Page 53 of Trouble Me
Chapter 19
Strip Poker for the Win
Shane was pissed. Whatthe hell was Colin trying to do? The question was rhetorical because he already knew what Colin’s strategy was. He wasn’t in Madison Ridge to check out the winery. He stopped by when he knew Shane wouldn’t be there so he could assess what progress had been made. After learning Colin wanted to leapfrog over him into the CEO position and use Shane’s past against him, Shane no longer underestimated his little brother. He still didn’t know why Colin wanted to sell off, but it didn’t matter. Because it wasn’t going to happen.
And he was going to pay dearly for sharing a story with Emma that wasn’t Colin’s to share.
After their talk, Emma suggested they take a walk while it wasn’t raining. There was no playful tire swinging this time, just a quiet, pensive walk to clear his head. When the thunder rumbled and lightning cut through the sky, they decided to head back to shelter before the late winter thunderstorm broke free again.
Between the physical exercise and the emotional heaviness from earlier, they agreed to go back to bed. In spite of Emma’s stern insistence that they sleep, they only managed a couple of hours before desire won out.
When they woke, the day was still gray and dreary, with the sun hiding deep behind the charcoal-gray clouds in the sky. The winds howled, with no signs of letting up anytime soon.
The one bright side to the dismal day was that Emma hadn’t brought up anything more about Colin’s visit or Marlene. While there’d been an occasional silence from her, there had been no awkwardness between them, which surprised and relaxed him. She was the same Emma as always. Hours later, after a day of dozing and watching movies, Emma paced in front of the fireplace, looking like she was going to jump out of her skin.
It appeared his little peach had a case of cabin fever.
Laid out on the sofa, Shane feigned sleep, his eyes narrow slits that followed her movements as she prowled the room. His gaze traveled from the messy bun on top of her head, along the tiny white tank top and snug black yoga pants, down to her bare feet, where her toes were painted that candy-apple red that made his blood run hot. The pants did fantastic things to the curve of her ass and legs. The fire crackled behind her and cast shadows across her face. Emma was quite the sight, and for a moment, Shane forgot to breathe.
When she whirled to face him, he slammed his eyes closed. The sofa dipped under his feet when she sat down. He bit back a smile when she sighed dramatically.
Shane was a patient man. He could wait out his opponent. When she sighed again, louder, he envisioned her chest heaving against the fabric of her top, nipples on display.
But his patience was tested by his naughty fantasy. Shane wanted to take her back to bed and have his way with her again. After all, it had been a few hours since the last time, and he was hungry for her.
Again.
Take it easy, Kavanaugh. The poor girl needs to walk tomorrow.
With an inward sigh, he pushed sex from his mind.
“Shane, I’m bored. Let’s play a game.”
Shane opened his eyes and raised a brow. “What kind of game do you have in mind, Ms. Reynolds?”
Emma tapped an index finger against her pink lips. “Hmmm...how good are you at card games?”
Shane mentally rubbed his hands together, but his face remained neutral. “I can hold my own.”
No need to tell her that back in college, he ran a weekly poker game that helped pay for his living. And Shane hadn’t eaten Ramen noodles a day in his life.
“How about you?” he asked. “Are you any good at card games?”
She raised her chin and looked down her nose at him. “I can hold my own.”
“Well, then.” Shane sat up and swung his legs to the side of the sofa. “Let’s play.”
A few minutes later, they sat at the dining room table, with Emma shuffling the deck. “Do we agree on strip poker, Five-card draw?” she asked, passing out cards to each of them.
A smile spread across his face. His favorite type of game. “Strip poker, Five-card draw it is.” Her technique in dealing was smooth and tight, causing him to sit up a bit straighter. When she finished dealing, he studied the cards in his hand. It should be an interesting game.
Emma picked up her cards, tucking her legs underneath her. “You’re up, Kavanaugh.”
He had shit for cards. Two aces were all he had to use. But he hadn’t lived on poker winnings because he’d been lucky.
Shane lay three cards facedown and slid them across the table, one side of his mouth quirked up in a smirk. “You know, you have to be the sexiest dealer I’ve ever seen.”
