I lean forward, eyeing him. “What do you say you and I play a game of honor then?”
“I don’t need to win back my money to prove anything. If for some reason you beat me, I still won’t lose. I’m filthy rich, sweetheart!”
“Let’s not play for just the money then,” I say.
He lifts a bored brow at my proposal.
“Whoever has the lower hand loses a layer of clothing.”
Baylor’s head whips to me, making the butterflies come alive in my stomach.
“We play until there are no layers left.”
Rollins throws his head back and howls. “That’s absurd. Why on earth would I do that?”
Everyone looks at me.
I nod at the giant pile of poker chips in the pot. “Winner takes all.”
“Pen …” Henry says warily.
Rollins’s eyes narrow. He’s considering it, but he’s not convinced.
I release a small laugh. “Don’t tell me you haven’t pictured me naked since I introduced myself to you upstairs.”
There’s a rumble from Baylor’s throat as Rollins drags his eyes down my front.
“Besides, you already have the upper hand,King.” The name tastes sour on my tongue.
“How’s that?” he asks.
“I don’t have very many layers on.”
That seals the deal.
Rollins threads his arms through his sport coat to add an extra layer, sits back in his chair, and lights a fresh cigar. “Deal us in.”
Luke’s face lights up as he shuffles the deck and starts the first round.
Baylor leaves my side and moves about the room, watching from afar.
My opponent still seems a bit on edge, so I throw my first hand as a confidence booster to him, and I lose my heels.
“Those shouldn’t count!” Peter protests.
I chuck my shoes at him, and Jamie scrambles to claim them for himself.
My next three hands cause Rollins to shed his coat, shoes, and socks. But I try not to get too cocky. His focus has increased, making him harder for me to read.
My spirit shakes when I’m dealt a set of aces, and Rollins surprises me with two pairs.
The room is silent when I lay down my cards, waiting.
I stand and find Baylor in the corner, watching me as I untie my dress and let it fall to the ground.
The room explodes with a string of whistles, but all I can hear is my heartbeat as I watch Baylor’s pupils dilate.
Rollins blows smoke at me as I sit back down in just my strapless lace bra and high-rise panties. “Two more.”
