Page 51 of Ultimate Justice

“It’s a nice thought,” she said, “but I doubt we’ll be here long enough.”

She had a point. He’d insisted on housing them for Noah’s safety. The moment the case was over, Noah and Marlie would go back to her place, and that was probably for the best. Before he did something stupid, like start another relationship that wouldn’t end well.

The intensifying smell of pot came from Eduardo and Melissa’s yard.

Marlie sniffed the air. “Is that—”

“Yeah.” And he didn’t want Noah inhaling it. “Why don’t we go inside and shoot some pool?”

…

From a stool at the high-top table, Marlie watched Evan show Noah how to rack the balls. He rolled the white ball to the other end of the table and grabbed two cue sticks from a rack on the wall.

Though she knew the basics, she’d never played pool, not even in the college bar where she’d met her ex. She’d always preferred watching from the sidelines.

“First, you chalk the tip so it doesn’t slip off the ball.” He rubbed the tiny square of chalk back and forth. “Here, you try it.” He waited patiently while Noah mimicked him, chalking the tip of the cue stick. “This is how you position the stick with the cue ball.” When he leaned over the table, his cargo pants hugged his glutes, giving her a glorious view of his—

Tight. Ass.

There really wasn’t any part of the man’s body that wasn’t chiseled and buff. Had she ever ogled her husband that way? Honestly, it had been so long she couldn’t remember. After they’d buried Aiden, her sex drive went from so-so to completely nonexistent. When her ex had reached for her in his grief, she no longer had it in her.

“Wanna break first?” Evan asked.

“Break what?” Noah’s brows scrunched together.

“It’s called ‘breaking’ when you use this white ball—the cue ball—to break up the other balls. After you break, you see which balls went into the pockets, then you decide whether you’ll shoot the solid balls or the striped ones. Pull the stick back smoothly and aim for the cue ball.”

Noah hit the cue ball, which rolled forward, hitting the other balls with a loud crack and sending one of them into a pocket.

“Good job.” Evan held up his hand for Noah to high-five.

Marlie smiled. Evan was a good teacher and so patient. He had the kind of positive influence Noah needed to guide him in the right direction and show him not all people were evil.

Twenty minutes later, they’d racked twice more, and Noah had begun sinking a few balls.

“I gotta pee.” He handed Evan his cue stick and raced for the bathroom.

To fill the awkward silence, she asked, “Are you good friends with all your neighbors?” Meaning Tally, the beautiful Indian woman who’d stroked his arm like he was a Persian cat.

“Mostly Tally,” he said, confirming her suspicion. “I’ve known her and Miriam since they helped me buy this house. They’re both realtors. Quite the couple, aren’t they?”

“They’re a couple?” she squeaked out, feeling immensely oblivious for not having picked up on that.

“They’ve been together for over twenty years, ever since Tally moved here from India.”

“Good for them. Most couples I know didn’t last seven.” Including hers.

Evan glanced at the bathroom door, which was still closed. “Wanna play?” He held out the stick. A corner of his mouth she decided then and there was the sexiest mouth she’d ever seen on a man, quirked. Something about his words and demeanor left her wondering if this was strictly an invitation to shoot pool…or something else.

She swallowed. “I don’t know how.” For that matter, was she referring to pool or that “something else?” Either way, she couldn’t shoot pool and doubted she remembered how to kiss a man, let alone be intimate with one.

He held out his hand. “I’ll teach you.”

She took a deep breath, because again… What were they really talking about? She slipped her hand in his. Long fingers closed around hers, strong yet gentle. In comparison, hers seemed dainty. When she looked up, no hint of a smile remained. His eyes glimmered with heat she felt straight through her clothes to her skin.

He handed her the cue stick. “Here’s how you hold it.” He positioned himself behind her with his arms around her shoulders. When her backside pressed against his crotch, warm breath washed over her ear, and she could swear he growled. Every breath she took brought with it his spicy cologne. “Lean over and pull back smoothly.” She did, whacking him in the chest with the end of the stick.

“Oh, shoot!” She turned in his arms. The cue stick thumped as it fell to the rug. She rested her hands on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “Did I hurt you?”