Page 64 of Burning Your Lies

She ignores him and tunnels all of her energy into distracting Elise. Mia watches her friend with a small smile, which only broadens when Savannah makes Elise burst into a fit of giggles.

“Shall we get going?” Brynn whispers.

Savannah thanks Ray when he returns with a bottle for Elise. She stares at her husband with a gentle smile as he pulls faces atmydaughter. But I can’t stop looking at them. He stole my dream. He stole my woman. He’s trying to steal my baby. His arms wrap around Savannah as they both continue to make Elise giggle.Thisis why she wants her overnight. She wants to live out my dream with a baby that isn’t hers.

“I like games,” Rowan declares, plunking himself onto the sofa. “What are we drinking?”

Ray looks up and sighs. “Games night is cancelled.”

“Let’s play truth or dare!” Rowan says. “I like that game. Not as much as poker, but…”

Jordan, who has been sitting there with a bored expression, perks up. “I like poker too.”Of course, the gambling addict enjoys poker.

“Mama bear, you got some cards?”

Savannah looks up as if she forgot we were here. “Mia, give the man some cards. One round and then you leave.”

Brynn tugs at my hand. “If we break some speed limits, we might still make it.”

“We’ll order in. Let’s just wait until Elise is sleeping.”

Irritation bleeds from her words. “I’m sure it’s Elise you’re staying for.”

“Deal me in.” I take a seat around the table.

“You’re not welcome in my home.”

“Sav,” Ray whispers. “Come on. Let it go.”

Rowan smiles. “Anybody else? Huxley, sit your ass down. Your wife isn’t going anywhere. One round, just the men. Let’s go. Scruffy, small blind.”

“Twenty.”

That earns snickers from the rest of us, but Rowan accepts it. “Huxley, big blind?”

“Hundred.”

The game continues and nobody folds. The bet is raised twice and Jordan panics when it goes up to five hundred. The poor bastard didn’t realise he was sitting at a table with high-stake players. Eventually he folds when it dawns on him he won’t be able to pay us the pennies we’re playing for.

After tossing the burn card, Rowan looks up at us. “The most important card.”

“Why is it the most important?” Brynn asks.

“It’s called The River. It’s the final card to be revealed in the game of poker. It’s the one that changes the course of the game. With its reveal, the game becomes anybody’s winning.” Rowan sighs as he fiddles with one of the rings on his finger. “Let’s play for something more interesting than money.”

That piques my interest. “What are you willing to bet?”

“If I lose, I’ll sign any contract the winner puts in front of me.”

The business side of me jumps at the opportunity. “Anything?”

He shrugs. “As long as it’s not the ownership of my businesses, then sure. I’ll sign it.”

“That confident?” Ray scoffs.

His question is ignored. He turns to me. “What are you willing to bet?”

I look at my cards and accept that it’s not a strong hand. I glance at Savannah. “I own a block of flats on the other side of London. I’ll transfer the deeds to the winner’s name for free.” I see the clogs turning in her brain, and I smile when her nostrils flare.

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