Suddenly, Alexis stood there in a form-fitting teddy the color of a storm cloud. She took his breath away as she strode toward him, her smile welcoming him into her outstretched arms. Sparkling green eyes met his, and his throat constricted—she was so beautiful he couldn’t speak, couldn’t even breathe.

  “Honey,” he said when he could. “You look like a dream. Are you sure you’re real?”

  “Don’t you dare pinch me to be sure, Cowboy.” She slid her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes. “Kiss me good, Rodeo. I was gone far too long.”

  He laughed and pulled her close. “Come here, you.” He swept her mouth in a tender kiss, wanting her to feel how much she meant to him. He traced her lips with the tip of his tongue, and she drew it into her mouth, caressing him with her own. He cupped her head in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Woman, I’m going to make love to you all night long.”

  She smiled. “I’ll hold you to that, Cowboy.”

  He picked her up and placed her in the middle of the bed, where he’d already drawn down the covers. “Lights on or off?”

  She gave him a wicked grin. “On, Rodeo. I want to see that gorgeous body of yours in action.”

  He whooped with laughter and crawled in beside her. “Now that’s my kind of woman.”

  He slid his thigh over hers and raised himself above her on his good arm, stroking her cheek with his other hand. “I love how you make me laugh.”

  She grinned. “Ditto, buster.”

  He slowly settled his weight on her while still holding back. “You fit me perfectly.”

  She shook her head. “No, you fit me perfectly, Rodeo.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Agreed, Cowgirl. I fit you just right.” He looked at her full, lush breasts and knew that somehow, he’d died and gone to heaven. This couldn’t be real.

  The corners of her mouth lifted. He’d always been fascinated by the sensual swell of those lips, loved kissing them and tasting them. He could spend hours just making love to her mouth. “Alexis?”

  She ran her hand over the muscles of his shoulder. “Hmm?”

  “I’m glad you chose me. Chose to be here, in my bed, loving me.” He looked into her eyes and shared his soul, holding nothing back.

  She touched his face, traced the contour of his cheekbone, her gaze never leaving his. “Dane, you’re a fine man. A good man. Of course I chose you.” She rose up to him, kissing him so softly it left his lips tingling. “You deserve the love of a good woman, Rodeo. You should have a pretty wife and at least three little cowboys of your own. I mean that with all my heart.”

  He kissed her quickly and rose up on his hand. “Well, it’s settled, then. We’ll go to Vegas instead of Reno and find a little wedding chapel.”

  The look on her face was priceless and he laughed. “I’m kidding, woman. Although, if you’re offering, I wouldn’t say no.”

  She punched him. “Lord, you nearly gave me a heart attack. And, no, I’m not offering.”

  He grinned. “You’re a betting woman, aren’t you?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Yes, I guess you could say that.”

  He raised himself to his knees and offered his hand. “I’ll bet you fifty dollars that there’ll come a day when you ask me to marry you.”

  Her eyes widened, and she scowled at him. “Never happen, buster!”

  He laughed. “Never say never, woman. Come here.” He lifted her up and kissed her, sweeping her mouth with his. As she parted her lips, he slipped his tongue inside to find the hot slickness of her skin. The touch of her tongue against his sent arrows of flame jolting through him.

  When he finally drew back, she was breathless. “Huh. You may be right, Cowboy. You keep kissing me like that, and I might ask you to marry me.”

  “Don’t worry, there’s more where that came from.” He laid her back on the bed, and the sight of her was enough to ramp up his simmering arousal. She ran her hands lightly up his back, sending goose bumps racing down his spine. After a long, sensual kiss that left her gasping, he whispered, “What do you want, sweetheart?”

  “Make love to me, Dane. Now, honey.”

  It was the second time that she’d called him “honey”, and it went straight to his heart. He shivered, his whole being attuning to her.

  He kissed the hollow of her throat and began inching his way down her body, tasting her with his tongue as tiny whimpers escaped her.

  “Dane.” Her voice sounded smoky, sexy.

  “Yes, honey,” he said, surprised at how raspy with desire his own voice sounded.

  But she said nothing more, lost in the sensations he was creating as his questing lips neared her curls.

  Her hands slid through his hair, and she breathed out a long sigh. He positioned himself between her thighs, and a tiny hum of desire escaped her. He spread her open. She was so beautiful. He blew softly, and she gasped. He knew what she wanted, and he stroked her, his tongue working its magic. She cried out her pleasure and he smiled, continuing to do what she loved, what she needed. He thrust two fingers inside her, and she eagerly took him in. Moaning, she whispered, “Dane... Dane.”

  “I’m here, baby.” Suddenly she squeezed his fingers, the rhythmic grasping of her body telling him that she was there. He rose to his knees and lifted her hips, fitting her to him perfectly as he slowly slid inside her. She raised her legs, clinging to his shoulders.

  God, she felt incredible. So hot, so tight. He thrust in again, and then again.

  “Dane!” she cried, her eyes squeezed shut. He pounded back and forth inside her, his rhythm hard and fast as she climaxed.

  Sensation exploded inside him, and he thrust again, and then one more time. A guttural sound escaped him. Her body still shuddered her own release.

