Page 153 of Stay With Me

“So what are you staring at?”

“Just admiring the view.”

Total, utter, blatant, obvious flirtation—and he was convinced it was working.

She smirked and shook her head as she fanned her face, the way she always did when he seemed to be getting to her.

She tossed a crouton at his face. “You’re incorrigible.”

He shrugged and grinned.

She turned her gaze back to her cards. “How are your parents?”

“They’re good. I think they’re in Cozumel today.”

She chuckled. “In Cozumeltoday?You make it sound like they took a day trip to Mexico.”

“Oh.” He laughed. “They’re on a cruise this week. They’ll go to Cozumel for one day, and then Playa del Carmen the next day, then two days at sea, and then they’re back.”

“Did it leave out of Galveston?”

“Yup.” He laid his cards down. “Three of a kind.”

She groaned, dropping her head backward. “Ugh.”

“Think of it this way, Samantha,” he said, popping a tomato into his mouth. “I’m clearly giving you a better education in Texas Hold‘em than you’re getting from watching those poker competitions on TV.”

“You are just trying to steal my lunch,” she fired back, grabbing the pickle and taking a bite.

“Excuse me, I don’t think so,” he protested, attempting to swipe the pickle back, only for her to hold it out of his reach.

She studied it for a moment before coyly turning her gaze back to his face.

“Yourpickleis much softer than I would have guessed, Nick.”

Damn.Total, utter, blatant, obvious flirtation from her.That had to be a good sign.

He smirked. “Don’t insult mypicklejust because you’re losing.”

“Fine,” she replied, arching an eyebrow. “Your pickle isdelicious.”

He dropped his face into his hand and laughed hysterically.

“I think you’re blushing, mister big shot poker player.” She bit it a second time. “Yum.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I just don’t like the idea of youbitingmy pickle.”

So she narrowed her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m being really gentle.”

He chuckled again and lifted his hands in surrender, as she’d clearly beat him at flirting so he placed the deck in front of her. “You deal.”

She smiled at him and started flipping down cards. “I’ve been on that cruise before.”

“Really? The one my parents are on?”

“Yup. I know cell phone coverage is pretty much nonexistent in the Gulf, but if you happen to talk to them tonight or tomorrow, you should tell your mom there’s this little shop in Playa that has beautiful handmade Talavera pottery. It would match the tile in their pool perfectly. I know she was talking about wanting to find some nice outdoor place settings.”

He gleamed at her. “Yeah, I’ll tell her.”