Page 51 of Blindside Sinner

“It’s my game, goddammit!” He’s sputtering now, looking to his friends for help. But only Dix moves to clasp Beck on the shoulder.

“Sorry, pal. It’sourgame. You’re just hosting this week.” Dix grins. “And I want these beautiful women to come play with us.” He looks at Colin and Adrian. “We all do. Right, guys?”

I can feel their nods and their smiles even though I’m locked in a heated gaze-down with Beck. When he finally looks away, he’s scowling. Outnumbered is apparently not his preferred way to lose.

“Fine. Come to poker night.” He doesn’t add theI dare youthat’s implied at the end of his sentence, but he doesn’t have to.

It’s written in his eyes.

26

SLOAN

Poker night is serious business.

There’s an octagonal, green-felted table sitting in the middle of Beck’s living room in place of furniture that is now nowhere to be found. In the corner, a slinky little bartender in a shimmering red dress stands at the ready.

The girls should be here soon, and Colin and Dix have already arrived. “Adrian’s going to be late,” Colin explains as he hands me a couple boxes of pizza. “My night for food.”

“Smells great.” I slide the boxes onto the bar and the girl mixing drinks flashes her pearly whites at Colin and Dix.

“Where’s Beck?”

I chuckle. “He takes longer to get ready than I do.”

“It’s all that hair product you have him using.” Dix shakes his head. “Shampoo, condition, deep condition, mask, gel, mouse, wax. It’s a lot of work.”

“Gotta hand it to him, though: the guy’s got great hair,” Colin says.

“Is that so?” interjects Beck from behind me.

He might have the personality of an ogre, but he moves like a panther. It’s like he materialized out of nowhere. One second, I can breathe easy; the next, I smell his cologne and my heartbeat doubles up.

They all bro hug and bump fists like it’s the first time they’ve seen each other today, even though they had a morning skate and team meetings in the afternoon. As soon as they’ve herded themselves over to the bar for drinks, the doorbell rings.

I go to let Monroe and Cassie walk in. We all squeal and kiss each other on the cheek.

“Damn, girl!” I whistle at Roe. She has her assets on display in a low-cut black crop top without a bra underneath and a black silk pencil skirt.

She smirks because she knows damn well what she’s doing. “If he’s thinking about your tits, he’s not thinking about your cards,” she advises as she sashays into the house.

I laugh. These boys are in trouble.

Cassie is going for a badass biker look. She’s paired a stark white tank top with artfully ripped blue jeans that fit like skin, and like Roe, she’s left all of Victoria’s secrets at home. She isn’t messing around.

It’s going to be a fun night.

“Drinks?” I point to the corner and we all make our way over there. The boys have taken up seats around the table already, still chattering away and guffawing every few seconds.

I’m still living under house rules, so I get sparkling water. Cass orders a Sex on the Beach and Roe gets a Long Island Iced Tea.

Then it’s gametime.

Beck hired a pro for the night, a former Vegas dealer named Brent who showed up dressed for the part in a pair of tuxedo pants, bowtie, and vest. We take our seats, with me ending up across from Beck, and Brent starts to deal.

“You girls sure you’re ready?” Dixon teases us as the cards start to fly across the table.

Monroe sniffles haughtily. Cassie giggles. I just try not to vomit as I look at the chip denominations and realize just how much money is about to change hands. The smallest ones are worth a hundred apiece. A few silly little games of poker and I could pay off my entire debt to the Bloodhound.

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