Page 25 of Denim & Diamonds

I ignored my brother and headed to the door to greet February. Her cheeks were all rosy. “Why the hell don’t you have a jacket on?”

“I didn’t have anything that went with my outfit.”

February had on a burgundy, form-fitting, V-neck dress with a bright teal belt cinched tight around her narrow waist. It accentuated her killer figure, showcasing the beautiful tits I knew were under there since I’d spentwaayytoo many hours looking at that middle-finger picture this week. I grumbled and removed my flannel. “Here. This goes just fine.”

She looked around me as I draped it over her shoulders. “Am I interrupting something? I noticed the sign on the window said closed, but the door was open.”

“Nothing important. It’s just card night. I close early one Sunday a month to play poker with my brothers.”

“Oh.” She thumbed over her shoulder. “I should go then.”

She shoulddefinitelygo—what with my nosy brothers and how damn sexy she looked tonight—yetI found myself shaking my head. “Stay. I’ll make these guys be on their best behavior.”

“Are you sure?”

“I haven’t heard from you in a while. Thought maybe you were done with sneaking out.”

“The maintenance guy that I bribe for my ladder has been out sick, and my friend Morgan’s phone was confiscated, so I couldn’t text you.” She smiled and tilted her head. “Shame. I had big plans to make that photo I’d sent you into a series.”

Yep, it was a bad idea to have her stay. Abad, badidea. But before I could come to my senses, my brother Elvin yelled, “Are you playing this hand or what?”

I raked a hand through my hair and lowered my voice. “I have three aces. I need to play this one out.”

“Mind if I watch?”

“Just ignore the jackass brothers,especiallyTrevor.”

February and I walked to the table together. Each of my brothers had a look of surprise on his face, except for Trevor, who was too busy checking out my guest. I kicked his chair as I passed. “Don’t be a dick.”

“What did I do?”

I grabbed a chair from a nearby table and positioned it next to where I was sitting with a nod. “Everyone, this is February. Feb, these are three of my idiot brothers—Elvin, Maddox, and Trevor.”

“You must not be from around here. Idefinitelywould have noticed you.” Trevor smiled. His tone made me want to punch him.

February politely smiled back as she sat. “I live in New York. I’m just…visiting for a while.”

I tossed two chips into the pile and lifted my cards. “Raise.”

The betting went around the table, yet all eyes stayed on February.

“You ever play poker, February?” Elvin asked.

“Once or twice. But I’m not very good.”

“Call,” I said and flipped over my cards.Three aces and a king high. All of my brothers tossed their hands onto the table without bothering to show what they had.

Trevor tipped his chair back until the front feet came off the floor. “Looks like maybe she really is your lucky charm. That’s the first hand he’s won all night.”

“Oh really?” February turned to me as I swept the chips to my side of the table. “Do I get a cut of the winnings for my part?”

“Sure do. You want a beer or a beer?”

She chuckled. “Tough choice. I guess I’ll go with a beer.”

Elvin gathered all the cards and shuffled once again. “What kind of a name is February? I’ve never heard of it before.”

“My mother went through a phase where she believed she was remembering things from her past lives. She went to see this medium who claimed to channel the spirit of my mother’s past life from two-hundred years ago—a prostitute named February.”

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