Page 193 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

Missing Pieces - Chapter 36

Tyler

Wednesday

Hailey wasn't kidding when she said she was good at poker. She was completely annihilating everyone at the table, including me. And it was probably the sexiest thing I had ever witnessed. I was almost convinced that she was counting cards.

I studied her face as she looked at her hand. She bit her lip as she mulled over what to do and then immediately smiled as she switched out a card. I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I knew how to play poker, but she was so distracting. Especially in that dress. Her skin was begging to be touched. Her lips were begging to be on mine. And I wanted it all. I just needed her to finish this game and then I was pulling her away.

"Read 'em and weep," she said as she slammed her cards down on the table. A royal flush.

Fuck, how is she doing this?I put my cards down on the table and sighed. "I'm calling it quits before I lose all my money."

She laughed and her eyes twinkled. "Okay, I'm done too."

The rest of the people looked relieved as we made our way to the bar.

"Seriously, Hails, how are you so good at poker?"

"I'm not actually good at poker. I'm just really good at reading people's tells."

I laughed. "And what's my tell?"

"When you bluff, you scratch the back of your neck."

"I don't do that."

"Actually you do." She reached up and touched the base of my neck. "Right here." She slowly ran her fingertips up my neck and into my hair. "Tyler, I'm not thirsty."

I glanced at the bar behind us and then back at her. "Then what do you want to do?" I had already bought a hotel room for the night after one of the many times she beat me in poker. I had said I was going to the bathroom, but I was growing antsy. This was the last night we had together. This was it. And it was exhilarating and heart breaking at the same time. I pulled one of the key cards to our room out of my pocket and slid it into her hand.

She looked deep into my eyes as a smile spread across her face. "I have a better idea. Let's go for a swim."

"What?"

But she had already grabbed my hand and was pulling me out of the casino. All I could do was laugh and run outside beside her. She really did make me feel like a kid again. I felt alive for the first time in years. She made me happy. She made me live in the moment, and I really needed that.

We came to a stop alongside the biggest pool I had ever seen. The biggest, emptiest pool. There was caution tape around thepool, but it still looked like it was functioning. A fountain in the center of it was lit up majestically. It was beautiful.

She lifted up the caution tape and ducked beneath it.

"Hails, I don't think we're supposed to go under that."

"I'm sure we're not." She kicked off her shoes and smiled at me.

I laughed. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"What? Are you chicken?" She stepped toward the edge of the pool. "What's the worst that could happen? You're already on the run from the cops."

I laughed as I ducked under the caution tape. "So we're in the heart of Vegas and all you want to do is go for a swim?"

She nodded. She looked so pretty in the glow emanating off the pool lights. It almost felt like I was dreaming. The most beautiful girl I had ever laid my eyes on wanted me. This had to be a dream.

"What are you so scared of?" she asked with a seductive smile.

Falling for you.But in my head I knew it was too late. I didn't want to say goodbye to this girl tomorrow. I couldn't even imagine it. No one would ever make me feel this whole again. I'm pretty sure I had already fallen. I swallowed down the lump in my throat.Fuck.

"I dare you," she said with smile.