doesn’t have big hair, and she doesn’t wear hooker makeup or rhinestones.”
You should have seen her when we met .
“I like her,” Steve said. “And she can play poker. She’ll fit right in with your brothers.”
Good thing most of his poker-playing brothers were married.
Blake waved at Stella and asked for a deck of cards, then he and Steve ordered beers and they took their seats at a table across from the bar. Once Beth joined them, Steve dealt the first hand.
After a few minutes, Blake said, “I call.”
Everyone laid their hands down then Mack gaped at Beth’s full house.
“You weren’t kidding.” Steve spoke to Beth. “You do know how to play.”
“If I have my way, gentlemen, you won’t go home with any change in your pockets tonight.” Beth offered Steve another smile, and Mack tamped down the urge to end the card game. Steve was a nice guy, and it was obvious that Beth found him entertaining.
An hour passed, and the bar grew crowded. Stella delivered a fourth round of drinks. The alcohol had relaxed Beth, and she giggled at Steve’s jokes way too much for Mack’s liking.
It was Blake’s turn to deal and one of the cards flew off the table. When Beth leaned over to pick it up, she lost her balance and the chair slid out from beneath her, propelling her across Steve’s lap.
“Well, happy birthday to me!” Steve helped Beth to her feet.
Everyone had had enough to drink. “It’s been a long day, Beth. Would you like to leave?”
“Stay,” Steve said. “I want a chance to win back my money.”
“Actually,” Beth said, retrieving her purse from the back of the chair. “I will call it a night.”
“It was fun catching up with you guys.” Mack waved at Stella. “I’ll settle my tab tomorrow before we leave town.” Taking Beth’s hand, he led her out of the bar and into the cool night air. “Let’s see if the St. Michael has a room.”
The historic hotel sat at the end of the block across from the courthouse park. The lobby was empty when they entered, save for the young girl standing behind the check-in desk.
“May I help you?”
“We’d like a room.” Mack pulled his wallet from his pocket and removed a credit card.
“How many nights?”
“Just one.”
Beth rapped her knuckles on the counter. “Two beds.” She winked at Mack. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
Beth must be tipsier than he’d thought. The desk clerk’s mouth quivered as she entered the credit information into the computer then handed Mack a pair of key cards. “Your room is on the second floor.”
They took the elevator ride in silence. After he let Beth into the room, he said, “Lock the door after me.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to move the pickup to the hotel parking lot and get our bags.”
“Mack.”
“What?”
“I mean it. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
Their gazes clashed and he wished he could figure out what message her dark eyes were sending him. “I know.” He left, wondering if he had a chance in hell of salvaging the night.
* * *
Y OU ’ RE AN IDIOT .
Beth sat on the bed in the hotel room. She had no idea what had gotten into her tonight—flirting with Mack’s friends during the poker game. Both Steve and Blake were great guys and yes their interest in her—especially Steve’s—had soothed her battered ego. Steve was an average-looking guy and since she was an average-looking girl, it was easier to believe his flattery was more sincere than Mack’s. There was still a part of Beth that feared Mack saw her as a challenge. Like her ex, Mack was handsome enough to get any woman he wanted. Why he’d set his sights on her was a mystery.
Her growling stomach propelled her off the bed. She perused the room-service menu then ordered steaks, baked potatoes and broccoli for both her and Mack. Forgetting that she didn’t have her overnight bag, she retreated to the bathroom and took a shower. She stood beneath the hot spray, hoping the
You should have seen her when we met .
“I like her,” Steve said. “And she can play poker. She’ll fit right in with your brothers.”
Good thing most of his poker-playing brothers were married.
Blake waved at Stella and asked for a deck of cards, then he and Steve ordered beers and they took their seats at a table across from the bar. Once Beth joined them, Steve dealt the first hand.
After a few minutes, Blake said, “I call.”
Everyone laid their hands down then Mack gaped at Beth’s full house.
“You weren’t kidding.” Steve spoke to Beth. “You do know how to play.”
“If I have my way, gentlemen, you won’t go home with any change in your pockets tonight.” Beth offered Steve another smile, and Mack tamped down the urge to end the card game. Steve was a nice guy, and it was obvious that Beth found him entertaining.
An hour passed, and the bar grew crowded. Stella delivered a fourth round of drinks. The alcohol had relaxed Beth, and she giggled at Steve’s jokes way too much for Mack’s liking.
It was Blake’s turn to deal and one of the cards flew off the table. When Beth leaned over to pick it up, she lost her balance and the chair slid out from beneath her, propelling her across Steve’s lap.
“Well, happy birthday to me!” Steve helped Beth to her feet.
Everyone had had enough to drink. “It’s been a long day, Beth. Would you like to leave?”
“Stay,” Steve said. “I want a chance to win back my money.”
“Actually,” Beth said, retrieving her purse from the back of the chair. “I will call it a night.”
“It was fun catching up with you guys.” Mack waved at Stella. “I’ll settle my tab tomorrow before we leave town.” Taking Beth’s hand, he led her out of the bar and into the cool night air. “Let’s see if the St. Michael has a room.”
The historic hotel sat at the end of the block across from the courthouse park. The lobby was empty when they entered, save for the young girl standing behind the check-in desk.
“May I help you?”
“We’d like a room.” Mack pulled his wallet from his pocket and removed a credit card.
“How many nights?”
“Just one.”
Beth rapped her knuckles on the counter. “Two beds.” She winked at Mack. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
Beth must be tipsier than he’d thought. The desk clerk’s mouth quivered as she entered the credit information into the computer then handed Mack a pair of key cards. “Your room is on the second floor.”
They took the elevator ride in silence. After he let Beth into the room, he said, “Lock the door after me.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to move the pickup to the hotel parking lot and get our bags.”
“Mack.”
“What?”
“I mean it. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
Their gazes clashed and he wished he could figure out what message her dark eyes were sending him. “I know.” He left, wondering if he had a chance in hell of salvaging the night.
* * *
Y OU ’ RE AN IDIOT .
Beth sat on the bed in the hotel room. She had no idea what had gotten into her tonight—flirting with Mack’s friends during the poker game. Both Steve and Blake were great guys and yes their interest in her—especially Steve’s—had soothed her battered ego. Steve was an average-looking guy and since she was an average-looking girl, it was easier to believe his flattery was more sincere than Mack’s. There was still a part of Beth that feared Mack saw her as a challenge. Like her ex, Mack was handsome enough to get any woman he wanted. Why he’d set his sights on her was a mystery.
Her growling stomach propelled her off the bed. She perused the room-service menu then ordered steaks, baked potatoes and broccoli for both her and Mack. Forgetting that she didn’t have her overnight bag, she retreated to the bathroom and took a shower. She stood beneath the hot spray, hoping the
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