Page 42 of Captivated

“Well, you said you always have them when you play, so I didn’t want to arrive empty-handed.” She seems nervous, but her smile makes my chest tighten.

“You’re incredible.” I bend down to kiss her, stopping myself from mauling her in front of the entire room, but more importantly, Birdie and Samuel.

“Birdie, Samuel, you remember Piper?” I lead her over to the table, pulling out a chair for her to sit right next to me and then place the box of crackers in the center.

“Bless your heart, you brought the best snack there isandthey’re the right flavor.” Birdie smiles and I swear, I see her eyes water.

“Cash said you always have some for the games, so I wanted to make sure I secured my spot for future matches… because after I beat you all, I don’t know that I’ll be invited back unless I bring the goods.” Piper’s playful grin is sexy, but her words catch us all off-guard.

Everyone’s eyebrows pop up, including my own, shocked by Piper’s confidence. “Wow. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, sweetheart. Let’s see if your survive one game before you throw around words like those.”

“I like her. Her confidence is almost as overbearing as yours, Cash. A match made in heaven,” Birdie chides as she shoots me a look. Rolling my eyes, I urge everyone to draw tiles so we can begin, but internally I can’t help but agree with Birdie. If there was any woman I feel could be the right one for me, it would be someone like Piper. There’s still so much to learn about her, but what I know so far is enough to keep me intrigued and desperate for more.

“Well, Cash won the last game, so he gets to start,” Birdie declares once we’re all ready to go.

“Convenient,” Piper mutters.

“Just sit back and learn from the master.”

Everyone takes turns, laying down words and frustrating each other, claiming letters and spots that someone else had their eyes on. But nothing could have prepared us for Piper’s skills on the board. She and I are neck and neck in points, each round only allowing us to edge the other person out by five points or less.

It comes down to the last turn, and I know Piper has the Q tile since it hasn’t graced the board yet and I don’t have it. Birdie and Samuel cast knowing gazes at each other and then back at me. With the looks we’re all firing, you’d think we were about to launch a nuclear attack as soon as someone speaks.

“Well, I just want you guys to know, I had a great time today,” Piper finally breaks the silence.

“Are you leaving or something? ‘Cause we’re not done.”

She places her hand on my forearm. “Oh, not at all. I just want you to know how appreciative I am for the invitation to join you all today. You know, before I win and you don’t want me to come back.” The pleased smile on her face is borderline mischievous, and fuck, it’s turning me on—how confident she is that she’s about to win, even though I hate to lose. I have one word I can lie down, but it won’t use all of my tiles and will only get me twelve points. So if Piper lays down the Q only, matching it up to just one letter, she can easily beat me. Our scores are only separated by five.

“You’re so sure of yourself.”

“I am. But it’s your turn, so please make it quick, that way I can put an end to this and everyone can eat. I’m starving.”

I shake my head, contemplating all the delicious things I want to do to Piper’s body in retribution. She’s teasing me in front of Birdie and Samuel, making me rock hard with nothing I can do to relieve the tension. Her eyes flick down to my crotch and suddenly, I don’t just think she’s talking about being hungry for food.

“Well, it’s all I’ve got, but here it is,” I declare, laying down the tiles around an E already on the table to make the wordtwenty.

“Respectable attempt,” Piper compliments me as Birdie and Samuel chuckle across the table, clearly loving our banter right now. I can’t help the look I cast their way, knowing they should be prepared for my wrath later. “And now to claim the win with one letter,” Piper exclaims, laying down the Q next to an I, on a triple letter score, earning her thirty-one points with the wordQiand officially making her the winner.

“Fuck,” I mutter as she shouts, “Yes!”

Birdie and Samuel burst out in laughter as I sit back in my chair, utter defeat weighing down on me.

“Damn. Great game, Piper! Although you kicked all of our butts, I would love nothing more for you to join us again soon,” Birdie says as we all rise.

“I’d love that if you’re sure. I don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt.” Her shoulders bounce with her silent laughter as she celebrates her win. And even though I hate losing, I quickly realize she’s the only person I could want to beat me if it makes her light up the way she is right now.

“If the three of us haven’t killed each other yet, I’m sure we will be okay adding a fourth player to the group. It was so lovely to spend the evening with you,” Birdie says as she pulls in Piper for a hug and whispers something in her ear.

It’s hard to read her face from here, but I can see Piper’s demeanor change slightly from Birdie’s words, striking an emotional cord.

“I’ll see you later this week.” Leaning in to kiss Birdie on the cheek and then shake Samuel’s hand, we say our goodbyes before I lead Piper out to the parking lot to our cars. I can’t help but notice how Piper’s head veers around as we walk, like she’s searching for something.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” She asks as she unlocks her car and throws her purse inside.

“You just seem kind of jumpy, like you’re watching over your shoulder. It’s not the first time I’ve seen you do it.”

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