out loud this time

A woman who turned beer drinking into an erotic spectator sport and had a cleavage that inspired sin and knew how to shoot a combo.

Who could resist?

Not me. Not any longer.

The line I'd spent days, weeks, staring at was hardly visible now.

Beth's giggle caught my attention. "Oops!" she hissed through her teeth. "Not looking good for you."

Me, losing the third game on the run was looking likely. Meh, I wasn't even the slightest bit sore about that fact.

Truthfully, I was having the most fun in... since, well, I could remember. "It looks like I'm not gonna get a shot in soon, so I'm gonna stand over there, admire the view and drink my beer."

She faked pouted a frown. "I guess I'll just finish up here, then."

Shaking my head, but grinning from ear to ear, I flipped well aware that her eyes had slipped to my ass as I walked back over to the shelf where I'd left my beer. Pulling out a stool from underneath, I sat my ass down, but not before adjusting my jeans...again.

Beth chalked the end of the stick as I finished my second beer. With the chalk back in the bowl, she glided around the table, letting her fingers slide along the wood as she weighed up her next shot. I hissed out a sigh, raking my eyes up and down that curvy figure. The tightness in my jeans just wasn't quitting, getting so uncomfortable that I doubted a full packet of condoms could handle it now.

And thinking of condoms led me to picture Beth stretched out, naked, on my bed. Listening to those little pants of hers, making her moan and cry out... just like I heard earlier, only this time it was all me.

Why was I holding back?

We're both adults. Single-ish, as I wouldn't say I had a relationship with Heather or was planning to.

And who would it hurt? Come to think about it, who had to know—Right?

A hand waved in the corner of my vision and my head turned to see Danny walking my way. With him was his friend Casey. Danny was Adam's stepson and I'd known him since he was a kid. He now worked alongside us at Mercy as our newest anaesthesiologist.

"Hey," said Danny as Casey popped herself onto the stool next to me and Danny remained standing. "You here on your own?"

"Nah." I raised my bottle and tipped it in Beth's direction.

Danny looked and smiled, offering a wave when he spotted Beth. I'd introduced them when he first came over to meet Nix. Since then he'd called in every few days and he and Beth had hit it off, but then again, I'd met no one who didn't get along with Danny.

"Didn't think I'd find you here?" I said, "What's the occasion?" Danny wasn't one for going out and drinking with his buddies. He liked old movies, fixing bikes... oh, and Casey.

"We're meeting Casey's friend, Whitney."

"It's her birthday," piped in Casey.

Danny carried on. "I picked her up and drove her here so she wouldn't have to drive herself."

"You both just came from Adam and Riley's place?" Adam had told me Casey was more or less living with him and Riley at the moment.

He nodded and I asked. "How's Riley feeling?"

His mouth down-turned. "Fine—why are you asking?"

"Because she's unwell."

Danny pulled his head back. "She was fine an hour ago."

Whu-what? So why did they cancel tonight?

That thought got shoved aside when I heard Beth say, "Hey Danny," and then her eyes slipped to Casey, who'd she not met.

"Hey, Beth, how's things?" asked Danny.

"Oh, they're great. Thanks for askin'."

"Beth." He tipped his head toward Casey. "This is my friend, Casey."

"Oh, Riley and Maddy's sister, right?" Beth shifted the pool stick to her other hand and then offered it to Casey, who shook it. "It's lovely to meet you. Riley told me how you help out with the horses."

Weirdly, Casey was also the half-sister of Jackson and Logan. Their family tree was a little confusing, and I didn't ask either, although Adam had given me the quick version.

"I'm gonna get drinks in." Danny gestured to the now empty bottle I was still holding onto. "Can I get either of you a refill?"

"Sure. I'll take another one if you're buying." I turned and placed my empty bottle on the shelf.

Beth shook her head. "Not for me, thank you."

Danny's eyes dropped. "What are you drinking, Casey?"

Seeing them together, I wondered why they were still 'friends.' Danny hadn't hidden the fact he was sweet on her. And from what I'd seen, she liked him too. But I guess what had happened to her, the rape and I'd heard a whisper she was pregnant although she wasn't showing at all. I think that would change anyone's outlook on life and the scars she carried just beneath the surface most likely hindered their friendship from moving forward.

"I'll take a beer." She reached inside her back pocket and pulled out some cash. "Here, take this. You've been good enough to go out of your way tonight."

Danny looked put out, shaking his head. "No. I got this," he insisted.

She looked like she was about to protest when I heard Beth say, "Chris—it's your shot." She held out the stick for me. "Unless you want to admit defeat... again?"

"Hey, don't go writing me off just yet. I might just surprise you."

Beth grinned. "What? You thinkin' fourth time the charm?"

Danny laughed. "More like a miracle." He clapped me on the back. "A five-year-old wearing a blindfold could whoop Chris's ass."

