Page 21 of Lady Luck's Kiss
“She’s mine. I have put a lot of work into her, so yeah, I’m proud. She’s my goals, you know?”
“You should be.”
They stood there for a few moments and she could see the hesitation in his eyes. “What?” she asked and saw him shake his head. Instead, he led her back into the waiting area where it was a bit cleaner and the basket he had brought sat. “So, what did you bring in the basket?”
“I brought dinner for us. It’s nothing fancy, just a little something.”
“Sounds good, but it’s a little early for dinner.”
“True. I was kind of hoping to spend the afternoon with you and then sweep you off your feet for dinner. I even have a closer.”
“A what?” she exclaimed with a laugh. If he didn’t look so embarrassed, she’d have thought he was being arrogant and claiming to have a “closer” for the night. He was actually blushing. What exactly was a closer anyway? Did he think he was going to get to sleep with her?
“You’ll see.”
“Well, that is unsettling and a bit unnerving.”
“Okay, maybecloserisn’t the right term. How about a gift?”
“That’s a much better term,” she admitted, laughing. “So, how shall we pass the time this afternoon?”
“Ever play spades?”
“You know, the naughty term for playing cards is strip poker. Not spades.”
“I wasn’t intending to be naughty, little one. I want to talk and get to know you a bit more and thought maybe we could do that over a card game.”
“A card game that won’t result in me being naked? You aren’t trying very hard, Romeo.”
“By all means, if you want to undress, I am NOT going to stop you from doing so,” he retorted with a wide grin. “Go ahead, please! But I thought we’d try spades because I’m old-fashioned. My parents always used to play, and they said that you couldsee the true personality of a person based on how they played. If they were cutthroat, they’d probably be that way in life. If they played well with a partner and fell into sync…” He stopped and looked at Charlie, his eyes unfathomable. “That partner would probably sync well the rest of their life. Dad swore that was how he knew Mom was the right one. She could read his mind and play off his hand.”
“That’s so sweet,” she breathed and cracked a smile. “Cheesy and tender, but sweet. I love it. But don’t you need four to play?”
“Yes, and, in fact, the other two should be here any minute.”
“You are bringing others? Who?” she asked, slightly bothered that he had taken it upon himself to plan out the afternoon without consulting her - and invited other people to this little romantic interlude that was quickly fizzling before her eyes.
“Beth is on her way and bringing a friend.”
“You threw that together last minute, didn’t you?”
“Absolutely I did,” he nodded proudly. He pointed out the window nearby just over her shoulder. “And there they are. Want to go wipe off that lipstick, little one? I’m not going to have time to smear it until later when we are alone.”
10
CHARLIE
The game had started simply enough—just a friendly round of spades to pass the time in the customer lounge of her small garage. Charlotte hadn’t expected much beyond laughter and a few lighthearted arguments. And that’s exactly what she got—though she hadn’t anticipated just how much mischief Beth and her roommate Jodie would stir up.
They sat crowded around the battered wooden table, the hum of the overhead lights and the faint smell of motor oil and rubber filling the air. Cards slapped against the tabletop, chairs squeaked against the concrete floor, and laughter echoed far louder than the shuffle of any deck.
The first time Charlie caught sight of a card disappearing beneath the table, she almost fell out of her chair in outrage. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and for a brief, indignant second, she felt like she was watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat. Except there was nothingmagicalabout it.
Beth, ever shameless, only grinned at her, stuck out her tongue with a sparkle in her eyes, and casually claimed the hand as though she’d won fair and square. Charlie couldn’t help but laugh even while her jaw tightened.
And so it went on.
Shuffle, deal, play, laugh, cheat, repeat.
