Page 6 of Forged

Interesting.

The cards are dealt for a new hand. I shield my cards with one hand and lift the corners with my thumb.

Queen of Hearts. Ace of Clubs.

Pretty enough to play with.

I catch the man in seat six watching me. Just the faintest turn of his gaze. A professional assessment. I tilt my head, studying him right back. He picks up his water, watching me over the rim and it’s embarrassing how my clit begins to pulse under his scrutiny.

The blinds stand between us at first, then the fold-fest begins until it reaches him, and he triples the blind, fifteen grand. An old rounder sitting next to me is hanging on with a pitiful stack of chips that’s been dwindling all night. He takes a second look at his cards before folding, pushing his small blind toward the dealer.

Smart. This isn’t his hand.

It’s ours.

I call. Seat six glances at my stack, then at me.

The flop hits: Ten of Hearts. Seven of Diamonds. Queen of Clubs.

Top pair. Not terrible. I tap the felt.

He waits a moment—studying me—and checks.

The smart bastard knew I was going to check-raise him.

The dealer burns and turns: Ace of Spades.

Now I have top two pair. Only thing beating me right now is a straight or three of a kind. Time to find out if he has either.

I slide four chips in and bet twenty thousand.

His eyes lift. Blue eyes that look like a calm ocean. He studies me like he’s trying to see into my soul.

Finally, he asks, “Did you hit that flop?”

I shrug, then he calls.

River: Seven of Hearts.

The card pairs the board. Well, that’s annoying. It could help him. It could help me more if he only hit a single pair on the flop.

I count out a stack and push forty-five thousand forward.

He laughs quietly, a warm sound that prickles right down my spine.

“Bold,” he says.

His voice is smoke and gravel. Controlled and confident. Too calm for a man staring at a bet that should make him sweat if he doesn’t have the cards.

I smile sharply. “I don’t play timid.”

His eyes stay on me as he cuts chips. “So I’ve noticed. Now I need to decide if you actually have a hand or if you think you can bluff me like you did the gentleman earlier.”

“I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. If you want to know, then call,” I say softly.

Challenge issued.

He thinks. Which means he has something decent, but not good enough to feel safe.