Hustle Him (Bank Shot Romance #2)(6)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“I was thinking twenty a game.” I sat my drink down and pulled a house cue off the wall.

“You some kind of shark?” The married guy asked.

I chuckled. “Hell no! Just like playing for a reason.”

His buddy grabbed the balls on the table and started putting them into the rack. “Let’s play for ten.”

I pulled a coin out of my pocket and held it out under the pool table light. “Flip for the break? Heads or tails?”

“Heads.”

The coin flew into the air and landed on the felt of the table. Once it was done spinning we leaned in to see the result of the flip. It landed on tails, giving me the break, so I grabbed the cue ball and lined it up to break out all of the balls.

The break was always the most important shot. It could make or literally lose the game. Luckily, I made two balls and was able to make another four before giving the guy his first shot. I was no pro, but I knew how to hide a ball to prevent my opponent from being able to make a good shot.

I won my first ten easily, but as the games continued, I was still up only ten dollars, after losing a few then winning some more. By the time I started getting tired, and my friends for the night got drunker, I was up a whopping twenty bucks. I shook hands with both of the men and handed Sue my winnings. She hugged me and waved as I headed out.

Morning would come fast and I knew that I hadn’t had enough drinks in me to be able to sleep.

My little cabin in the woods was so far off the beaten path that late at night even I had trouble finding the driveway. I’d thought about putting some reflectors out, but I kind of liked the idea that if I couldn’t find my place, nobody else could either.

Once inside, I threw my keys down on the table and headed into the kitchen for a beer. On most nights I just slept right in my recliner. There was no sense of even having the four bedrooms that the place had. I kept the doors closed and only went into my room to shower and change. After being married and sharing a bed for so long, I hardly moved from my side of the bed. Waking up and seeing that empty spot was just too much to take every damn day.

I must have fallen asleep shortly after getting comfortable. When I woke up my phone was ringing on the table. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and got up to answer it.

This is Sheriff Towers.

Sorry to call you so early, Sheriff, but we got a big wreck out on the main highway. I hated when my deputy called me with that information.

How bad is it? I couldn’t go if there was a fatality. I just knew I couldn’t.

A mother and a couple kids were hit by a tractor trailer headin’ out of town, sir. The driver of the truck was unharmed. He said he must have fallen asleep at the wheel and crossed over the double line. The ambulance is on its way for the mother. She’s breathin’, but isn’t responsive. The kids seem to be more shaken up, but I’m goin’ to have them sent out to get checked out too. Since I need to stay here at the scene, I’m goin’ to need you to transport the kids.

I’m on my way. Text the coordinates.

The whole time I was putting on my boots and getting myself together, I knew that being around children was going to be hard. If the mother didn’t survive, it would be my job to tell those kids.

I was in the wrong line of work.

The scene of the accident was chaotic. I spotted my deputy leaning down to talk to two little kids. My first thought was my girls and how I wished that we hadn’t been on the road that night. The little boy turned and looked right at me. I took a deep breath and approached them.

My deputy stood up and looked right at me. “I was able to locate the victim’s cell phone and use it contact the last number she called. They were on their way to a family member’s house to stay. The aunt is goin’ to meet us at the hospital. I let her know that the children are alright, but we just want them to get checked out for precautionary reasons.”

The kids were wrapped in one of our blankets that we carry in our trucks, in case of emergencies. They both were looking right at me. Being around kids was so difficult for me. It only reminded me of my sweet little girl that I would never be able to hold again. I sighed and gained enough composure to do my job. “We’re going to take a ride now.”

The little boy’s eyes got big. “In your police truck?”

“Yes.”

“Can we use the siren? I bet it’s real loud.” He was obviously too young to understand that this was a serious situation.

“Sure, kid.” I waited for him and his sister to stand up and follow me over to my vehicle.

The little guy was busy looking around the front of the vehicle at all of the gadgets, while his sister remained quiet with her hands folded on her lap. When I went to make sure they were both buckled she grabbed my hand. “Is my mommy going to be okay?”

It was heartwrentching to hear her asking. I honestly had no idea if their mother was going to make it. All I knew was that these two children were depending on me to be the hero and I didn’t know if I was capable of even having a conversation with them. “As soon as I hear something, you will be the first to know.”

“Mom said that we were going to love our new life. I hate this place. I hate that Mommy is hurt. I just want to go home. I want my daddy!” The little boy cried.

I clenched my jaw as I started on our way to the hospital. The more I tried to not think about my own accident, the more I couldn’t get it out of my head. By the time we pulled up at the emergency room doors, I had played out the entire accident once again in my head.

We no sooner made it into the emergency room doors when I saw a familiar face heading in our direction. Sue, the owner of the bar I frequented, came over and bent down in front of the kids. She pulled them in for hug and looked up at me. “Thanks for bringing them here, Ramsey…ah Sheriff.”

“You know these kids?” Sue never mentioned grandchildren, but then again, I never asked about anyone’s business when mine was locked up from anyone knowing.

She patted the boy on the head and stood up. Her cough was intense. “These kids are my great niece and nephew. Their mother was my sister’s only daughter. She passed a while back and we lost touch. I got a call yesterday that she was in trouble and needed to start over. She’s the only family I got left and I ain’t about to turn my back on her.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side. “They’re worried about swelling around the brain. These poor kids don’t even know me. How am I supposed to tell them she may not wake up?”