I glared at him. Men were supposed to stick together. Traitor. "Aren't you supposed to be getting the drinks in?"

He held up his hands. "If you're trying to use the power of your stare to scare me, it's not working." Chuckling. "Fine. I'm going." He ducked out and headed toward the bar.

Ugh. "And I'm not that bad. Just off my game tonight." I called after him. I also held Beth accountable for her being a distraction.

"I like shootin' pool," said Casey. "I can take your turn if you like?"

I turned to face her. "You any good?"

She flicked her dark hair over her shoulder and straightened up. "Well, I can't be any worse than you, apparently." I wouldn't live this down. "But, yeah. I'm not half-bad. I've kicked Danny's ass a few times."

"Okay." Flicking my head. "You don't mind if Casey takes my place?"

I preferred to watch, anyway.

"Chicken!" Beth grinned and switched to Casey. "Sure, c'mon. I love a challenge."

Casey hopped off the stool, and they wandered over to the table. Casey took her first shot. And on that shot, she potted a ball.

Nice.

Danny returned with three bottled beers, offering one out to me before plonking his ass down on the stool next to me.

For the next half hour, we sat watching the women play and chat between themselves. Danny talked shop, but I wasn't really listening as I tracked every move Beth made, and hoped to Christ Danny didn't notice me groan when with her back facing me, she bent over again and her dress rode up a little higher, just enough not be accidental with the look she gave me over her shoulder, her left cheek dimpling and practically winking at me.

I wanted to lick it.

I wanted to suck it from her face.

Jesus.

A jolt of crackling energy smacked me right in the face and I had to tear my eyes away before anyone noticed me drooling.

I turned to find Danny watching me and with his drink inches from his lip, he said, "You look different."

Huh? "How so?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, happier, I guess."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just shrugged and turned back to the game.

Oh shit.

I saw a self-satisfied smile aimed right at Beth.

It was coming from the pretty-boy, genetically perfect neighbour, Aaron.

Where the hell had he come from?

And in toe, were a few of his friends. Two girls and four more guys. They all looked around the same age. Beth's age.

Seeing him, Beth's smile widened and she straightened up. She pulled her dress down a little, looking a little bashful. But Casey seemed to shrink back and looked uncomfortable when one guy tried to catch her attention and engage her in conversation.

Her eyes frantically searched out Danny and he was up off the stool, thrusting his bottle my way.

I held onto it, observing Casey whisper to Beth. She then lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone, and headed towards Danny. He met her halfway, caressed her arms, and planted a kiss on her head before coming back to sit with me.

Casey offered up an apologetic smile and picked up her beer.

"Here's Whitney," Danny said, and Casey turned her head, her eyes brightening. "Go on. Head over."

"You comin'?" she asked him.

Danny shook his head. "I'll stay here with Chris and come over later, yeah?"

Casey nodded and jumped off the stool and went to join her friend.

"Everything alright?" I asked, concerned when she was out of earshot.

"Yeah, she's fine. Just not good with strangers."

My heart went out to her. They should have shot those bastards for what they did, or at least castrated them. The shitty thing was, they would be out of jail in just a few short years. It wasn't fair.

"You don't have to sit here with me. Go join her."

"Nah. I try not to hover over her all the time." His eyes drifted to where she was standing and Casey turned around and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips while he watched her. And he did watch her... like she was the only woman in the bar. I'd go as far as to say the man was in love.

"She feels better, safer, when I stay close." He turned back to me and pulled the stool closer, sitting down. "Anyway, you're not fooling me, Chris."

His words didn't register as I'd already shifted my attention back to Beth...and now Aaron. She was still talking to him and stealing glances at me. Her eyes looked apologetic, and his looked a little too appreciative for my liking.

I watched her lips move almost the entire time. The bottom one was a little fuller than the top. If she wasn't smiling all the time, it would give her a pouty sort of look. Sexy.

Aaron laughed. Oh, he was all smiles with his American boy-next-door charm. It was fucking annoying and it got even worse when he moved closer and leant to whisper something into her ear.

And she laughed. Yeah. Laughed and my stomach bunched in knots.

It shouldn't bother me. And if I was here with anyone else, it wouldn't.

Truth was, I should want Beth to be with someone as 'nice' because from what I'd heard...from everyone, he was a good kid. Man.

But I wasn't happy.

I hated it.

And it bugged the hell out of me and instead, I was sitting here like some sort of possessive psycho, counting the seconds, hoping Aaron and his friends would fuck off.

Danny nudged my arm with his elbow. "I see what you see, y'know." Another dig of his elbow, this one a little firmer. "Beth is beautiful—"

Heat rose up the back of my neck, not liking the direction of this conversation.

"—But you might want to get over there. I think the big guy is about to make his move."

