Page 43 of A Lot Like Love
Chloe nodded to the other two players when she won, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. She liked to be understated, to not draw any more attention to herself than she had to, and she was back playing the table again within minutes.
She fought a smile as she received a few looks from the other men, hearing a grumble from across the table. The fact that she was a woman winning made her stand out enough, which meant she had to make even more of an effort to stay completely under the radar. She clenched her toes again and gave herself a mental high five. She was back on the horse and it felt damn good.
Ryder sipped his beer. It was the only one he’d had in the entire time he’d been watching Chloe—there was only so long he could be content drinking club sodas. He’d kept his distance but he’d never taken his eyes off of her table, except to scan the room like she’d asked. And now she was heading in his direction, a smug smile on her face.
“How you doin’, baby?” he asked, opening his arms and drawing her in.
Her laugh was for his ears only as she slipped her hands around his waist and leaned in for a kiss.
“We’re loaded,” she murmured. “And I think I’ve got the bug back.”
Ryder stroked her hair and kissed her back. “You’re incredible. Playing those guys like that is amazing.”
“It was hit and miss with the first game but after that I got my rhythm.”
“So you wanna split or play another table?” he asked. Ryder had liked watching her but he was starting to get bored—he either wanted to play himself or take her back to their suite. Not that he wasn’t grateful to have Chloe on his side, but still.
“Any tables you think I should hit?” she asked, waving the bartender over and ordering a soda.
“The guys over there,” he said, pointing, “have been betting big. The fat guy to the dealer’s left is cleaning up. You might want to join for a game or two, and I can go find some old ladies to play somewhere else so I at least have half a chance of winning.”
“Play at the next table over. You’ll have fun.” She downed her drink, touching the corners of her mouth with the back of one finger. “I’m going to the restroom for a second, then when I come back I’ll wait for an opening.”
Ryder tugged his chair closer to hers and nudged her knees apart so their thighs were pressed tight. “You sure you don’t want to go back to bed?”
Chloe laughed but there was heat in her gaze. She was high on winning and he was high on watching her. “Don’t forget what I’m practicing for, Ryder.”
He sighed, leaning forward to touch foreheads with her, staring into her eyes. “Never. You’re just so damn hot right now.”
She giggled and jumped down from her chair. “And I’ll be even hotter tonight when we’re rolling in hundred dollar bills on our bed.”
“Don’t get too cocky, darlin’.”
Chloe pressed a wet, slow kiss to his lips, not talking until she pulled back, lips still almost brushing his. “I won’t.”
“If it isn’t ChloegoddamnRivers.”
Ryder felt Chloe freeze, her fingers digging into his thigh where before they’d been resting softly. Her eyes met his, panic obvious as she started at him and didn’t look away.
Ryder took charge, slipping a hand around her waist and glancing over his shoulder. “Can I help you?” No one was going to intimidate Chloe, not if he had anything to do with it.
He locked eyes with an older man, his greasy hair pulled back into a low ponytail. Ryder stayed seated, not wanting to make a big deal out of someone recognizing her until he had to. It wasn’t his style to make a scene.
“I was talking to the lady.”
Ryder changed his mind real quick, springing to his feet. “And I was talking to you.”
Chloe turned then, leaning back against the bar but staying tight to him. “Long time no see,” she said, the terror gone from her gaze and replaced with a steely determination that he recognized from her time at the tables. She sure knew how to put her game face on.
“I could say the same about you, sweetheart.”
Ryder bristled but he bunched a fist and kept it at his side. If Chloe could put on a poker face, then so could he. At least until he needed to act.
“You here to pay off some of your daddy’s debts?”
She laughed, but it was a fake kind of trill that Ryder hadn’t heard before. He instinctively moved even closer to her, staring daggers at the stranger.
“I’m not responsible for my old man’s debts now, and I wasn’t back then either.”