  Echoes of pleasure reverberated through him. He couldn’t move.

  God, he’d never get enough of her.

  He opened his eyes just as she did. She crooked a smile. “About that all-night promise, Cowboy?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh?”

  “I may not be tough enough.”

  He cracked up. “It’s up to you, sweetheart, but now you know what you’re missing.”

  She threw a pillow at him.

  Chapter Nine

  Alexis’s hands clenched and unclenched in the Uber on the way to the casino. Despite her admitted prowess at poker, she’d never played in a big venue like Reno, and never in a casino. With no money to lose, why would she even go?

  Dane took her hand. “Nervous?”

  “As a cat.” She tried to smile but knew it wasn’t much of a success. “I’ve never worried about losing before, but this is different.”

  He put his arms around her and cuddled her to his chest. “Honey, you’re the same player who’s kicked my ass more times than I can count. You know poker—and don’t you forget that. The only thing different now will be the four walls surrounding you.”

  She let out a long sigh and nodded. “I know you’re right. I don’t understand why I’m suddenly feeling overwhelmed. It’s not like me.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I know you think you can’t afford to lose, but look at it this way. If you go broke, you’re no worse off than if you’d never tried.”

  She chuckled softly. After a deep breath, she said, “Damn, you’re right. I had no way to pay the bank before I started playing poker, so if I lose everything, I’m just back to where I started.”

  She turned and gazed out the window. “I haven’t told you what happened, have I?”

  “Not exactly, no.” He clasped her hand in a firm grip. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel like it.”

  “No, I want to.” She glanced at him and shrugged. “My dad mortgaged the ranch thirty years ago. He needed new farm equipment. I guess he figured that our ranching business would go well and that he could put money aside. It didn’t work out that way. The terms of the loan included a $180,000 balloon payment, and I found out recently that it’s coming due in less than two months.” She looked out the window again. “The bank won’t refinance—and before you say anything, I’ve already tried other banks.”

  “Alexis, I’ve seen you play. That amount is doable. Maybe not in the time that we have here in Reno, but certainly in the time you have before the note comes due.” He put his finger under her chin, and she turned to him. “I believe in you. Now, buck up. I want to see that total badass I’m used to facing me across the poker table.”

  The corner of her mouth lifted. “Thanks, Dane.” She brushed his lips with a kiss. “I feel more like myself now.” After a deep, calming breath, she looked through the windshield, rebuilding her confidence one thought at a time.

  Dane watched Alexis in his peripheral vision as her back straightened and her shoulders drew back. That was the Alexis he knew, right there. She couldn’t doubt herself when she got to the casino if she wanted to save her family’s ranch. Hopefully his words of encouragement had put her on the right track. That look of concentration she wore was a good omen.

  He’d booked them into a small boutique hotel in a historic Reno neighborhood. Away from the hustle and bustle of tourists and gamblers, the Jesse was stylish while still preserving its unique heritage. It had a quiet bar and lounge that Dane expected he and Alexis would enjoy immensely. Most of all, Alexis would need a peaceful place to unwind when she left the stressful atmosphere of the gaming table. The Jesse, with its sleek, minimalist décor, was the perfect place for that.

  They’d already stopped at a branch of Alexis’s bank, and she’d withdrawn the stake she’d built just for this. Now all they had to do was check in at the Jesse and then they could head to the Peppermill. Alexis had chosen that particular casino because it was known for its high-limit tables.

  The Jesse didn’t have adjoining rooms, but he and Alexis were next door to each other.

  She was out of her room and knocking on his door in less than a minute.

  He answered with a grin. “Boy, do you unpack fast.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time to unpack, Cowboy. There’s poker to win.”

  He chuckled. “Come in. I’ll be ready in a sec.” He’d bought new bottles of Maker’s Mark and Lagavulin before leaving Dallas, and now he pulled them out of his suitcase. “I came prepared for good news or bad.”

  She narrowed her eyes, biting back a smile. “What? Are you trying to jinx me, Rodeo?”

  “Hell, no. But, in case you want to celebrate big, I’ve got plenty.”

  “That sounds a lot better.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Let’s get this show on the road. Have you called an Uber yet?”

  “Woman, listen here. I’ve got you covered, okay?” He strode to her and drew her into his arms. Tilting her chin so she met his gaze, he said, “Our ride should be here in five minutes. I knew you’d be in a hurry.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll pour you a bit of scotch to calm your nerves, and then we’ll go wait out front.”

  She sighed and pressed her forehead to his chest. “Thanks for putting up with me, Dane. I figure once I get started playing, I’ll settle down. It’s just this damn waiting that’s killing me.”

  He tightened his arms. “I understand, honey. Hang in there.” After retrieving a glass, he poured her scotch and then chuckled when she downed it in two swallows.

  “Ahh. Liquid courage. Just what I needed.” She grinned and headed for the door. “Come on, Cowboy, before I climb these walls.”

  Alexis signed in at the Peppermill Poker Room after scouting a few tables that she’d consider playing at. One of them had an immediate opening, and she was escorted over to it and seated. It was a seven-player table, including the dealer. The game was Texas Hold ’Em, one Alexis was very familiar with.

