It took them about 20 minutes to walk from the restaurant to the bowling place, but they didn't mind. They were having such a great time as they talked about life in Capitol City, wedding plans and tried a few more delicious snacks on the road.
The bowling place was huge, the music was playing softly, enabling them to chat all the time.
Lillian reached their bowling lane first and turned around.
"Alright. So Carson and I against you two", she stifled a laugh at Grace's annoyed look.
Lucas took off his suit jacket, his eyebrows raised as he commented with a smug smirk:
"You know, you are making a mistake. If you want to make sure that Grace doesn't slack so I could win, you should team up with me", he pressed his lips tightly together, his shoulders shaking from suppressed laughter.
Lillian burst to laughter.
"Oh, nice try, Lucas, nice try!"
Grace huffed as she picked up her ball and grumbled:
"I am right here, you know", she shook her head and smiled as she made a little run down the lane and threw the ball.
Only to jump up and down in joy, her hands up in the air as all the pins fell down!
Grinning, she passed by Lillian and quipped:
"Like I need anyone's help!"
Lillian chuckled and took her own ball, ran down the lane and threw it.
And brought down all the pins except two.
Rolling her eyes at Grace's smug smirk she shook her head and mumbled:
"Yeah, yeah, rub it in."
The waiter brought their drinks and they watched as Carson's ball went down the lane next, bringing down all the pins. Lillian high fived him, slightly sticking her tongue out to Grace and laughing.
Lucas took a sip of his drink before saying:
"Okay, now be nice. I didn't play this in years", he said as he put his drink down, picked up his ball and awkwardly put his fingers through the holes.
Lillian grimaced.
"Ooh, you are rusty, allright", she quipped.
Lucas gave her a look.
"I still remember the basics, Lillian", he quipped back and in the next moment rushed down the lane and threw his ball.
Bringing down only two pins.
Lillian stifled a laugh and squeaked out:
"Yeah, about that… you do know you have to bring the pins down? I mean, you said you remember the basics", she couldn't hold back anymore and giggled as she took her drink.
Lucas let out a small humorless laugh.
Carson grinned as he took a sip of his drink and asked Lucas:
"You wanna switch teams?"
Lucas huffed, smirking as he pointed with his thumb at Lillian who just sent a ball down the lane, bringing down all pins except three.
"What, and play with Madame Expert? No, thank you", he shook his head and grinned as Lillian threw him an annoyed look.
Grace took her ball and walked by them with a smug smirk.
"Let's make this interesting", she gently twirled the ball in her hands before saying "The team that loses buys chocolate for everybody in the chocolate café."
Lillian grinned.
"You're on!", as sisters shook hands, Grace rushed down the lane and threw the ball. As she brought down all the pins Lillian muttered to Carson "I wouldn't worry. She is good, but Lucas has got no clue. This will be easy."
Lucas frowned, pretending to be hurt.
"Oh, yeah? You forget that I got a partner who brought down ALL the pins. She will show me how to do it", he winked at Grace as she took her drink and nodded.
Lillian smirked smugly.
"So do I", she shot back and took a sip of her drink.
Carson laughed as he took his ball and went down the lane, throwing the ball and bringing down all the pins. He smiled widely at Lucas and quipped:
"It's not that hard", he chuckled.
Lucas huffed and went to pick up his ball and Grace quickly followed him.
"Here, let me show you", she said and took a hold of his hands, positioning them on the ball. Next she put one hand on his lower back, explaining to him how to bend and throw a ball.
Lucas slightly creased his eyebrows.
"Wait, like this?", he asked as he stepped to the side.
Grace quickly put her left hand on his lower back, the other one on his stomach, slightly turning his body to the left, showing the position he should take for his leg…
And completely missing the look on Lucas' face.
Only after he failed to take the right position for the sixth time did she look up.
And noticed his eyes sparkling…
And her lips curled up in a slow, lazy smile.
"Have you been fooling me all this time?", she mumbled quietly so that only he could hear it.
His eyes sparkling and his lips twitching in an attempt not to curl up in a grin told her everything.
Grace's eyes went wide open and her mouth went slightly open in surprise.
Lucas cleared his throat and pulled up a serious facial expression.
"Well, I wouldn't be of much use if I keep getting annoyed for a lack of your touch…which you wouldn't do unless I needed some guidance", he said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, not too loud so that Grace was the only one who heard him.
She playfully squeezed her eyes and gently pressed her palms against his lower back and stomach, then slowly caressed his muscles over the thin material of his dress shirt, causing his breath to hitch as she stepped on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear:
"You mean like this?", she smiled lazily at hearing him inhale sharply and then she quickly added "Ok, now bend your knees…take a swing aaaand…go!"
The ball flew down the lane taking down all the pins.
Lucas straightened up and hugged Grace's shoulders with one hand as he swagged his way back to the table.
Lillian raised her eyebrows.
"Not bad, Lucas. I am impressed", she commented.
Lucas shrugged innocently.
