“I guess that means we keep the record for another week, right, old-timers?” Jesse held his hand toward Leo and Blake. Leo slapped a twenty into his palm.

“We have time for another game,” Blake suggested. Anything to keep the twins from taking Jaxi into the dancehall before he decided what he was going to do. In spite of all his good intentions, there was a bitter taste in his mouth.

Jesse gave him a grin that said it all. “Well, that’s up to Jaxi. What do you say, sweetheart, can you wait a little longer for your dance?”

Jaxi wiggled her way off the table, letting Joel ease her to the ground. “You go ahead and play another round. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

Dead silence filled the area as they all paused to watch her hips sway as she headed for the ladies’ room, the layers of her skirt flaring around her legs like windblown leaves.

Leo whistled, long and low. “Sweet. That woman is one hot piece of action waiting to happen.” He turned back to the brothers, his face innocent and blank. “So, do I get to watch a fight to see which one of you takes her home tonight?”

Jesse and Joel snickered, their dark blond heads shaking. “We’re all taking her home. She’s staying with us to help our ma.”

Leo flipped a hand at him. “I know that, and that’s not what I asked. She’s been waiting for one of you Six Pack boys for as long as I’ve known her. I just can’t figure which one. Spill.”

Blake glared a warning at the twins. “What do you mean, waiting for one of us?”

Leo shrugged. “I noticed it more after Cari said something to me once. Jaxi’s willing to flirt with the twins, but she’s got her eyes all over you, Blake. The way the woman watches you I’d think you’d feel her burning a hole in your backside.” Leo examined Blake’s face closely. “You had no idea, did you? Maybe you need to spend a little less time in the fields and a little more time around people. Jaxi’s got plans, and she’s moving on them. I can hardly wait to see how this one shakes down.”

Jaxi returned by the time they’d racked the balls, and Leo got ready to take the first shot.

“Playing one hundred again?” she asked.

“It’s our favourite way to embarrass the old folks,” Joel taunted.

Jaxi’s gaze raked Blake from top to bottom. He stiffened at the blatant appraisal, the sexual gleam she didn’t even try to hide. “Pretty nice looking for old folks.” She turned to Jesse. “I haven’t seen you play Challenge lately. Why don’t you do a round of it for me?”

“Challenge?” Leo whispered to Blake.

What was the minx up to? Challenge was usually played with mixed teams and it was definitely a flirting game. Downright foreplay at times. Jaxi tucked her cell phone away in her purse and shimmied back onto the table.

“Challenge sounds fine to us,” Joel called. “We can beat you faster than in a normal game since you’ll be too embarrassed to sink any balls.”

Leo shrugged. “I’m game.” He pointed a finger at Jaxi. “I don’t know what you’re doing, little lady, but I’ll play along this time. You got Cari to give me another chance, and I can put up with a little tomfoolery for your sake.”

Jaxi winked at him and sat back to watch.

The twins won the break, and Blake tried to remember a game challenge that wasn’t too raunchy. He wasn’t interested in getting up close and personal with Leo or his brothers. This had to be the most insane suggestion ever.

“First ten points, consecutive pockets starting with far right.”

Jesse hooted. “You worried about making us blush, big brother?”

Bastard. “Just shoot.”

Jesse and Joel took their turns, managing to sink eight balls in a row into the appropriate pockets before missing. Blake and Leo took over and put away two more before Jesse cleared his throat to announce the next challenge.

“Triple Play.”

“Hell, Jesse, you’re kidding,” Leo complained. “Do I need to worry about why you want to slip between me and Blake while we shoot?”

Jesse shook his head. “Not me. I figured we could talk Jaxi into helping us.” He turned and held a hand to the girl. “What do you think, sweetheart? Run a little interference for us?”

Blake’s heartbeat increased as Jaxi took the hand offered her and smiled sweetly at Jesse. The boy had the guts to clasp her by the waist and slowly lower her to the ground, letting their bodies rub together on the way.

Jaxi propelled herself back from Jesse’s arms with a wink. “I’m in, but I’m supposed to start with the other team. Troublemaker.” She patted Jesse’s cheek and turned toward Blake, her eyes flashing. “Unless you’d rather give up right now and admit defeat. I never took you for a quitter, but I guess you can never tell when things will get too hot for a person to handle.”

