One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(32)

When I wrapped my arms around his chest, so many things relaxed into place. The feeling of rightness and safety surrounded me, even though we rode a rocket at fifty miles an hour with the only thing between our heads and unforgiving asphalt being a thin layer of carbon fiber helmet over our skulls.

Cade gave me that unerring sense of safety. In charge, with a strength pouring from him into the air currents flying around us, we both knew he would be there to fight any danger I faced.

Even if said danger wore a suit.

Arriving to the game late, we parked in the small lot in one of the last available spaces, secured our helmets to the bike, and strode inside. With Cade’s arm around my shoulder in blatant possession, we walked through the dimly lit lobby where Daniel and Roy had bonded during their initial meeting. Laughter and deep voices rumbled from somewhere in the back.

As we crossed the room toward the sound, Cade asked, “Ready to play with the big boys?”

I jabbed him hard with my elbow, dislodging his arm.

Cade grunted, scowling.

“I’ve been playing. Haven’t you noticed?” I gave him a pointed look.

A grin stretched across his face, his gaze traveling down my body. “Oh, I’ve noticed, Maestro. You play very well.”

When we entered the private room, Cade and I were no longer touching skin to skin, but he was close enough to my side that I felt his heat through my jeans. Two distinct conversation areas, each with low, black leather club chairs, were on either side of us as we walked toward the back. The grouping on the left flanked a brown brick fireplace. A few feet from there began a beautiful carved wood bar that stretched all the way to the back.

The opposite wall had a yellowed patina to the plaster, a backdrop to a line of black-and-white photographs of apparent mobsters. Two matching chandeliers hung from the ceiling, tiny burgundy lampshades covering every bulb. Smaller lamps had been placed on tables in the conversation areas.

At the large game table in the back, three chairs sat unoccupied on the far side, so we made our way around to them. As we pulled out our chairs, Ryan and Daniel, who were seated across the table, made eye contact with us, but didn’t break their conversation. Another two men we hadn’t yet met sat on the other side of Cade.

Roy glanced up while shuffling the deck in his hands. “Cade! Hannah! We almost started without you. Take a seat. Daniel, would you grab their drinks?”

“Yeah, no problem. Hey, guys.” Daniel gave us a quick nod, his newly indigo-tipped Mohawk bouncing, then crossed over to the bar.

“Beer for me, man.” Cade pulled out my chair.

“Do you have water?” I asked Roy.

He chuckled. “Nope. Beer and hard liquor.”

Ready to play with the big boys? “I’ll have a beer.” No hard liquor tonight; my rusty poker skills needed every alert brain cell I could manage.

Ryan spoke in low tones to the two men next to him. Cade joined in on their conversation as well, offering his opinion about a topic I knew nothing about. Ponies?

When I gave Cade a questioning look, he grinned. “Horse racing.”

Suddenly, a gorgeous woman stepped into the room, throwing her arms up into the air with show-business flair. “I’m here, boys. You can deal the cards now.”

I arched a brow at Cade.

He shrugged and leaned over to me. “Haven’t played with Roy in months. He rotates players into private games on Wednesday nights.”

“Private games?”

Cade nodded. “A few games are going on tonight in different rooms. Sometimes he holds small tournaments.”

“Oh. I wondered how we’d make money with only this many people eating cupcakes.”

“Didn’t you talk volume when you met with him?”

On a sigh, I shook my head. “He and Daniel began talking about the game and Daniel playing, then Roy agreed to buy without details. When I called yesterday, Roy requested four dozen.” Daniel had brought them earlier, and I spotted one of those dozen on the corner of the bar.

“Well, there ya go. You can talk to him before we leave tonight. Find out if he wants the same every week and what his thoughts are for the tournaments.”

Daniel handed our beers to us and took his seat next to Ryan. Roy shuffled the cards one last time then pounded the stack onto the table, his expression turning serious.

“Game’s Texas Hold’em. If everyone hasn’t met, this is Celeste, Hannah, Cade, Bowie, John, Ryan, and Daniel. And I’m Roy.” He waggled his brows and grinned.

Ryan’s attention shifted to me after he nodded to each player at their introductions. His gaze held mine for a few extra beats, his lips curving into a warm smile. Cade noticed and pulled his hand from the table, sliding it over the back of my chair, reiterating his clear possession.

Enjoying Cade’s public claim of me after he’d been so hesitant before, I let the action slide, paying attention to Roy as he dealt the cards with quick flicks of his wrist. When I placed my hand over my cards, however, and slid them toward me, I angled away from Cade, twisting to face him.

He met my gaze, and I gave him a pointed look filled with challenge. He arched his brows and pulled both hands in front of his chest, holding them up in surrender.

Nodding with satisfaction, I picked up my three cards and leaned back, assessing my hand. A two, a four, and an eight, all different suits. I tossed my cards in. “Fold.”