Page 48

“And I’ll have a Shiner Bock if you don’t mind, Tallulah.” Digging a fifty out of my pocket with my free hand, I drop it into the tip jar. “Silent auction going well so far?”

Tallulah nods as she grabs a glass and turns to fill it with cider from a fancy decanter. “So far, so good. I know yourpoker game is a hot item. Goody said there were ten bids last time she checked.”

“Already?” I glance over my shoulder. “That’s a surprise.”

“Everyone wants to learn from the pro.” Sally gives my shoulder a squeeze. “No one bluffs better than you.”

“I don’t know, Sal. You’re giving me a run for my money.”

Her eyes twinkle at the inside joke. “I am, aren’t I?”

This is sick, right? Us joking about how great we are at pretending to be into each other?

Only I’m not pretending. Of course I’m good at this because I’ve been dreaming of touching Sally this way since I was eighteen.

What does it mean, then, that she’s good at it too?

We take our drinks to our table. I lucked out; only Sawyer and Duke were able to make it tonight. Sawyer let our younger brother know that Sally and I might seem a little cozier than usual. In true Duke fashion, he ribbed me nonstop today about my fake date with my best friend, but tonight, he’s too distracted by Wheeler to pay Sally and me much mind.

Dinner is over and the silent auction is just ending when there’s a tap on my shoulder. My stomach dips when I turn and see Beck Wallace standing there, a sheet of paper in his hand.

“I bought your poker lesson.” His eyes slip to Sally. “Any chance y’all want to play?”

“Tonight?” I drawl.

“Tonight, yeah. Figured why not since we’re all here. We just need a deck of cards, but something tells me you got a few of those in your truck.”

I watch Sally’s expression flutter with hope. She smiles, shoulders rising on a quick, shallow inhale.

What the fuck am I doing, helping her get this guy’s attention?

“I’ve actually never played poker.” She glances at me. “I’d love to learn.”

“He never taught you?” Beck asks, clearly surprised.

“Wasn’t ever interested until now,” she replies, still looking at me.

Why the fuck did I agree to this again?

I don’t want Beck Wallace looking at Sally in her slinky dress and barely-there bra, much less touching her or taking her home.

At what point do I have to let her go?

At what point do I slip away and let them be alone?

Never.

At least, it ain’t gonna happen tonight. Maybe that makes me a selfish bastard, but I don’t care. I think seeing Sally leave with Beck might actually kill me.

I’ll give myself one night—and one night only—to pretend that this date is real. To pretend that this girl is mine and that she’s actually coming home with me. She’s sleeping in my bed. Saying my name.

God, how good I’d be at pleasing her. If only she knew.

This is some kind of step. A big step, a baby one, a step back, a step in the right direction—I don’t know.

All I know is, I want more Sally, and I ain’t sharing.

“What do you say, boys?” I glance at my brothers. “Y’all up for a game of chance?”