Page 65 of What Happens In Vegas
Chapter 27
Quinn could taste victory. No way was he going to smile at the wrong time or give any indication of the cards that were in his hand. The TV cameras were cruising around their table. This final round was televised. He kept his attention in front and stared down at the chips, at the pot, glanced once at his cards and slid them over the viewer for the audience to see. He put them in frontof him and placed his hands palm down on the table.
Quinn tuned out the large crowd. From under the shadow of his baseball cap and behind his mirrored aviators, he swiveled his gaze around the table. Scrutinizing his opponents, watching for a twitch here or a nervous touch to the face there. He knew these players and their idiosyncrasies. He’d crushed them before in other tournaments.
They knewit, and he knew it. The floor was hushed, and the only sound was the players shuffling their chips. He closed his eyes and tuned out all the sounds around him. It was like a collective sigh sucked the air out of the room.
Heneeded a king to complete his flush. His hand was good, a winning hand, but it all came down to the river. He drew in a quiet breath and held it. Waiting for the turn ofthe card.
The dealer played the last one and it was all Quinn could do not to leap from his chair with the roar. The card he needed showed its pretty face to him. He quickly looked at the other players from behind his sunglasses, trying to catch any expression they might reveal on their faces.
It didn’t matter. Quinn had to go all in now. For two reasons. One, because he had an excellent handand two, because this was his last game. It was go big or go home. After the last round of betting, the pot was the biggest he’d ever played for. It was over $2 million. The others would have to ante up or fold. They all matched his bet and called. Quinn watched the cards and refused to let nerves play with him.
It was time for the showdown. Each player preceding him put their cards face up,and he knew he had it. When he laid his cards, the place erupted. He had won. The thrill of the win spiked an adrenaline rush. And he knew this was another reason he played. He enjoyed the excitement that came from playing poker. The satisfaction of winning, beating the cards and his opponents.
Only, it would be his last time.
He stood up and shook everyone’s hand.
A crowd surrounded him. Hewasn’t able to avoid them, and it frustrated the hell out of Quinn.
‘Great game,’ one opponent said to him. ‘Are you doing the Caribbean challenge?’
They shook hands, and Quinn knew he was distracted. His focus had completely veered from poker to Bonni. But at the question about the Caribbean Challenge, he was pulled up short. Quinn paused and realized how easy it was to answer thequestion.He smiled and shook his head. ‘No, not this year. Good luck to you.’
‘Thanks, man.’
He gritted his teeth, knowing that he couldn’t leave yet. The sponsors needed to do their thing. He had to say something, and the Royal Flush Girls would be coming out to help celebrate. There’d be interviews, television spots, promo ops . . . and all Quinn wanted to do was get the hell out of here. But he wasa professional. And it was expected.
The crowd grew, and he was swarmed. But it didn’t stop him from keeping a hawk eye on the crowd for Bonni.
Then he saw her shiny dark hair like a beacon. She pushed her way through the throng toward him. He felt the smile crack wide on his face. She saw him, and their gazes locked over the distance. Bonni pointed to the lounge area and then at herself. Henodded and watched her make her way to the bar.
Suddenly, Quinn felt ecstatic. The win paled in comparison to seeing Bonni here. That meant she had stayed, and was willing to miss her flight so they could talk. They now had some precious time to discuss their situation. How they would make it work and what was to come. He had the urge to run over, snatch her up and whisk her away to places unknownso nothing could take her away from him.
He kept glancing over at her. She was watching him, and they smiled at each other. He finished up the interview and, finally, his obligations were over. He slipped away from the hubbub.
Bonni was facing the bar, holding a glass of water. Quinn saw a couple of men gathered around her. One was being a particular pain to Bonni. She turned to him and saidsomething, and the expression on her face left no room for interpretation. She was mad. An answering anger flared inside Quinn. The douchebag was all over his woman.
Logically,he knew that Bonni was a cop and could take care of herself. Still, he found himself charging over there like the bear he’d been nicknamed after in college. Quinn pulled up when he saw Bonni whirl around and grab the guy’shand which had just been on her ass. Within seconds, he was twisted up like a pretzel and down on one knee in front of her. Quinn watched her handle the man. People beside her were startled and Security appeared out of nowhere to escort the man away somewhere to, presumably, lick his wounds.
‘Holy shit. That was impressive.’
And it was then he realized there was so much more to her than he’dunraveled these last couple of days. She was the most fascinating woman he’d ever met, and one that had crept into his heart. More intriguing and beguiling than any other woman he’d ever known. Her feistiness is what had caught his attention that first night. Her zest for life was a breath of fresh air, and her willingness to experience new things. Like stepping outside her comfort zone, as she provedin his room up against the window. Quinn’s chest tightened and his desire for her roared back to the surface. He’d kept it dampened all day, and it threatened to unleash itself. And her self-defense techniques were a huge turn-on. He swallowed and fisted his hands.
Quinn wove between the people milling around, not taking his eyes off her. She was magnificent in her outrage. She raised her hands,arched her back and ran her fingers through her hair, shaking it out. She watched the man get carted away and Quinn drew in a breath. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes flashing. Quinn was turned on and he needed to get back under control or it would be evident to anyone that cared to look below his belt.
Bonni turned, and her gaze fell on him. The fury on her face melted into joy. Her smilebeckoned him and the ire in her eyesturned to happiness. He felt like he’d been punched in the gut and it was all he could do to breathe. She’d been so angry at him this morning and he was relieved to see that she wasn’t any longer.
‘Quinn!’ She ran to him and he scooped her up. She hooked a leg around him and wrapped her arms around his neck. For the first time, he truly understood her strength,independence and power. It captivated him even more.
‘What are you doing, trying to pick fights with douchebags?’
‘Right? That guy just wouldn’t take no for an answer.’
‘Well, you surely showed him the consequences, no doubt about that.’ He let her slide down his body, in a move that tortured them both, then took her hand and pulled her close.
Bonni’s smile faded and she looked up at him throughher eyelashes. ‘Quinn, about this morning—’
Another fan came over to congratulate Quinn and, in the distance, he could see a rep from one of his sponsors searching the crowds. ‘Hold that thought, Temptress. Let’s go get a private table before we get interrupted again.’
She looked up at him and he swooped in for another kiss, unable to resist her.
‘I’ll go anywhere you want me to, Quinn.’
He may have just won millions of dollars, but it was in this precise moment that Quinn felt like the luckiest man alive.