Blake shoved down his anger. She wanted to play with fire, did she? He was nearly ready to burn through her teasing and take her on the table, right in front of the whole world, if she didn’t back off. Damn the consequences.

He turned away to examine the table for a sinkable shot. “Twelve in the side pocket, Leo.” His partner nodded and eyeballed the line before placing his hand on the table for Blake to rest the cue on. Leo twisted his body far to the side, leaving plenty of room for Blake to make the shot using only one hand.

Except Triple Play meant Jaxi had to be between him and Leo. Touching them both at the same time. Blake threw Jesse an evil look, and a roar of laughter blasted back at him.

“I did shower recently,” Jaxi said, moving in close.

Bloody hell. Don’t talk about showers right now.

Blake wrapped an arm around her and brought her to his side. She slid her arms around to his back and clung tightly as he leaned over the table, positioned the cue on Leo’s outstretched hand and took the shot.

Jaxi’s sweet scent rose around them, her breath hot on his neck as he stood. Tension built in his gut, not only from the feel of her against his body. Nine more balls to sink before they went to the next challenge, and he would go insane if he had to watch his little brothers spoon Jaxi between the two of them.

Leo picked a shot and Blake set up the cradle. Instead of hugging onto Leo, Jaxi slid close to Blake again, resting against his chest, her breasts compressed against him, swelling to the top of the scooped neck of her dress. Blake bit back a groan.

“You got troubles, Blake?” Jaxi whispered in his ear. She licked him, her hot little tongue slipping into his ear, making his whole body jerk in reaction.

“Hell, Blake, stay still,” Leo complained. The ball bounced sideways, shy of the pocket, and rolled to a stop.

“Our turn for a bit. Come here, sweetheart, and give me some sugar.” Jesse checked Blake for a reaction before bussing Jaxi on the lips.

Blake glared daggers at his little brother.

Joel got into position, kneeling with one leg up, his arm resting casually on the table to his side. “Ride side saddle if you want.”

Jaxi flicked another glance at Blake, then strolled forward confidently. “Side saddle is for cowards.”

She stepped on either side of his leg and lowered herself to straddle him, her skirt lifting to expose more of her long limbs. Blake gritted his teeth as Joel pulled her in tight, squeezing their bodies close as she slid over him. Jaxi made a soft sound of pleasure, her expression nowhere near as confident as only moments before. She bit her lower lip, and Jesse swore, folding his body over them to sink the shot. He lifted her and got ready for the next shot.

Blake drained his beer and tried not to watch as Jaxi and Jesse and Joel wrapped around each other for another six shots. Each time it took longer to arrange the positioning. Jesse slid his hands over Jaxi thoroughly as he prepared, pulling her tighter to himself or pushing her against Joel as he pretended to adjust for line. Jaxi’s face grew flushed, her heartbeat visible in the hollow of her neck, her breathing more and more rapid. Her eyes were huge, her gaze following Blake everywhere.

Blake died a little with every touch of his brothers’ hands on Jaxi. Every time their mouths brushed her skin, every time their hips and torsos pressed together.

He faced the wall and clenched his fists tight. He was going to stalk out the door or he was going to kill someone. Or some two.

Jaxi bit back a cry, breathless and low.

“Holy shit,” Leo muttered.

Blake turned back to see Joel had Jaxi draped over his arm, bent forward, as he pressed against her back to take a shot off Jesse’s shoulder. Joel moved slowly, slipping the pool cue back as if he needed more time. He bent his mouth to Jaxi’s ear and whispered something while he caressed her breast with his free hand. She gasped and arched under him.

Both of Jesse’s hands were free to slide along the long legs spread in front of where he knelt on the ground. One flowed up her leg, under her dress, then over her ass. The other hand wasn’t visible but Blake could imagine what Jesse was doing as the bastard stared into Jaxi’s flushed face, his eyes wild as he watched her tremble under his touch.

Blake saw red. The blood rushing through him heated to boiling as his endurance failed. “Enough!”

The sensual dance fell apart. Joel stood slowly, keeping Jaxi in his arms as he backed them away from where Jesse knelt, head bowed, breathing uneven, fists pressed hard on his thighs. He rose unsteadily to his feet, his eyes glazed as he fought for control. Lifting his fingers to his mouth, Jesse’s blue eyes riveted on Jaxi.

Leo’s phone rang.

He swore and turned away to answer it, retreating to the front room and leaving the three brothers alone with Jaxi.