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“It’s my pleasure,” he says before tapping his credit card against the card reader without adding a tip.

I make a mental note to circle back here later to remedy that. The baristas who work here deserve at least a small token of appreciation for completing each order in a timely manner and, from what I’ve witnessed every time I’ve been here, correctly.

I grab my coffee once Chelsie pops a lid on the cup and slides it toward me. “Thank you, Chelsie.”

“No problem.” She dips her chin. “I’ll see you soon?”

“Very soon.” I smile because I’ll stop back in before William shows up tonight.

“Good.” She slides Percy’s cup toward him. “Here you go.”

He doesn’t offer the slightest acknowledgment to her. Instead, he turns to face me. “I’ll be sure to stop by your bar once it’s open, Opal.”

“Okay,” I say because I don’t have the luxury of turning away a paying customer at this point.

He winks at me. “Or perhaps before.”

A shiver runs through me at his promise because it feels more like a threat. I spin around and leave the coffee shop without a single glance back.

20

William

I shedmy suit jacket and cufflinks before I start rolling up the sleeves of my light blue button-down shirt to my elbows. Opal seems to be enjoying the show, so I slow my pace, taking extra time to finish the task.

“Taking off your jacket isn’t going to help your game,” she comments as she sips from the gin and soda water she poured herself an hour ago when we started playing Turquoise Crown.

I wasn’t surprised when I arrived at her bar to find a standard issue Turquoise Crown game board set up for us. Opal quickly explained that she thought I might prefer to keep the special edition untouched because she anticipates its worth will continue to grow year by year.

It’s a solid suggestion, but it’s going to remain in my possession until the day I die because as I told her already, it’s the best gift I’ve ever received.

“Do you want a refill, William?” She gestures toward the empty glass tumbler next to my play money. “Being a little tipsy will help numb the pain of the humiliating loss you’re about to experience.”

I laugh. “Jesus, Opal. I had no idea you were so cutthroat.”

Her eyes shimmer in the light emanating from the fixture above the table we’re sitting at. “I love this game. I’ve never met anyone who could beat me.”

I believe her.

I’ve been trying my best to conquer this game tonight, but I admit that my focus hasn’t solely been on each move I’ve made. It’s damn hard to concentrate on every roll of the dice and each draw of a ‘royal card’ from the pile in the middle of the board.

Strategy is generally one of my strong suits, but tonight, that’s buried beneath my fascination with her. I’ve been hanging on every word she says, and I’ve gotten lost in the sound of her laughter more than once.

If Percy Haines hadn’t hired me to help him gain a fighting chance with her, I would have kissed her by now.

I want to kiss her.

I toss my head back and close my eyes, willing that thought to fuck right off. I can’t kiss her. I can’t even contemplate the idea of what it might be like to kiss her.

Percy paid me to help him get into a position that will make her want to kiss him.

I almost curse out loud when a mental image of that pops into my mind.

“You look a little pissed off.” Opal laughs. “You’re not used to losing, are you?”

She has no idea how much I hate losing, be it when I’m playing a board game or when I want a woman.

I always find a way to come out on top, yet tonight, I’m on the cusp of losing it all.