Page 18 of The Hero She Loves

“It’s scary how good you are at this.”

She tipped her head back and smiled. “You haven’t seen anything yet, baby.” She studied his face. She slid her hands up his arms and registered how taut his muscles were. “You’re sure that you’re okay?”

“I…haven’t been this close to anyone since…” A muscle ticked beside his eye. “A long time.”

She started to pull away, but his hands tightened, holding her where she was.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m okay,” he repeated.

What the hell had they done to him?“You have nothing to prove to me.”

He shook his head, then released her. “You can break, sweetheart.”

They played a game of pool. Their bodies brushed a few times, and Jenna found her body warming, reacting to his. She kept glancing at his face to gauge his reaction. His face was blank, making it impossible to read.

She shook her head. She was in the middle of a manhunt and didn’t have time to drool over a man.

She took the next shot, leaning over. Sensing his attention, she glanced back and caught him looking at her ass.

Her lips curved. “Con, are you focused?”

“I am.” His dark gaze flicked up. “Just not on the game.”

There was a thump of heavy footsteps on the wood. A mammoth man in red flannel stepped up to the table. He had a bushy, red beard and a hard face.

“I’m playing with her next,” he rumbled.

Parker calmly chalked the end of his cue. “Not happening.”

The mountain man was several inches taller and broader than Parker. Jenna clutched her cue, ready to react if needed.

“I do what I want,” the man announced.

“I don’t care. She’s my woman, and she’s not playing with you.”

The man took a threatening step forward. “Who’s going to stop me? You?”

“Actually, she’s perfectly capable of stopping you herself, but look, just go back to your buddies.” Parker’s voice dropped to a lethal level. “So you don’t get hurt.”

That tone gave her shivers.

The mountain man was not so bright. He puffed up his chest. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Parker lowered his arms. “You should be.”

With a growl, the man swung a fist and bellowed.

Parker calmly sidestepped, then cracked the cue over the man’s back. The wood broke in half. The mountain man stumbled forward, then Parker punched him and slammed him into the pool table.

The man slid off the table and crashed to the floor, out cold. The man’s friends stood, and when Parker swiveled their way and shot them a look, they slowly sat back down.

“Sweetheart, it’s time to go,” Parker said. “I think we’re done here.”

She watched him and licked her lips. Watching him take down that guy had been…hot. “Okay, baby.”

He slid an arm around her, and she twined her arms around his neck. He tensed, then relaxed. She slapped a kiss to his cheek.