Page 596 of Dark Love

“Why do you ask?” Eugenia gives me a pointed look.

Because as far as I know, your daughter’s only two food groups are sugar and chocolate. “Because it’s one of my favorite foods.” And I need to find out why your daughter didn’t mention her love of vegetables.

“Say you aren’t a vegetarian like Prue. A guy your size can’t live without protein.”

Even Monty’s voice irritates me. He needs to stop talking to or about my woman. “Vegetables provide protein.” This is going to be a long meal.

***

“Buy in is a dollar” Dahlia’s dad puts a new deck of cards down on a poker table.

“I say we up the stakes.” Monty sits down across from me. “In honor of our guest.”

“You know, we never play for more than a dollar in my house.” Dahlia’s mom sits down in the dealer’s spot. She opens the box and shuffles like a professional.

“I’ll be right back.” Dahlia stands up.

She doesn’t have any pockets in the dress that I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes off of. “I’ve got Dahlia’s dollar. Why the low stakes?”

“That’s all Mom.”

Dahlia sits back down next to me brushing her arm against mine. Not distracting at all.

“She wanted to teach us responsibility and help us avoid a gambling addiction. We’ve all won and lost over the years. Losing your allowance at eight years old was painful. We’d have to do extra chores to earn it back.”

“Dahlia was the only one to do those extra chores. Montgomery always gave me some of his money.” Basil lifts the corner of his cards that Dahlia’s mother just dealt out.

“Yet you managed to avoid a gambling addiction.” Dahlia doesn’t even look at her cards.

“That’s because I always lose.” Basil pushes two chips into the middle.

“Without a poker face, you’ll never win.” Montgomery slides three chips into the middle.

Dalhia’s father folds.

Dahlia slides three chips into the middle.

I lean over and whisper, “Aren’t you going to look at your cards.

“Dahlia isn’t allowed to look at her cards until after the flop. Otherwise, no one stands a chance.” Basil pushes his cards into the center. “Prue got Mom’s card-playing gene.”

“Speak for yourself. I do just fine.” Monty sips his beer.

“Card playing gene?” That’s such an odd description.

Dahlia’s mom shakes her head and the room goes quiet.

It’s time to watch and learn.

***

“How? How did you do that?” Dahlia stares at my cards. “That hand is practically impossible.”

“Practically.” I leave the chips in the center of the table even though they’re all mine.

“You need to play Mom. Just don’t let her hustle you.” Dahlia nudges me.

“She’s had the entire evening to figure out my tells. Hustling her would be practically impossible.” Which is partially true. If I hadn’t sprinkled a few fake tells in there. The win against Dahlia came down to the cards dealt. I didn’t have a clue what she was thinking. Then again unless she’s suffering or happy, I rarely have a clue what’s going on in that beautiful brain of hers.

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