Page 54 of Provocation (Temptation 3)

What did I have to lose? If I were wrong, the game was over anyway.

But if I were right, Lachlan would have to pick up all the cards.

God, I hoped I was right.

“That’s a dollar,” Imogene sang.

Rolling my eyes, I reached into my back pocket, peeling off another dollar bill and adding it to the pile she’d amassed throughout the game. Then I returned my attention to Lachlan, relaxing back in my chair, the September sun warming my skin as we sat on the back patio.

There was no telling how many more nice days we’d have now that fall was right around the corner. So I was going to enjoy it while I could.

And today was the perfect day. A few fluffy clouds. Temperatures hovering in the mid-seventies. Relatively low humidity. It made me want to stay in this moment forever. My family surrounding me. The best thing that had ever happened to me sitting beside me. All my worries temporarily forgotten.

“Like I said…” I squared my shoulders. “That’s bull.”

Lachlan’s mouth curved up into a playful smile, and I instantly second-guessed myself. “You sure about that? I’ll let you retract it this one time.”

I pinched my lips together. “You say that every time.”

“What can I say? I’m a firm believer in giving people a second chance.” He winked.

“No need. I stand by my initial determination of your cards being bullshit.”

Before Imogene could open her mouth, I slapped a single bill on top of her pile, my eyes not straying from Lachlan’s, remaining firm in my resolve.

“You might be disappointed when you flip over my cards, love.”

“If this is all part of a ploy so I’ll retract my bullshit call, I’m not playing.” I grabbed another dollar and handed it to Imogene, my gaze still locked with Lachlan’s.

Smirking, he nodded toward the pile of cards. “You can do the honors.”

Pulse slowly increasing, I reached for the first card and flipped it over.

“Seven of hearts,” Wes announced.

I shot him a glare. “I can see that.” I looked back at the pile, ignoring Lachlan’s growing smirk when I flipped over the next card.

“Seven of clubs,” Eli teased, which earned him a high-five from Lachlan.

“Don’t you start, too,” I playfully warned my nephew.

Drawing in a deep breath, I reached for the final card, mumbling, “Don’t be a seven. Don’t be a seven. Don’t be a seven.”

I flipped it over, the entire table erupting in cheers when the card ended up being a Queen of Hearts.

“Eat it, Hale,” I joked, watching in amusement as he organized all the cards in his hand, almost unable to hold them all.

Almost.

The man had enormous hands.

And the things he did with those hands…

“I can still win. I now have an advantage in determining who’s bs-ing everyone.”

“Okay then.” I straightened my spine, placing my last two cards face-down on the table. “Two eights. What say you to that?”

He studied me for a beat, then his hand, then my face again. “Bull is what I say.”