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“You and I are literally business partners,” Justine said. “And Jesus, Aster, we get it. You’re frothing at the mouth for her.”

“We’re in real business together. This is fake business. And you have way too many hotels for me to take a chance. So, Bentley.”

Bentley leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “I’m going to say yes to whatever you propose.”

“Excellent. I’m giving you all my properties and cash, excusing myself from the game, and when you beat Justine, the winning tagline for the night will be that Molly and Bentley won. With me billed first.”

Bentley’s brows lifted, but he only smirked.

“That’s ridiculous.” Justine said. “Are you holding a grudge about the railroad trade I wouldn’t make with you?” She narrowed her eyes.

Molly narrowed hers back.

A split second later, they both laughed.

Game evidently concluded, or perhaps merely on hold, Justine helped herself to a spear of green olives from the center of the table as Bentley tipped back in his chair again.

A suspicious amount of eye contact passed between Aster and Eli.

From the other side of Justine, Alannah said, “And now for the dumb boy behavior.”

“I’ll point out that I don’t participate in this.” Bentley gestured at Eli and Aster as they both stood, wide grins splitting their faces. Eli began clearing the table in front of him while Aster pocketed his cuff links, already deep into the process of rolling up his shirt sleeves. Molly couldn’t help but watch, enraptured by his deft movements, the sight of his forearms, realizing far too late the snare she’d been trapped in.

“Close your mouth, Graham. It’s undignified,” Justine said.

Molly’s mouth snapped shut. “What am I watching?”

Bentley took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke away from the table. “Idiots.”

Considering for a moment, Molly conceded. “I can see that, yes.”

Roy stood as well, giving Molly a wink as he passed by her on the way to join whatever Eli and Aster were up to.

“You’re a part of this too?” she asked him, appalled.

Roy’s grin, and his evident comfort inside this dynamic that was still so new to Molly, was as welcome as it was bizarre. “No clue how they survived without an experienced referee before me. They both cheat.”

“You’ve got this, babe,” came Alannah’s whooping support from across the table.

Molly needn’t ask what Roy intended to referee, because suddenly, Eli and Aster were engaged in what looked like a very serious battle for arm wrestling superiority.

Arm wrestling matches were a fantastic thing, Molly decided, having never spared them a second thought before. Shamelessly, she watched Aster flex, pant, and focus, sweat breaking out at his temples, hair disheveled . . .

Eli’s hand slammed down to the tabletop.

Aster jumped to his feet, rounding to kiss the side of her neck. “I won,” he crowed, staring down at her with dark eyes and a smug expression, sucking all the air from the room around them.

“Drinking, board games, and arm wrestling matches?” she asked, a hint of amusement bleeding into her tone. This whole evening was ridiculous. And so much fun.

He hummed, either in agreement or approval. He ran a finger down her forearm, setting wildfires in his wake, before he laced his fingers between her own.

“Let’s take a walk,” he said, ducking close to her again as he whispered into her ear.

“Why?”

“Because I want to be alone with you.”

It was an excellent reason.