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But he was not marble. He was flesh and blood. Warm and hard and way too inviting .

The way the firelight caressed his bulging muscles made it next to impossible to focus .

“ I win .”

I conceded with a nod .

“And ?”

He rubbed his hands together with glee and leaned in. I had to stop myself from reaching out to touch him. I was weak, but I had my pride. And I was not going to admit I still wanted him .

Not now. Not ever .

“What did I do to make you hate me so much ?”

Chapter Twenty -One

Whiskey

S he stared at me, not giving me the answer I was waiting for. Then she exhaled, making the hair around her face flutter .

“I can’t answer that .”

“ Why not ?”

“Because I don’t hate you, Whiskey .”

Hmmm, reassuring though I didn’t quite believe her .

“Okay, then what made you run away ?”

“That’s a different question .”

“You won’t answer ?”

She gave me a challenging look .

“Not until you win another hand .”

“Then remove a piece of clothing .”

“What ?”

I was pissed off and frustrated in so many different ways. I wanted her, and she was so close. I could have pounced on her, right then and there. I’d wanted her for so long, only to get her and then lose her .

This was my chance .

But I was angry at her too. If she wasn’t going to give me answers, she was going to have to strip .

“It’s truth or strip. You agreed .”

“Whiskey, I’m only wearing one thing. A dress .”

I smiled in anticipation .

“Then you won’t have a choice but to answer my questions .”

She sighed, shaking her head .

Then she pulled off a shoe and waved it at me .

“Fine. But this is ridiculous .”

I just smiled and dealt another hand. I didn’t even cheat this time. If I could get both our clothes off that was good. And if I got my answers, I could stop wondering and try to fix things .

It was a win-win situation .

* * *

A couple of hands later I was down to my boxers and socks. Damn, Becky was a poker shark! I’d been gamed !

But I had to win another hand eventually. And for now, I’d just have to comfort myself with the fact that she was blushing .

And she had been for ten minutes .

Oh yes, Becky was trying not to look but she couldn’t seem to help herself .

And it was pretty obvious she liked what she saw .

I made sure I had three aces when I dealt the next hand .

I smiled to myself as I rearranged my cards. I was going to get my answers once and for all. Or I was going to see some very sexy skin .

Beat that, Becks !

Chapter Twenty -Two

Becky

“Y ou’re joking .”

Whiskey looked dumbfounded as he stared at my cards .

A royal flush .

What were the chances ?

His three aces with a pair of tens did look rather paltry next to my perfect, gorgeous hand .

I pretended not to stare as he pulled off a sock, grumbling the whole way about being stark ass naked and people who lied about their abilities .

I had to admit, I did like watching him strip. Even his feet were sexy! I was also relieved .

Mostly because I was terrified of what he might ask me when he won another hand .

What if he asked something that hurt .

Where is my baby and why did you hide her from her own father ?

Something like that for example .

But I lost the next hand. He stared at me, solemn and serious. I wasn’t going to get away with a glib answer or evasion .

If I lost my courage, I could always take off my bra and leave my dress on. That would distract him, and hide my post-baby body. Plus, I still had a shoe .

“Why did you leave? Why didn’t you say goodbye ?”

“That’s two questions, Whiskey .”

I exhaled deeply .

“But since they have the same answer, I’ll allow it .”

I shook my head, gathering my courage. This was it. This was my cue to tell him. What difference did it make? He couldn’t break up with me. We weren’t together .

We’d never really been together to begin with, even though it felt like we had been a devoted couple .

“The night before I left, I got off work early. I came to surpise you. At the club .”

He was frowning, his brow furrowed. But he didn’t say anything .

“I saw you there. With two girls. I left the next morning .”

“Two girls? I was with you! I hadn’t been with any other girls. Not since I met you. Not even after you left .”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too .”

I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice .