Page 60 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
“You know how to play poker, Ava?” Jax asks, raising a teasing brow.
I roll my eyes, relaxing just a little. “Of course, I do.”
“Perfect,” he says cheerfully, dealing me in without hesitation. “New rule—if any of us win, you have to tell us why you’ve been avoiding us today.”
I arch a challenging brow, ignoring the heat flooding my cheeks. “And if I win?”
Cole, silent until now, shoots me a slow, mischievous smile. “If you beat any of us, Ava, you can ask whatever you want from us. Anything.”
My breath catches at his implication, but I cover, feigning confidence as I pick up my cards. “Deal.”
Cards shuffle between Jax’s nimble fingers, the soft sound filling the quiet cabin as he passes them out with practiced ease. The men are so casual in this moment, comfortably lounging around the table, that it almost makes me forget my earlier anxiety. Almost.
I glance down at my hand, immediately noticing my cards are strong. A flush of quiet confidence begins to seep into my bones. Maybe I can actually pull this off.
“So, Ava,” Jax begins, leaning back in his chair, “you seem pretty confident. Got a good hand or something?”
I shoot him a playful glare. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Cole snorts softly from beside me.
“She’s bluffing,” he murmurs, voice low and calm. “You’re always bluffing, Ava.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “You sure about that, Cole? Maybe tonight’s my night.”
“Guess we’ll find out.”
Jax laughs, leaning forward and pushing some chips into the center of the table. “I’ll call your bluff right now, Ava. Let’s see if you’re as good as you think you are.”
I match his bet easily, throwing my own chips confidently onto the pile. “Bring it on, Jax. I’m not scared of you.”
He chuckles, eyes glittering playfully. “You should be.”
Liam has barely said a word since the game started. His face remains neutral with sharp eyes on me as he watches each move. He pushes a small stack of chips forward without comment, but his gaze flicks briefly to mine, sending a quick thrill through my chest.
The next few rounds unfold with easy laughter and upped ante. Jax groans dramatically when I call him out, and he tosses his cards aside with mock frustration.
“Damn, Ava,” Jax complains, grinning despite himself. “You’re a shark tonight.”
“Not my fault you have the worst poker face on the planet,” I tease, scooping up my winnings with satisfaction. “I swear, Jax, it’s like playing against Eli.”
Jax feigns offense, clutching dramatically at his chest. “Wow, Ava. I thought we were friends.”
I laugh, feeling some of my tension ease. “We are friends. Friends who know when you’re bluffing every single time.”
Cole chuckles, shaking his head. “That’s cold, Ava.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I smile at him mischievously, “you’re next.”
All three of them laugh loudly, and the round continues. Sure enough, despite the fact that Cole plays methodically, his chips dwindle steadily. When I finally beat him out, too, he just shrugs, accepting defeat gracefully.
“Looks like it’s just you and Liam now,” Cole says, leaning back comfortably in his chair and folding his arms behind his head. “Good luck.”
I glance across the table at Liam, heart racing. He’s unreadable as always, his expression a careful mask. He studies his cards with silent intensity, and something about his quiet focus unnerves me. The casual teasing that worked with Jax and Cole feels insufficient.
“You’re going down, Liam,” I declare, feigning confidence despite the nervous flutter in my chest. “I’ve got you figured out.”
Liam raises one eyebrow, his lips twitching into an almost-smile. “Is that right, Ava?”
