Page 20 of Plays Well With Others

I smile back, then I up the ante in my poker game, sliding another chip into the pot. I shimmy in my seat, my free-range boobs shaking under my sparkly get-up. This dress is like magic. I feel better after my fiasco of a day.

“I’ll raise myself by another chip,” I declare.

The dealer—a square-jawed guy with a mustache that might be sexy in an “are mustaches sexy” way but also might not—laughs gently. “I’m not sure poker works that way.”

“Aww, c’mon, Scotty. Let her,” Juliet encourages him. Or, more like demands.

The dealer slowly shifts his gaze back to me, licking his lips as he says, “Sure, I’ll let it slide for you,” he says, keeping his eyes locked on me.

Oh.

Is he flirting with me?

It’s been a while, but I’m pretty sure that’s flirting.

As he deals, I tuck my face closer to Juliet’s. “Is Scotty flirting with me? And…do I like him?”

She laughs. “I don’t know, Rach. Do you?”

I shrug. Hard to say. The bubbly in me likes the flirting, that’s for sure. “Flirting is enjoyable,” I say.

She high-fives me. “See? I told you the party would be fun.”

“It is dirty, flirty fun,” I say, smacking back. Everything is fun. Everything is festive.

Elodie meets my gaze from next to Juliet. “Speaking of fun, you never answered my question from earlier…”

I arch a brow. “Oh, you want to know how the Man-inator is?”

Juliet snort-laughs. “Yes, do tell us. But please use its proper name. The Man-inator is seriously gross.”

I square my shoulders, acting all proper. “If you must know, I was going to break out the Girl’s Best Friend tonight.”

Scotty’s gaze snaps back to mine. He looks away to deal, but I think he’s still listening. A perk of the job, I suppose, dealing cards at a party full of the buzzed and horny.

“So we’re cramping your style with the PJ party?” Elodie asks with a cute little grin. “Or wait. Were you going to slip into my bathroom and use it?” She lets her jaw fall open, comically wide. “Rachel, you bad girl. Did you smuggle it here in your purse?”

“Shut up. I am not going to diddle myself at your house.” Primly I add, “I have standards.”

Scotty smiles, then waves a hand in front of his face. Oh yes, he is definitely listening.

“Only home diddling for this classy babe,” Elodie chimes in as Scotty clears his throat.

With a nod at my card, he asks, “What have you got?”

An ache between my thighs.

Oh, right. He means in my hand.

Honestly, I’ve lost track of what game we’re even playing so I set my cards down face-up and ask, “Did I get twenty-one or a full house?”

“Or both,” Elodie offers hopefully.

Maybe we’ve all lost track of the game.

“Looks like you’re winning,” Scotty says, then as he pins his gaze to mine, he adds, “Rachel.”

And did he say my name a little sensually? A little invitingly? I really need to figure out soon if I like mustaches.

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