Page 78 of Full Tilt
Jonah leaned over me. “You have twelve. Dealer is showing thirteen—probably.”
“How do you know? Are you the Rain Man?”
Jonah’s grin colored his words. “No, but I’m an excellent driver.”
“Ha ha.Help.”
Jonah crouched down so that his chin hovered just above my bare shoulder. His breath was warm on my neck, sending pleasant little shivers skimming down my spine.
“It’s a safe strategy to always assume the dealer’s downcard is worth ten. More of those in the deck.”
“Okay…”
“So he’s got thirteen, we assume. You have twelve, and your next card’s going to be a face card—”
“How…how do you know?” I tried to keep focus, but God, Jonah smelled good. And his hand rested on my back, his thumb rubbing a soft circle. I didn’t think he even knew he was doing it. I squeezed my legs together.
“Probability,” he answered. “You’ve taken a lot of small cards. Good chance the next one is worth ten. Let the dealer bust with it. Don’t hit.”
The sentiment was vehemently echoed by the other players. “Don’t hit.”
“It’sprobable,not definite.” I looked around the table. “Sorry, guys, but I can’t sit on this pathetic twelve.”
Loud protests as I brushed my fingertips along the green felt. “Hit me.”
The dealer laid down the eight of diamonds.
“Twenty.” I clutched Jonah’s arm and shook it. “I got twenty.”
He shook his head, laughing. “Yes, you did.”
“You got damn lucky, is what you got,” Cowboy said with achuckle. “Now stay, girlie.”
“Stay,”the other players echoed.
I waved my hands over my cards. “Stay.”
The table went quiet as the dealer flipped over his down card. A queen to give him thirteen.
“Dealers have to hit up to seventeen,” Jonah murmured in my ear.
My heart pounded fast as I watched the dealer hit and bust with the Jack of diamonds. The table erupted in cheers.
Jonah gripped my shoulder. “Holy shit.”
“I won,” I said, as the dealer laid a second blue-and-white-striped $20 chip beside my first.
“Not only did you win,” Jonah said. “If you’d sat on your twelve, the dealer would have taken your eight to his thirteen.”
“And had twenty-one,” I said.
“The whole table would have lost.”
“He’s right, girlie,” Cowboy said. “You’re a ringer, ain’t you?”
“Could be.” I took my winnings and vacated my seat. “Good luck, everyone! It’s been real.” I tapped the brim of Cowboy’s cowboy hat as we left the table. “You can smoke now, sir.”
“You just won me two hundred dollars, Lady Luck,” he said, wheezing a laugh after us. “Maybe I’ll quit while I’m ahead.”
