Walking Sin (Men With Tools, Book Three)

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An Excerpt From: WALKING SIN

Copyright © LYNN LAFLEUR, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Dax Coleman propped his cue stick on the floor and wrapped both hands around it. He watched while Kelcey Ewing studied the table, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Obviously new at playing pool, she was overlooking a shot he could have easily made. He almost pointed it out to her, but stopped before saying anything. Kelcey hadn’t exactly been friendly toward him. She answered when he spoke to her, but didn’t put out any effort to get closer to him. Alaina—his brother Rye’s girlfriend—told him his reputation as a womanizer turned Kelcey off completely.

The reputation exaggerated the number of women he’d fucked. Yeah, he enjoyed sex. He went out with women who enjoyed sex too. His dates usually consisted of women who wanted nothing more than an orgasm, which had always worked for him. That didn’t mean he didn’t know how to romance a woman.

It wouldn’t be a hardship for him to slowly wear down Kelcey’s resistance. She wasn’t as voluptuous as Alaina, or as make-your-tongue-hang-out sexy as Emma, his brother Griff’s girlfriend. Still, at about five-eight and slim with shoulder-length ash blonde hair and huge blue eyes, Kelcey had been blessed with good looks. Small breasts and narrow hips gave her a gentle sex appeal. She made him think of moonlit nights, gentle kisses and soft caresses instead of fast fucking.

Maybe the moonlit nights and soft caresses would be nice for a change.

Kelcey took a different shot than the one he would’ve taken. Her ball hit the rim several inches from the pocket. Blowing out a heavy breath, she looked at him. “I missed.”

“I noticed.”

Her eyebrows drew together in a frown. “I suppose you’ll run the table now.”

“Maybe.” Unless he was a gentleman and purposely missed a shot, which he should do so Kelcey wouldn’t feel bad. She was still learning how to play pool, unlike Emma who beat him half the time they played.

Dax leaned over the table and lined up his shot. “Eleven in the corner.” The cue ball tapped the eleven, sending it sailing toward the corner pocket. It slid in without even bumping the sides.

“Why can’t I do that?” Kelcey asked.

“You will,” Emma said. She sat in one of the oversized loungers next to Alaina in Rye’s game room. “You just need more practice.” She patted Griff’s thigh. He sat on the chair’s arm next to her. “This is the guy to give you lessons.”

“Excuse me.” Dax straightened before he took his next shot. “Griff isn’t any better than I am.”

“Griff never loses,” Emma said with a smirk. “You can’t say that.”

“I don’t believe this abuse,” Dax muttered.

She grinned at him. Dax fought to keep from grinning back. He and Emma teased each other the way brothers and sisters would. She’d been involved with Griff less than six weeks and it already seemed as if she was one of the family. His parents adored her, partly because she was smart and clever and fun, but mostly because she had brought Griff back from the edge of darkness after he lost his wife. Jana’s death eleven months ago had almost destroyed his brother. Now he laughed the way he used to. Emma’s incredible cooking had helped put on a little of the weight he’d lost. Once again, he enjoyed life.

He was back to being a brother again.

Only two more striped balls plus the eight to sink and Dax would win. He lined up his shot. “Ten in the side.” At the last moment, he pulled back so the cue barely bumped the ten. The ten ball stopped a few inches from the pocket.

He glanced at Emma. She winked at him. She knew he’d missed that shot on purpose.

Kelcey smiled. “Reprieve!” She leaned over the table to line up her shot. “Seven in the side.”

She made it, but missed her next try. Dax had to admit Kelcey got better every time they played. He could easily make the rest of his shots, but decided to give her another chance. Besides, looking at her ass in those tight jeans when she bent over the table made his hormones very happy.

He sank the ten, but missed the thirteen. He stepped back while she lined up her next shot. The faded denim molded to her cheeks and thighs. He imagined tugging down that denim until he could nibble on her ass…

Oh yeah, very happy.

When she missed her next shot, Dax decided it was time to end the game. He sank the thirteen, then the eight.

“Well, piffle.” Kelcey laid her stick on the table. “Losing makes me hungry. I need chocolate.”

“I’ll second that.” Alaina rose from her chair, quickly followed by Emma. “We have tons of miniature Snickers since we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters tonight.”

“I told you I don’t get any out here,” Rye said. “Harvest Fest was on the square today. It’s always held on the Saturday before Halloween. The kids go there and hit up the businesses for candy.”

“I wanted to have some candy on hand just in case.”

“You wanted an excuse to buy Snickers.”

“You know me so well.” She gave him a quick kiss. “We’ll bring some back for y’all.”

As soon as the women left the room, Dax faced Rye. “Did you get it yet?”

“Yeah. I picked it up this morning. Hardy called me as soon as he finished it.”

“It’s hard to believe Hardy is still making jewelry. What is he now, about seventy?”

“At least.” Rye reached behind a section of books in the bookcase and removed a dark blue velvet box. “I told him I wanted it a little different, but similar to the ring he made for Mom when Dad proposed to her.” He opened the box to reveal a two-carat round diamond on a gold band. A spray of smaller diamonds arced along one side of the center stone.

Griff released a long whistle. “Damn, bro, that’s gorgeous. Mom will be jealous. Her diamond isn’t that big.”

“Do you think Alaina will like it?”

“Hell yes, she’ll like it. She’ll probably cry.”

“Crying is okay, as long as they’re happy tears.”

“When are you gonna pop the question?” Dax asked.

“I don’t know. It has to be the right time. Maybe I’ll take her out to dinner at a really nice restaurant and ask her there.”

Voices getting louder signaled the women’s return to the game room. Rye quickly closed the ring box and replaced it in the bookcase.

“I don’t know yet,” Alaina said as she walked into the room.

“Don’t you think you should decide soon?” Emma asked.

Alaina set the bowl of Snickers on the small table between two of the loungers. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Suggestions for what?” Griff asked.

“A name for the B-and-B. I can’t call it Stevens House forever.”

“She’s rejected every name I’ve suggested,” Rye told his brothers.

“That’s because none of them worked.” She returned to her lounger. Emma took the chair on her left, Kelcey on her right. “Give me a good name and I’ll take it.”

“What about May House?” Kelcey suggested.

Alaina wiggled her mouth back and forth. “I thought about that. Do you think it would be okay?”

“I don’t,” Rye said.

She turned her head toward him. “Why not? It is my last name.”

Forget about the fancy restaurant. This was the perfect time for Rye to propose to Alaina. Dax looked at Rye and nodded. Rye glanced at Griff, who nodded too. A look of panic crossed Rye’s face for a moment, but disappeared when he took a deep breath. Dax doubted if Rye had anything to worry about. Alaina adored his older brother. She wouldn’t possibly say no.

Rye removed the ring box from its hiding place again. “I’m hoping May won’t be your last name for long.” Crossing to her chair, he dropped down to one knee and opened the box. “Will you marry me?”