Page 64 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

I call and flip the turn. A two of clubs. Three of a kind doesn’t look so bad. Zoe nibbles her bottom lip and adds ten M&M’s to the pile.Interesting.

I call again and flip the river. Ace of spades. Full house.

Another three M&M’s apiece make their way into the pot.

“Ladies first.”

She flips the three and four of clubs. “Straight flush.” She giggles as she sweeps the chocolate across the table.

We play for another forty-five minutes, taking turns winning and losing. She nibbles her lip when she has a good hand and holds her breath when she’s bluffing. She hasn’t been able to read any of my tells. Maybe I should have told her Dad and I frequently spend a week in Montenegro gambling with some of the best poker players in the world. And beat them.

Nah. That would ruin the fun.

If Zoe knew, she wouldn’t have agreed to the stakes, but I can taste that kiss coming.

We are back to even chips. Mostly because she has been eating hers, she’s so confident in her win. She deals, and I start the hand with jack and queen of hearts. “Ten.” I slide my M&M’s into the middle of the table.

“Raise to fifteen.”

“Fifteen, it is.”

The flop and the turn go my way. Ten and king of hearts, three of spades, and queen of clubs.

“All in.” Zoe slides her M&M’s to the middle of the table, holding her breath.

“Call.” I bite the inside of my cheeks so I don’t lick my lips in anticipation.

The river is the queen of diamonds. Two queens. Not a great hand, but Zoe’s bluffing. The nervous energy pours off her.

I flip my cards one at a time. “Two queens.”

She sucks her lips between her teeth. “Nice hand.” She turns her cards one at a time. “But not good enough. Three kings.” The king of clubs and king of spades stare up at me.

“But you held your breath. You were bluffing.”

She taps the tips of her fingers together like an evil villain. “But was I?”

“Wow. I’m impressed.”

“If that’s all it takes, you should see me play go fish.”

“Thirty cabins it is.” I extend my hand and she takes it. “Good game.”

“It’s better this way—you’ll see.”

“You don’t believe that. The council is wrong about the extra cabins, but I promised, so we’ll figure something out.”

“Then why the bet?”

I tap my queens. “Didn’t expect to lose.”

“Landon, I…we can’t have a relationship. No one would approve. And you don’t live here.”

I rotate her hand and kiss the inside of her wrist. “I hope someday you see whatIsee when I look at you.”

“Stop feeding me pick up lines.” She yanks on her arm, but I hold it fast to my chest.

“I mean what I say.”