Page 22 of Carter's Battle

“Thanks. I don’t think I really realized how tough this has been.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his chest. “It’s hard being on my own and this whole situation is just…crazy. I guess I’ve been running on adrenaline.”

He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him. He smiled. “You’re not alone anymore. I’ll help you get through this. I’m sure your parents would understand you gambling again to help your friends.”

She nodded and her gaze locked with his.

Electricity speared straight to his groin. Before he could think about it, he leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and inviting. They opened under his and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, and he dropped his hands to her ass and brought her against his hard-on. She rubbed her pelvis against him and a moan escaped her lips.

Suddenly, a loud siren blared through the night. The smoke alarm was going off, and the pizza was billowing clouds of smoke on the stove.

“Shit,” Mia said turning off the burner and coving the frying pan.

Carter grabbed a dish towel and waved it in front of the fire alarm. It took a moment, but it finally stopped screaming. He met Mia’s gaze and the two of them burst into laughter. “So much for pizza,” he said finally.

“Yeah.”

“Wait, that doesn’t go directly to any fire station or anything does it?”

She shook her head. “Nah, I burn food way too much to have that kind of systems. The fire department would be here all the time.”

He grinned. “If you’re still hungry, I can fix you something.”

She shook her head. “No, I think I’m good. I’m just going to go back to bed.” She started out of the kitchen and then turned back. “Carter?” she said. “Thanks for listening.” She gave him a small smile and then turned and headed for her room.

He wanted to say something, to respond, but those words and that smile had left him speechless. If he wasn’t careful, this job was going to rob not only his ability to speak but his heart as well.

CHAPTER 13

Mia tooka deep breath and let it out. She knew she had to bet more, but Peter still hadn’t put her at her own table, and it was too much to gamble based on those around her. There was a new drunk guy tonight, Tony, and he was making all the wrong calls. It was killing everyone else’s chances. He was using up cards that should’ve gone to the woman on her left. The woman, Mitzy, a blonde in her sixties from the mainland, was getting upset and Mia couldn’t blame her. Tony was screwing the deal up for the three other people at the table.

Mitzy raised her hand and called, “Peter,” in a loud voice. The tall slim man turned and made a beeline toward her.

“Yes, Mitzy?”

She dropped her voice so low Mia couldn’t make out the words. Peter seemed to listen intently and then shot a glance at Mia. His eyes narrowed but he nodded and then turned and walked away. He grabbed two of his guys and they began setting up a new table.

Mitzy turned to Mia. “You haven’t been playing here very long but you’ve played somewhere.”

“Um, I used to play a few years back and then gave it up for a while.” She smiled. “What about you?”

Mitzy shrugged. “I’ve been playing a long time. I used to do it professionally, but I married a rich man and now I just do it for fun. We’re over here vacationing and he’s off to bed early because he gets up at the ass-crack of dawn to golf. The idea of whacking a tiny ball, then chasing after it seems futile.” She shuddered. “I can’t stand golf, so I gamble at night and then sleep late. We meet for lunch. Works for both of us.”

Mia wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say to that information, so she just smiled. It was her turn. The dealer, the same Patty from the other night—although Mia suspected wasn’t her real name since she was definitely of Hawaiian descent—dealt her a card face down and a nine of spades up.

Mia looked at her hole card. A seven of hearts. Sixteen. The dealer showed the ten of hearts and, of course, her own face-down card. Mia placed a bet and then tapped the table.

The dealer dealt her an ace.

Mia considered what her odds were and then placed another bet and tapped the table once more.

Again, the dealer gave her another card, this time the three of clubs. Twenty.

All the aces were showing, so Mia knew there was no point in continuing to take cards. She shook her head, and the dealer dealt to herself. It was the seven of clubs. The dealer promptly turned over her card to show that she’d had the five of spades.

Twenty-two.

Mia won. Relief washed over her like a rolling wave. She’d bet more than she’d felt comfortable with on that round. The risky move worked in her favor this time, but it wouldn’t necessarily work out if she kept having to play at the table with Tony and the others.

Peter made eye contact and strode purposefully toward her. Mia’s heart started to pound. Was it illegal to memorize the cards played? The whole damn thing was illegal but was itcheating? Would Peter kick her out for cheating? That would be disastrous. She had no other way to raise the money in time.

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