I give Henry a look across the table and nod.
He raises a brow and fights back a smile. “Want us to deal you in, Pen?”
I shrug. “Why not?”
8
Flushed
“Do you even know the rules of the game, sweetheart?” Rollins is quick to question.
“Is it the same as strip poker?” I scrunch my nose, playing dumb. “I played that at a friend’s house one time, but I was terrible!”
“Jesus.” Henry rakes a hand down his face.
Rollins, Peter, and Jamie all exchange glances of amusement.
“Aspen!” Baylor grits out my name.
“What? You guys have been down here for hours, and I’m bored.” I pout.
“Yeah, let her have some fun, Frost.” Rollins winks at me.
Jesse sets a wine glass down in front of me, and I thank him.
“Can she even afford the buy-in?” Peter asks, looking around the table.
Jamie tips his whiskey glass at me. “Yeah, this isn’t your college party kind of stakes, princess.”
“I’ll stake her.” Henry shrugs.
“You’re bleeding chips, Donner. Let me cover for you,” Rollins says.
I smile. “I think I’ll go with Henry. I know he’s good for it.”
Rollins almost chokes on his next breath. “Girl, I’m the richest man in this room.”
“And the humblest, I see,” I retort.
Henry laughs, and I’m glad to see his spirit has changed.
“I’ll still stick with Henry’s offer in case I need to pay him back.”
Rollins raises a suggestive brow. “I have better ways you can pay off your debt that don’t involve cash.”
I instinctively put my hand on Baylor’s thigh beneath the table. He covers my hand with his and rubs a thumb over my knuckles. “Maybe you can help me with my first hand?” I ask him.
He frowns down at me. “Aspen, I really don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a fast learner.” I bite my lip and smile and then raise my voice for the rest of the table. “I mean, how hard can it be, right?”
“Looks like I’m going home with the deepest pockets tonight, boys.” Rollins holds a finger up to signal to Jesse for another pour.
“I like your confidence, Aspen,” Luke tells me. He slides me my chips and then starts dealing.
“Can we at least lower the blind until she plays a few rounds?” Henry asks.
“Sure thing.” Jamie nods in agreement.
