There was a pause as they grinned at each other. The moment felt…tentative. Carly wasn’t a fan of those and decided to shatter the hell out of it.
“If you think I’m attractive, blink twice.”
“I don’t have to. Everyone thinks you’re attractive. It’s ordained and universally agreed upon.” Lauren set down her martini like it was a period at the end of her sentence.
“Everyone is not you. I happen to think you’re beautiful, and the alcohol gave me the courage to say so outright. Look at me go.”
Lauren laughed, and then laughed some more.
Carly watched, mystified. “What? I don’t see why that’s funny.” But because Lauren was laughing, she was now, too. “Tell me. I want to be in on the joke.”
“It’s bullshit.” The laughter ebbed slowly, as Lauren sat back in her chair. “Since when do you need alcohol to say what’s on your mind? I’ve never met anyone as confident as you are. You own every room you walk into and know it. Sometimes on purpose, other times, I think it just happens.”
Carly paused and took a moment to sip her drink. Lauren watched her do it, making Carly hyperaware of the things she was feeling. Correction. Craving. “That’s fair. Is it a turnoff? You can be honest.”
“Not entirely.” She suspected the three-quarters of her martini Lauren had consumed made that admission possible. Daytime Lauren wouldn’t have said that in a million years. “Another drink?”
“You’re having a second?” Carly raised an eyebrow. “This is a downright scandal. That’s what this is.”
Lauren met her gaze evenly, almost in challenge. It inspired an enjoyable shiver. “Uber is real, and I’d like more. Is that a bad thing? I can go.”
Carly stood. “It’s the best fucking thing I’ve ever heard. In fact, allow me. Don’t move.”
When she returned to the table, she found one of the scenery people sitting next to Lauren. One of the ones she’d seen painting in the theater. She forgot what they were called. The woman, who sported a dark blond ponytail, turned when Carly sat down.
Lauren gestured to the woman. “Tinsley Worth, meet Carly Daniel. Tinsley is our assistant set designer.”
“Very cool to meet you,” Carly said, taking her hand.
“Likewise. I’m a fan. Loved you in Race the Night,” Tinsley said, but Carly was unable to tell if that was true because Tinsley turned her attention immediately back to Lauren, and began chattering away as if they were alone in the world. It took only two minutes for Carly to understand that this Tinsley girl had a crush, which she totally identified with, but Carly made three and wasn’t the type to nip at heels.
“You’re just always so great with people,” Tinsley gushed to Lauren. “I’ve always thought so. And this shirt looks great on you. Really.”
Lauren glanced down. “Just trying to blend.”
“It’s working. Wait. No. I mean, you never blend, but—”
Lauren touched Tinsley’s arm to steady her. “I translate you.”
Yep. There was a definite adoration vibe happening. Bummed to have lost the moment, Carly slid the mango martini across the table to Lauren and headed off in search of fun because the night was too short to waste. She found Trip and TJ, who played the gate agent who informed the main characters that they missed their flight. She’d already decided TJ was good people. The two were in the billiards section of the bar, contemplating a game of pool.
“You want in?” TJ asked her.
“I’m not from around these parts, you know,” she told them, batting her eyelashes like a naïve little lady. She wasn’t half bad at pool, though, and was prepared to flaunt the hell out of that. She was competitive to a fault.
“All right,” TJ said. “You and me versus Trip and—”
“Me.”
She turned to see Kirby sidle up next to Trip. The two high-fived and exploded their hands.
Carly put her hands on her hips. “Well, this should be interesting.”
It wasn’t, though. She and TJ cleared the table on the other duo in under six minutes. Losers bought drinks, and to slow her roll so the night would last, Carly opted for a dressed Dos Equis she could sip slowly.
“Who’s taking us on next?” TJ asked. “Where are the brave souls? Step right up. That’s right.”
“I’m out,” Kirby said. “Gotta call Joe. He waits up to say good night. He’s a doll.”
“I’ll partner with Trip,” a voice from behind said. Carly turned, and her beer went still on the way to her lips. Lauren.
Trip walked to her and offered a high five. “All right, Lala. You and me. Let’s do this.”
“Lauren, do you know the rules?” Carly asked with a small smile. “I can explain them.”
“I was hoping to figure them out as I went,” she said with a hopeful wince. “Think that might work?”
Carly laughed. “Let’s give it a try and see.”
But she was a damn liar, because after just sixty seconds she’d made quick work of three-fourths of the table.
Carly blinked as Lauren sank another, like the secret pro she apparently was. “What in hell?”
Lauren straightened and admired the results of her own shot before raising her gaze to Carly. “Wow. It turns out I’m a quick study.”
Trip laughed. He, of course, would know all about Lauren’s prowess with a cue. “I think the shark just got out-sharked.” Lauren shrugged at Carly and touched her glass to Trip’s in reverence. Carly spent the next few moments with her jaw on the floor as Lauren took them to school.
The end result? Carly had to buy Lauren another drink. Not that awful a prospect. When she delivered it, she caught the soft scent of her perfume. Hints of vanilla and maybe lavender. Subtle, but very effective.
“I’d love a rematch,” Carly said. “Now that I know who I’m dealing with, I’ll be sure to focus fully.”
“Oh, you weren’t before?” Lauren asked in a teasing voice. “Because it looked like you were trying extra hard. It was sweet.”
The drinks were working. Lauren had relaxed, stepped away from her always-put-together demeanor, and was just…a person. A really witty one, too. It had Carly on a high, and she wanted to soak up every minute until the guard went back up again. What was it about Lauren that had her all hot, bothered, intrigued, and willing to take her clothes off? Part of the fun was not knowing.
“If you don’t want to go again, we don’t have to,” Carly said with a grin. She turned to TJ. “We’ll just chalk it up to a fluke.” He nodded and touched his longneck to hers. “Everyone gets lucky once in a blue moon.”
Lauren also turned to TJ. “Rack ’em.”
And it was on.
As “Cherry Pie” pulsed over the speakers, Lauren studied the table from one angle, then another, before sinking three balls in a row. Carly and TJ rallied, Trip barely made a difference, but it was Lauren who once again owned the table. While Carly had paid more attention to her own shots this go-round, thought them through, and taken her time, that hadn’t been the reason she’d asked for a second round. No, she’d wanted to watch Lauren, who was clearly in her element. She was something to behold, too. Her eyes shone bright when she spotted her shot and then darkened as she concentrated. Her lips, shiny with gloss, parted slightly just before she delivered her shot, and sigh, the cleavage she glimpsed each and every time Lauren leaned over the table… Do not get me started. As competitive as she was, she’d agree to lose a thousand times over to have that multifaceted sense-inspiring experience again and again.