Page 125 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

Lucian draws out the chair at the center of the table. “You’re learning.”

“There’s a difference?”

“An important one,” he says.

I remain standing. “Are those real chips?”

“No monetary value,” Nina assures me. “They’re used for instruction and private games where the stakes are something other than cash.”

I look at Lucian. “What kind of stakes?”

His expression is entirely too innocent.

Caleb claims the chair to my right. “Sit down and find out.”

I should refuse.

Instead, I take the place Lucian offered, which allows him to sit on my left.

Trapped between them again.

The ivory chips feel satisfyingly heavy when I pick one up. Rather than a dollar amount, each is stamped with the Sterling crown.

Nina slides three cards from the shoe and places them face up on the felt. An ace, a nine, and a king.

“Baccarat is simpler than its reputation,” Lucian says.

“That sounds like something a professional gambler tells a person immediately before taking all their money.”

“I’m not a professional gambler.”

“No. You merely manipulate games, engineer losses, collect markers, and accept human beings as collateral.”

Nina looks down at the table with impressive professionalism.

Caleb does not flinch. “That isn’t baccarat.”

“So we’re compartmentalizing?”

“For the next hour,” Lucian says. “Yes.”

I fold my arms.

He indicates the cards. “Aces count as one. Cards from two through nine retain their face value. Tens and face cards are worth zero.”

“Why?”

“Because those are the rules.”

“That is not an explanation.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

Caleb taps the king. “Zero.”

Then the nine. “Nine.”

Then the ace. “One.”