"What!?" I shook my head, lifting my beer. "Why would that bother me?" Gulping a mouthful, I had to force it down.

A round of laughter exploded around the pool table and it had my other hand clenching into a tight fist.

"Yeah, sorry, my mistake." Danny clucked his tongue, mumbling into his bottle, "It seems like you couldn't care less that a muscly, blond-haired, good-looking guy is chatting to her right now."

I shot him a sideways look, hearing the sarcasm loud and clear.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

He glanced away, pursing his lips, because he wanted to fucking smile like he knew something.

But then he dropped the bombshell.

"I see the way she looks at you, Chris." He nodded. "And it is not the first time I've noticed it."

What!? My eyes were now staring hard at him, but inside my chest, my heart was trying to escape.

"I just wasn't sure how you felt... but the way you've been looking at her since we arrived. You've barely listened to anything I've said."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"I don't look at her in any way—you're talking out your ass." I couldn't even sound convincing to my own ears. "Beth's family!"

"Not the way I hear it. Riley told me, your brother, Cal and his wife fostered her and her brother. You're not blood-related."

My eyes popped open completely, and I glared over at him. "What are you trying to say, Danny?"

"I'm just saying you look at her like you want to see that pretty dress on your bedroom floor tonight."

I gulped. Hard.

And joining the knot in my guts was a ton of boulders. I went on the defensive. "I wasn't looking at her like that," I gritted out, lying through my teeth.

But he just laughed under his breath.

Asshole.

"Hey, look. I'm not saying—"

"Just don't," I said.

Damn it. This whole thing wasn't right. It's bad enough I was looking at her like she's an actual woman and not family.

Picturing her naked in my bed.

What was I thinking?

Next time, it could be Cal, or April that noticed, because clearly, I had some kind of sign over my head saying look at me; I have a hard-on for my niece!

We sat there quietly while my brain tried to unscramble the mess. I hoped Danny would drop it, but luck wasn't on my side.

"I'm not saying you should do anything. I get it, it's gonna look all kinds of weird to other people. They'll all be talking, and she's younger too—a lot younger, not that I think that's a problem."

It should be a red flag—her age. But the fucking scary thing was—it wasn't.

"Teasing aside, Chris," he went on, "If you are struggling with feelings and trying to do the right thing, then maybe having her live under your roof isn't the smartest thing."

Yeah.

I know.

"Thanks for the advice," I tell him, adding, "But even if I were to admit being attracted to her, I can control myself."

Yeah. Sure, asshole.

"You're not seeing yourself from my perspective." He sighed out, solemnly. "The longer it goes on, the harder it's gonna get."

He swallowed, an unusually troubled pinched to his brow. "Just be sure it's what you want because if you step over that line and it goes to shit, you will have to deal with the fallout."

Fuck.

"And we're worried about you."

Wait...we? "Whose this—we?"

His cheeks bled like he wasn't supposed to say that.

Adam. It had to be.

But Adam didn't notice stuff. Which left...Riley Jo. Nothing got past that woman.

Bells started ringing in my head. Tonight was a set-up, and it all started falling into place.

I groaned, running a hand over my face and through my dark hair.

"Hey," I dropped my hand and blinked rapidly to find Beth standing right in front of me... with Aaron and his friends right behind her. "Aaron has invited us to go with him to this place that's just opened. And he said I can dance my heart out. Can we go?"

Had I heard her right? She wanted to go dancing?

Danny made a humming sound and then swallowed whatever he was going to say with his beer bottle.

"Sorry. It's getting late and it's not fair to take advantage of Maddy and Jackson."

Beth dug her teeth into her bottom lip. "Yeah, you're right." And slapped her forehead. "Duh. How stupid am I?" She turned to Aaron. "Sorry..." she started.

"Hey," I interrupted. "You should go. Nothing is stopping you from going. Enjoying yourself." I had to force the next words out. "I'm sure Aaron will take good care of you."

"Yeah," added Aaron, suddenly looking way too excited for my liking. "And I can fetch you home afterwards."

"I don't want you drinking if you're gonna be driving her home. You hear me?" The words came out as a low rumbling growl. "Because if one hair is out of place, I know how to kill someone and make it look like an accident." I wasn't joking.

"No, Sir," he corrected. "I mean, Dr Chambers. I would never put Beth in harm's way."

Beth's face pinched, and she physically flinched like I'd pushed her. "You want me to go?"

No.

But this attraction was getting out of hand. I had been seriously considering taking her home and doing everything that had been playing on a loop for the last few hours.

Hell, not considering... I was going to do all of the above.

But thanks to Danny's intervention, dragging me back from insanity, I was gonna do the right thing.

So, therefore, it was necessary to rip the band-aid off. "Yeah. Go. Have a good time." The words tasted sour, and no sooner were they out than I regretted them.

But it was too late now.