The Billionaire's Gamble by Ava Miles Page A

up his nose. “No, we haven’t met. It will come to me. It always does.”
    Evan fought the urge to gulp. Then he did gulp when Rhett Butler Blaylock’s other former poker babe, Elizabeth Saunders, walked in the room on the arm of the famous celebrity Chef T. He’d known Elizabeth lived in Dare Valley. He just hadn’t realized she was coming to Margie’s cinnamon roll tasting. She’d recognize him for sure, but if she and Jane were still as close as they’d once been, maybe she already knew about the side bet.
    His breath arrested in his lungs when their eyes met. He didn’t break Elizabeth’s gaze as Margie led the couple over to meet him. Like Jane, she’d forsaken her former poker babe clothes and duties, but she was still Rhett’s publicist and scout. He waited for her to out him.
    “Evan, I’d like you to meet Chef T and Elizabeth Saunders,” Margie said.
    He shook Chef T’s hand and then turned to Elizabeth, his gut quivering.
    “Evan,” Elizabeth said, shaking his hand hard enough to crack a knuckle. “It’s good to meet you.”
    So she knew and disapproved, but she wasn’t going to spill the beans. He exhaled the trapped air in his chest.
    “Elizabeth,” he forced himself to say. “Would you be willing to help me pour some wine for folks while Margie helps everyone settle into the tasting room?”
    “Sure,” she said way too brightly.
    “You’re an angel,” Margie said, squeezing his bicep, and if he hadn’t been quaking in his boots—figuratively—he would have enjoyed the ping down his arm.
    When he and Elizabeth reached the kitchen, he turned to her. “I’m here because Jane and Rhett—”
    “I know. When I told them about the cinnamon roll tasting, they felt they had to tell me why you were here so I wouldn’t spill the beans the minute I saw you.” She crossed her arms, all business.
    “I appreciate that.”
    Shaking her head, she went over and started pouring out glasses of wine. Margie had decided to go with a light white wine for the guests because it wouldn’t compete with the cinnamon roll.
    “I don’t like this, Evan. Not one bit. It doesn’t feel honest.” She picked up three glasses. “Grab the rest.”
    “I don’t like it either,” he said, “but Rhett and Jane are the ones who set the terms. I’m holding up my end of the bargain.”
    She blew out a breath. “Are you, Mr. Celibate?”
    “Never, never, never call me Mr. Celibate again.” His ears grew hot.
    Walking to the doorway, she turned. “If you hurt Margie, I’ll make sure celibacy is no longer a choice for you. It’ll be your only option.”
    Fighting the urge to put his hands over the front of his jeans, he took a deep breath and then picked up the remaining glasses and joined everyone in the dining room.
    The Hale family was sitting on the right side of the table. Elizabeth sat beside Chef T on the left once she finished passing out the drinks. Margie told him to sit at the head of the table across from her. Jill and Brian held the twins on their laps, and he was pretty impressed by their ability to drink the wine without spilling it when the girls reached for the glasses.
    Suddenly, one of the girls broke out and said, “Whee!” She had impressive pipes for one so little.
    “Oh yeah, Violet!” Jill said, patting her back. “We can show everyone the new song.”
    These girls had a special talent? Evan sat on the edge of his seat, eager to listen to their performance.
    Brian nestled the other girl against this chest. “Ready, Mia?”
    Jill gave an impressive, Mmmm, to signal the start of the overture. Evan waited to be blown away.
    “Whee!” Violet squealed out for all she was worth.
    Brian picked up a spoon and pointed it at Mia. “Go on, honey.”
    She patty-caked her hands together. “Burp!”
    Jill pointed to Violet. “Okay, now you.”
    The girl gave another, “Whee!”
    Followed by her sister yelling, “Burp!”
    Jill made figure eights in the air like a conductor. “All