Soldier's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page A

but he didn’t elaborate. She sighed and leaned over the table. “You know, it’s hard to talk with somebody who can’t manage more than five words at a time.”
    “Sorry.”
    “There you go again.” She smirked and missed her shot by a little, just so she could see how he played. “Okay,” she said. “Impress me.”
    “Hm.” He stared at the table. She’d dropped solids from the break, so he was stripes—and he didn’t have a clear shot anywhere. “Would’ve been easier to impress you if I broke,” he said. “I’d have won by now.”
    “I’m already impressed. That was a lot of words.” She gave him a sweet smile. “You could just surrender now, if you want.”
    “No way, lady. This is war.” With the ghost of a grin, he walked to the short side and took aim. At the solid ball six inches from the cue.
    “Uh, Reese?” she said. “That one’s mine.”
    “Not the one I’m aiming for.” He raised the end of the stick high and sawed it back and forth a few times, then struck hard and sharp.
    The cue ball jumped the solid and knocked a stripe into the side pocket.
    “Holy. Shit.” She stared at him. “Where did you learn to play like that?”
    He shrugged. “Buddy of mine was a Vegas hustler before he enlisted. We had a pool table and lots of downtime.”
    “Not even Gage can do that. And he’s a natural,” she said. “Can you show me? I mean…if you don’t mind sharing your secrets.”
    “I don’t mind sharing with you.”
    Oh, God. Had she imagined that husky note in his voice? His face gave away nothing as he approached her, but his eyes were brighter than they’d been all night. She had to remind herself to breathe.
    He leaned his stick against the table and stood right behind her, so close she could feel the heat of his body. “Here,” he said, reaching around to take her hand and place it on the table. “Open-hand bridge. Keep it sturdy.”
    She barely trusted herself to speak. The sensations rushing through her at his touch were like nothing she’d ever felt—deep and hot, sinking into her bones. “I’ll try,” she managed without much of a tremor.
    “Hold the stick a little higher.” He slid her other hand up the cue stick, and she almost moaned aloud. “Loose grip. Right here.”
    “Okay,” she whispered.
    Once she had the stick in place, he let go and rested a hand lightly on her waist. “You want to raise the end up to about thirty degrees, maybe a little more.” He was definitely a little hoarse. “Then hit it hard, like you’re trying to put the stick right through the center of the ball.”
    She nodded, took a deep breath. And went for it.
    The cue ball jumped a good six inches.
    “Oh! I did it!” she practically shrieked, laughing with delight. Maybe she hadn’t actually made a shot, but it still worked. She dropped the stick on the table and turned. “That was awesome! Thank you so…much,” she finished in a whisper.
    He was so close. Less than an inch from pressing against her—and damn, how she wanted that right now. Friendship clause or not.
    Reese smiled. “Do you want to get out of here? Go someplace less…public?”
    “You read my mind.”
    “Come on,” he said. “I’ll drive.”
    She followed him out of the bar, ignoring her mind’s warning that she was about to make a huge, painful mistake. Because the rest of her didn’t care. She’d deal with the consequences later.
    Right now there was only her and Reese, and five years of wanting exactly this.
    * * * *
    Part of Reese was horrified at his loss of control. But the part that wanted Luka clamored a hell of a lot louder.
    As he parked his Jeep along the ridge overlooking Covendale, he told himself it didn’t have to be destructive. Lots of friends had casual sex. It was a healthy, human thing to do. They could enjoy themselves like adults, and he wouldn’t have to hurt her—the way he knew he could.
    After all, his father’s blood ran through his veins.
    Luke stared out the