Page 63 of Light My Fire

They are slow to answer, but finally Jackson nods.

“Right,” he says. “We can’t let that happen.”

“Agreed,” Wyatt says.

Man, Ireallywish they’d both said that with more conviction.

But we’ll be out of here soon.

Everything will make more sense once we’re back in Chicago, back to our usual routines, back in the real world. All of this is just a crazy, snowed-in fantasy land.

CHAPTER 16

Brooke

I’mdown to my panties and bra.

I’ve even lost both socks.

Of course, the guys gave me the option of quitting the poker game when I ran out of money, but I was convinced my luck would turn. It had to. I couldn’t do worse than losingevery single hand. Could I?

No. But I couldkeeplosing every single hand.

And I have.

Jackson was the one who’d suggested we switch to strip poker when my money ran out. Of course he was.

Both Jackson and Wyatt are also now sock-less. And shirtless. And I’m not mad about it.

The only person at the table who hasn’t lost a single article of clothing is Luke.

Yetheseems mad.

After our laundry room talk, though, I know it’s not that he’s angry and thinking this is juvenile. He’s turned on. He’s a little tormented by me sitting here in my panties.

And I like that.

The sex with Wyatt last night, the flirting with Jackson, the confession from Luke has all combined into a warm ball of confidence and sexiness I’ve never felt before and I want to flaunt it. I want to tease them. I want to turn them on. Tempt them.

I want them toallwant me so much they can’t stand it.

I want them to all remember this weekend for weeks after we get home. Months even.

I look at the cards in my hand. I understand poker, even if my play tonight doesn’t prove it.

I know enough that I should absolutelynotbet on what I’m holding.

“Raise,” Wyatt says. Then looks at me.

I look from him, to Jackson—who led—then to Luke, who comes after me. “Call,” I say, staying in the round even though I have nothing.

“Fold,” Luke says, tossing his cards onto the table.

Jackson grins and turns over a full house.

“Dammit,” Wyatt mutters as he turns over only a pair.

I sigh, pretending to be upset as I show my cards.

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