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He takes another sip of his wine, his food untouched. “I’m not talking about some silly scavenger hunt. That’s not the game I’m talking about, and I’m pretty sure you know that. Lucky for you, I enjoy games. Do you enjoy games, Jess?”
Warning! Warning! The signals are flashing fire-engine red. He’s so up to something. Instead of changing the subject, like I totally should, I decide to play along. “Sometimes. Depends on the game. Depends on the opponent,” I say with false confidence.
He raises an eyebrow. “And what’s your favorite game?”
“Poker,” I tell him. “I’m good at poker.”
A slow, feral smile spreads across his mouth, and he takes another sip of wine. “I spend a lot of weekends playing spades with friends; however, I enjoy poker as well. In fact, I wouldn’t mind playing a game now. How about you?”
He’s looking at me lazily through half-lidded eyes. He’s giving off the appearance that he’s relaxed, but his body language is telling me something completely different. The way he’s leaning forward, waiting for me to answer, makes me think of a lion ready to pounce.
Again, I hear the warning bells, louder now.
“What about our dinner? Aren’t you hungry?”
He shakes his head slowly. “I’m not interested in food right now.”
Dax takes the wine bottle and refills our glasses. I’m surprised to see I’ve already emptied mine. Probably not the best move on an empty stomach. I need to slow down and keep my wits about me.
“So, you want to play poker with me?” I ask.
“How confident are you in winning?”
Confident? Very. Unbeknownst to my parents, my grandfather taught me to play poker when I was just eight years old. We would play for hours sometimes. So, am I confident? Hell yeah. I’m great at poker. And I’m about to show his cocky ass just how good.
“I’m fairly confident,” I boast.
He smiles lazily. “Confident enough to make things a little more interesting?”
“What do you mean?”
His eyes flick down to my cleavage and then do a slow crawl back up to my face. “Have you ever played strip poker?”
I knew it! I just knew he was going somewhere with this. The reckless side of me wants to go for it. I’m sure I can beat him, and wouldn’t that be epic? However, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be sitting here, alone in a hotel room, with a naked Dax.
I mean, yeah, I kinda wouldn’t mind it. He has the kind of body women don’t mind feasting their eyes on. It would feel so good to trounce him at his own game. I can imagine myself as the winner, fully clothed, and him sitting there naked and embarrassed.
“Strip poker? Never played it.”
He winks at me. “Me either. It’ll kinda be like we’re strip poker virgins. What do you say? Are you brave enough?”
“This sounds like a terrible idea. You just want to get me naked,” I accuse in a flirty tone.
“If you’re as good as you say, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
I purse my lips. “Just out of curiosity, what are the stakes? What do I get if I win?”
“You’re not going to beat me,” he boasts. “If, by some chance, you do manage to win, I’ll allow you to drive my most prized possession, my beloved Scarlet, for an entire day.”
I make a scoffing sound. “Your car? You probably have a dozen sitting in the garage of your penthouse. That’s a sorry excuse for a prize.”
He holds up his hands in defense. “No, you don’t understand. Scarlet isn’t just any car. She’s my baby, the love of my life. She’s my 1967 Shelby Mustang, and she never gets driven by anyone except me. I don’t even allow my own family to drive her. She was a gift from a dear friend a long time ago. Trust me, it would kill me to have someone else take her for a day.”
“A playboy billionaire who is engaged in a love affair with a car. Interesting. And what would your prize be if you won?” I ask. “In case you don’t know, I’m a little tight on funds right now, and I don’t have a Scarlet lady sitting in a garage.”
He smiles that signature smug smile that I’ve come to know. “You’ll owe me one kiss. Not just any little peck on the lips, though. I want a real kiss.”
I try to stop myself from snorting, but it doesn’t work. “That’s it? A kiss?”
