I look up at them. All four of them watching me with varying degrees of hope and uncertainty and something deeper I’m afraid to name.
“Now...” I swallow hard. “Now I’m starting to see the appeal.”
The words come out soft, but I can see the impact they have. Dax’s whole body relaxes slightly. Malik’s eyes go warm. Jalen’s smile is gentle and knowing. Cole looks like I just gave him something precious.
My face is burning. I can feel the heat spreading down my neck, my chest. “I mean, you’re... you know. You’re good at the pack thing. Very... appealing.”
“We’re very appealing,” Cole repeats, and his grin is slow and devastating. “Did everyone hear that? Sierra thinks we’re appealing.”
“Cole,” I groan, burying my face in my hands.
“Extremely appealing,” he continues, clearly enjoying my mortification. “Appealingly appealing. The most appealing pack she’s ever?—”
“I will take back every single pretzel you won from me,” I threaten.
“You can’t take back winnings. That’s against poker rules.”
“I’ll make new rules.”
“Dictator,” he accuses, but he’s laughing.
But the question lingers.
I deal the next hand, trying to focus on the cards instead ofthe four alphas watching me like I’m the most interesting thing in the room.
We play several more rounds. Cole tries to bluff me again, and I call him on it immediately. He retaliates by correctly identifying my tell, earning him a rare win that he celebrates with entirely too much enthusiasm.
“I beat her!” he announces to the room. “I actually beat Sierra Smith at poker!”
“Once,” I point out. “You beat me once.”
“I’ll take it.” He’s practically glowing with satisfaction.
“Another for the win column?” Malik asks dryly. “Is this one next to the ‘Sex God’ column you started yesterday?”
Cole grins. “Right next to it. And they both have tally marks now.”
Despite myself, I laugh. “You’re so ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously appealing?” he suggests hopefully.
“Don’t push it.”
But I’m smiling as I say it, and from the way his own smile widens, he knows it. The laughter fades, but the warmth of it remains, settling between us in the quiet. But then the question comes before I can stop it: “Why were you so competitive with me? Professionally?”
The mood shifts immediately.
Malik sets down his cards, glancing at the others before he releases a breath. “Because you’re good. Really good.”
“So, you tried to crush me?” The words come out a bit sharp.
“No.” He meets my eyes steadily. “Not intentionally. But when we saw your work, saw how talented you were... we saw a threat to our business.”
“So, you poached my vendors.”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No excuse.
“And undercut my prices.”
