Page 45 of Bragg's Love

“How can we play poker without a deck of cards?” Riley asks.

Brody perks up. “I have another deck.”

I slam my hand down on the table causing everyone’s beer bottles to jump. “No!”

“Spoil sport.”

Elder sighs. “I’ve got a brand new deck.” He opens a drawer in the kitchen and digs around until he pulls out a deck of cards still wrapped in plastic. He offers it to me. “Would you care to inspect it?”

I snatch the deck from him to examine it. When I’m satisfied the plastic is sealed, I hand it back to him.

Elder sits across from me and deals. “Since the pre-game is done, can we discuss what an idiot Miller is being?”

I growl. I’m not an idiot.

“Do you mean about opening Eden’s mail or about kissing Eden?” Peace asks.

Elder snorts. “Of course, he kissed Eden. He wants her.”

“He wants to kiss her and love her and make babies with her.” Brody puckers his lips.

I slap his back and he flies forward causing him to lose hold of his cards. They land face up on the table. “New round. Miller’s cheating.”

“New round denied. You asked for it,” Elder declares and I grunt in agreement.

“Do we need to come up with a plan for Miller to win Eden over?” Riley asks.

I glance at my cards. Two pair. Two queens and two sixes. “If I win this round, we stop discussing this.”

“Fold!” Everyone shouts in unison before throwing their cards in the middle of the table.

I grin. “I win.”

Peace wags his finger at me. “When everyone else forfeits, you don’t win.”

I gather the chips in the center and draw them toward me. “Sure feels like I’m winning.”

“Were you winning when you molded your lips to Eden’s?”

I glare at Riley and he holds his hands up in the air. “It’s merely a question.”

“Eden hates me. We are never going to be a couple.” Although, I plan to do everything in my power to change her mind.

“I guess we’ll have to figure out a way to get her to fall for you,” Riley says.

Brody chuckles. “Make Eden the peace-loving hippie fall for the big, grumpy dude who can barely speak in full sentences?”

Elder drums his fingers on the table. “This is going to be a challenge.”

Peace nods. “Agreed.”

It is a challenge. But it’s not a challenge for my brothers to figure out. I don’t need my brothers to help me convince a woman to date me. I’ll come up with a plan all on my own. A plan involving cornering Eden.

Chapter 15

Is compensation always monetary? Asking for a friend ~ Text from Moon to Eden

“Eden.” I ignore Miller hollering my name and continue walking into the Winter Falls monthly business meeting.

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