Page 54 of My Casanova

I squinted at him. “No one has said that.”

“You don’t know that, honey. This show could take off, and you could all become famous. Hell, someone might write a book about you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Never going to happen.”

“Just like Smoke cheating on you is never going to happen,” Stan countered.

My mind knew he was right, but my heart still tripped over the past. “But what if he does?”

“And what if he doesn’t?” He moved in front of me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “You can’t live in fear of what Vince did to you. Smoke isn’t him.”

“I know that,” I whispered.

“Good. Then stop sabotaging yourself and call him.”

I glanced at the clock. “What if I went there instead?”

Stan’s face lit up. “Went where?”

“The clubhouse.”

His arms shot up. “Hallelujah!” He grabbed my purse and shoved it into my arms. “Go get your man, honey.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Smoke

“Did you call her?”

I glanced at Poppy, who stood behind the bar with six glasses filled with ice in front of her. “Have you always been this pushy?” I asked and arched an eyebrow at her.

Poppy shrugged, and her lips quirked up into a small smirk. “I think so.”

I leaned against the counter and watched her grab a bottle of amaretto. “You think so? That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

She poured two shots of the amaretto into each cup, and her eyes flicked up to meet mine. “I mean, yes, but I don’t think I was ever comfortable with it.” She gestured around the clubhouse. “Being here has helped me sit in it.” She set the bottle down. “So, did you call her?” she pressed, her voice laced with curiosity.

I shook my head and took a slow sip of my beer. “No. I’m thinking of slipping away later. Screw Yarder. I might need a distraction, though.”

Poppy grinned, and mischief danced in her eyes. “That’s my job, and I can do that later to help distract him.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “I will take the distraction, but I would not like any details, thank you very much.”

She laughed as she added a splash of orange juice to each cup, followed by a dash of simple syrup. The combination of scents filled the air with a sweet, nutty aroma.

“Getting the girls drunk tonight?” I asked and nodded to the drinks.

Poppy shrugged and slid the cups across the counter. “It’s Friday, and we’re all stuck here. Might as well drink.”

I smirked. “That should be entertaining for the cameras.”

She grabbed three of the glasses and called out, “Dove, come get the drinks.”

Dove popped up from the card table and hurried over to grab the remaining drinks with a grin. “Come on. We’re all set up to kick Aero’s ass.”

“In what?” I asked.

“Uno,” Poppy and Dove said in perfect unison.

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