  In this particular game, the big blind was ten dollars, and the small blind was five. The two players to the left of the dealer paid the small blind and big blind respectively. The dealer scooped their chips in front of her to start the pot.

  Alexis glanced over her shoulder at Dane, who stood just off to her side and behind her. He was sipping a drink and watching the play. He gave her a nod of encouragement, and she turned back around.

  The dealer’s fingers flickered as she sent two hole cards to each player.

  Alexis carefully lifted the edges of hers to see what she’d been dealt. An ace and king of hearts. The opening bet would be ten dollars. The betting began, and she called, sliding forward a ten-dollar chip. The betting went round the table with players calling and one raising by ten dollars.

  In the second round of betting, the dealer laid down her flop cards—three faceup cards that everyone would play off. Alexis kept her face perfectly neutral. Two of the cards were hearts. She had a very good chance of a flush at this point. She raised on that round.

  After that, the dealer turned up a fourth card, an ace of clubs.

  Alexis mentally calculated her chances at winning. She’d only have a pair of aces if she didn’t make her flush. She raised again on that round anyway.

  Finally, the dealer laid the fifth card before her.

  Alexis’s pulse began to race. It was a seven of hearts. She had her flush! She raised on that round as well.

  Two players had folded already. At the showdown, there were two players with two pairs, a player with three of a kind, and her own flush.

  The dealer called the win and moved the chips in the pot over in front of Alexis.

  Dane put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  She felt a sudden wave of confidence as a sense of calm settled over her. She had this.

  In the next game, she folded mid-hand. Her cards were terrible.

  She won the following game, and the hand after that. Several of the players at the table had subtle tells that she’d picked up on.

  In the short lull before the next game, Dane handed her a glass of ice water.

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Thanks. How you holding up? You can get a chair, you know.”

  He shook his head. “I’m great. Don’t worry about me.”

  A warm wave washed through her. It was so wonderful having his support while she had her whole life on the line like this. She smiled and turned back around as the dealer sent two downcards sliding in her direction.

  By midafternoon, Alexis was up over $18,000, but that amount wouldn’t get her where she needed to go. She was warmed up now, confident and in her stride. After winning a last hand, she asked the dealer for a voucher for her chips, thanked her, and left the table.

  Dane slid his arm around her waist as they walked. “Why don’t we get something to eat? You’re looking exhausted. We could get out of this place for a bit.”

  “Honestly, I’d rather stay here so I can get back in play quickly. I read on the plane that this place has nine restaurants.”

  He nodded. “I understand. I checked a few of them out while you were playing. What do you think of Oceano, the seafood place?”

  “I wanted to check that one out too. Sounds great.” She leaned her head against him. “I’m so glad that you’re here with me. Having you there at my back really gives me a boost.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Besides, I enjoy watching you play. You’re really good, Alexis. I’m impressed.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. I was worried about how I’d measure up to casino players, but it turns out that I’m doing just fine.”

  While they ate, he asked her more about the play. “Were you able to read any of the players? I know from experience that you have an incredible poker face. How about the others at the table?”

  “The woman on my far right had a tell with her eyes. Very subtle, but I got it. And the man with the salt-and-pepper beard? He was a fidgeter. Again, subtle, but there. And that younger guy with the long hair? His was blinking. He’d blink more often when he had a good hand. It took me a bit to pick up on that one.”

  Dane nodded. “It takes time to figure these things out. I’m surprised that you wanted to leave the table.”

  “I know, but I need high stakes if I’m going to make the kind of money I need. I’ll scout around and see what I can find when we finish eating. I just hope the table I find will have an opening.” She took a drink of her diet soda. One of her hard-and-fast rules was that she never drank iced tea outside of Texas. It was always a disappointment.

  She finished eating before Dane and drummed her fingers on the table.

  He laughed. “Hold on, missy. I’m almost finished.”

  She bit her lip. “Sorry, Dane. I did that without thinking. Take your time.”

  He took a bite, chewed, and then took one more. “Finished.” He settled the tab and then met her at the door.

  She clasped his hand as they started back toward the poker room. “You’re a good sport, did you know that?”

  He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “I just care about you.”

  She looked up into his eyes, and her smile said things that didn’t need words.

  “I’ve got your back. Just remember that.”

  She put her arm around his waist and hooked her thumb in his belt loop. He drew her closer.

  Back in the poker room, Dane patiently followed as Alexis took her time, going from table to table, checking out the play and the wagers until she’d made up her mind. She finally signed in at the desk, requesting a spot at two different tables. Neither had an opening yet, so the clerk took her initials and said that he’d call her when a seat came up.

  “What do you want to do, honey? Play some slots? Get a drink? Sit here and wait? It’s up to you,” Dane said.

  She ran her fingers through her hair. He loved her gorgeous blonde waves and the way the lights of the room shone on them.

  “Maybe I could use a drink. Just one. I’m wound so tight I could scream.”

  He led her over to the bar. They had her favorite scotch, and he ordered her a double. “Sip on this, honey. You’re going to be just fine. Look how well you’ve already done today.”

 

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