Collide (Collide #1)(38)

Emily leaned herself forward, mimicking his cockiness. It was harder than she thought as she stared into his unblinking blue eyes. "Afraid to call?"

Olivia, Tina, and Trevor watched closely for Gavin's reply, curious expressions tight on each of their faces.

Gavin smirked and pushed his stack of chips against hers. "I hold fear at bay for a miniscule amount of things in life, but calling your bluff isn't one of them," he laughed and flipped over his cards. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends - Larry, Moe, and Curly."

Olivia let out a laugh. "Oh shit, you're in trouble now, Em. He just pulled The Three Stooges move on you."

Emily widened her eyes in mock horror. "Hmm, I might be." She tapped the edge of her cards. "But considering I have three Aces, I think I'm pretty good for now."

She fanned her cards along the table as her face brightened with a huge satisfied smile.

The small group - including Gavin - hooted out in hysterical laughter. With her smile beaming ear to ear, Emily quickly yanked the three-hundred-dollar bills off the table and tucked them into her shorts. Right there in that moment, the tension in both Gavin and Emily's shoulders - from the way their worlds collided - deflated and vanished like a ghost.

Eventually, Chris, Joe, and Dillon made their way back outside. Gavin took a few minutes to fill Dillon in on his devastating loss. Dillon laughed and shot Emily a proud smile. The group helped Gavin clean up, and everyone decided it was best to call it a night. Before the droves of guests arrived, the guys usually indulged in a very early morning fishing trip on Gavin's boat, so sleep was definitely needed. Everyone said goodnight to one another before heading into their designated rooms.

It was well after one in the morning when Emily crawled out of bed. Dillon's liquor-enhanced snoring was keeping her awake. Attempting to go back to sleep, she nudged him, flipped on the television, and even placed a pillow over his face in hopes of stifling the noise.

None of it worked.

Deciding that a good dose of fresh air might help bring on sleep, she quietly opened the bedroom's French doors that led out to a balcony.

Immediately, it was as if the ocean called to her. She walked over to the edge and peered out to the distant waves tumbling onto the sand dunes. As her senses were just starting to absorb the sounds, smells and sights engulfing her, Gavin's voice saying "hello" made her jump.

She whirled around, a curl of hair catching on her lips, and found him sitting in an Adirondack chair. "Jesus!" she let out louder than anticipated.

"No, it's Gavin. Gavin Blake," he deadpanned, reaching for a beer from a six-pack on the floor. "Although, in certain private one-on-one situations, I've been referred to as God," he laughed.

With an unladylike snort, Emily laughed with him. "You're too much."

"Aren't I though?"

"Yes, very," she replied and then turned back to the door. "I didn't realize this was a connecting balcony. I'll let you have your privacy."

"By all means, stay and have a beer with me."

With the mildest of trepidations, she made her way over to him. He popped a beer open for her. "Thank you," she replied, accepting it and sinking into a chair beside him.

"You're very welcome. So what brings you out on the balcony in the wee hours of the night?"

"You can't hear that?"

Gavin's brows knitted in confusion as he looked around. "Uh, I hear the waves."

"Then you're lucky," she sighed. "Cause I can still hear Dillon snoring."