"I have my moments", he said nonchalantly and popped a cracker in his mouth.
Lillian shook her head, smiling at his cocky attitude and went down the lane. This time only one pin didn't go down and Lucas gave her a small applause.
"You are improving, Lillian", earning himself an eye roll and a smile.
"You are having way too much fun", quipped Lillian as she popped one cracker in her mouth "But, the game has only begun."
—--
The hours ticked away without them even noticing because they were having the time of their lives. The result was almost tied and it was Lucas' turn to play.
He took a ball and raised his eyebrows as he glanced at Lillian.
"I'll have dark hot chocolate with chili peppers. And some nougat pralines to go", he put his fingers in the holes on the ball and rushed down the lane, throwing it and bringing down all the pins!
Lillian's mouth gaped open and Grace jumped in the air, squealing from joy. As Lucas came closer, with an annoying smug smirk he was sure was grating on Lillian's nerves plastered on his face, he quipped:
"Oh, and almonds covered in chocolate."
Lillian huffed, pretending to be annoyed. Carson shook his head and asked:
"Well, I just warmed up to this game. Wanna have another round?"
Lucas took a slow, deep breath in and smirked.
"No, actually, I am much more in the mood for a game of pool", he said as he pointed with his glass toward the pool tables on the other side of the bowling club.
Carson shook his head.
"No, thanks", he glanced at Lillian "Are you up for another round here?
Lillian nodded with a small smile.
"Sure. I'll just go to get more crackers", as she passed by her sister and her fiancé, she quipped "You two behave. Don't get lost in the dark."
Grace gasped and playfully kicked Lillian's upper arm as Lucas burst to laughter.
He gently wrapped his arm across Grace's shoulders as they walked toward the pool table. They got the chips to put it inside the pool table to get the balls out. As Lucas started to place the balls in the triangle, Grace took the pool sticks and put them on the table before looking up at him.
"I'm going to get us some drinks. What would you like?", she asked.
Lucas thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"I don't know. Bring whatever you drink to me as well", he replied, fixing the balls in the triangle…
And completely missing the look on Grace's face before she turned around and left to the bar.
He took one pool stick in his hand and looked up with a smile as Grace returned, bringing a bowl of peanuts with her.
She popped two peanuts in her mouth and watched as Lucas broke the balls across the table.
He looked up at her.
"So, shall we make this interesting?, he asked, his eyes darkening a bit.
Grace smirked smugly as she went to have a turn at the game. She bend down and sent a red ball in the middle hole. Looking up, she replied smugly:
"Oh, I already started on that."
Lucas creased his eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean?", he asked, his lips curling up.
Grace walked to the left side of the table to have another turn at the game.
But, before she bend down to kick the ball, she murmured:
"Lets just say that things may get quite…", looking up at Lucas under her eyelashes, she smiled seductively and added "...delicious", and her smile grew as she noticed a waiter coming over with their drinks.
Lucas went to the table where a waiter put the tray down and inspected the offering with interest.
And his heart skipped a beat, a flame licking up his senses and heat setting up deep in his body as he realized what Grace ordered for the two of them.
Tequila shots…with slices of lemon and a small bowl filled with salt.
He slowly turned around and his eyes collided with hers, his lips curling up ever so slightly.
Grace Bennet, you are going to drive me absolutely MAD.
—--
Hotter than a two-dollar shot of whiskey,
Looking pretty sitting at the bar,
Looking 'round the room with the devil on your shoulder,
Like you're 'bout to steal a cowboy's heart.
I'm your Billy The Kid,
So, baby, let's giddy up, gone,
I ain't even sure just to where you're headed,
But I'd sure like to tag along.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
I believe two tumbleweeds is better than one,
Everybody needs a buddy when they're on the run.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
Let's ride the breeze,
Town to town, just a kicking up dust,
Make a little trouble, might make a little love.
Hmm.
Teach me your gypsy ways,
Come on, baby, show me the ropes,
The real world can chase us, girl,
But we'll leave 'em in a cloud of smoke (Smoke, smoke).
No telling where we might end up,
Rebels like you and me,
Nowhere, anywhere, everywhere, out there,
Somewhere in between.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
I believe two tumbleweeds is better than one,
Everybody needs a buddy when they're on the run.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
Let's ride the breeze,
Town to town, just a kicking up dust,
Make a little trouble, might make a little love (Hey),
Hmm.
Oh yeah, that's right.
Tumbleweed, tumbleweed,
I'll roll with you, you roll with me,
Tumbleweed, tumbleweed,
I'll roll with you, you roll with me (Hey),
Tumbleweed, tumbleweed,
I'll roll with you, you roll with me,
Tumbleweed, tumbleweed,
I'll roll with you, you roll with me.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
I believe two tumbleweeds is better than one,
Everybody needs a buddy when they're on the run.
Hey Ms. Tumbleweed,
Let's ride the breeze,
Town to town, just a kicking up dust,
Make a little trouble, might make a little love (Hmm).
("Tumbleweed" - Keith Urban)