Free Entice by Ella Frank Page B

things I do for you two.”
    With that, the three of them burst out laughing.
    ***
    Josh arrived at his brother’s house a little after 11 a.m. Parking near the side of his place, Josh got out and made his way through the back door and into the kitchen. He found his brother, Jeremy, standing at the counter putting a bag of chips into a bowl.
    “Hey, Martha Stewart,” he greeted him from the doorway.
    Josh’s younger brother turned and flipped him the finger. “Up yours, Josh. How you doing?”
    Strolling into the kitchen, Josh grabbed a chip, crunching down onto it. He leaned up against the sink and shrugged. “Not bad. You?”
    “Same,” Jeremy answered as he turned to the fridge. Opening it, he searched around, and then came back with a jar of salsa.
    Jeremy was two years younger than Josh, had blonde hair that was longer than usual, and almost looked like a “surfer dude,” except for the fact that they lived in Chicago.
    “So, who’s coming today?” Josh asked, reaching for another chip.
    “Vince and Cole.”
    Nodding, Josh picked up the two bowls and followed his brother through the house to the game room.
    Vince was his Crew Manager and now friend. He’d hired him around two years ago with his tough but fair attitude, and he’d been running things in Chicago when Josh had been in L.A. Physically he was short, stocky, and as some of the other guys called him, scary as hell.
    Jeremy had set up the usual poker table, and Josh put the chips and salsa on the side table where the cooler sat beside it.
    “I can’t believe Cole agreed to come. Last time he was here we cleaned the floor with him.”
    Josh laughed at his brother, moving to the stereo. “I know. I just told him the same exact thing today, but he has informed me that he has ‘read up on it and now knows all the rules.’”
    Jeremy looked over at him, and they both started to laugh.
    “God, that guy is something else. He’s such a suit and yet so flippin’ scary cool at the same time. I don’t know how he pulls it off,” Jeremy said, shaking his head.
    Josh finally found what he was looking for— ahh, classic Pink Floyd —and put the vinyl on. “No one knows what makes that guy tick, and shit, I’ve known him for years. He never gives anything away either.” Josh smiled as the doorbell sounded. “I’ll go let them in.”
    “Okay, I’m just gonna get the rest of the food,” Jeremy answered, walking back into the kitchen.
    ***
    Two hours later and several beers in, Josh was down twenty bucks but was almost positive he was about to win fifty. Sitting across from a stoic-faced Cole, Josh was starting to think the guy was up to something.
    Cole had been kicking everyone’s ass tonight. He’d walked in dressed in a three-piece suit from an earlier meeting in the office—yes, on a Saturday—acting like he’d just read up on how to play last night. Then, he’d sat down and proceeded to clean house.
    The guy was playing them and playing them well, but Josh felt like he had this one. After all, he had a straight flush. There he sat, staring at his five hearts, as Cole slowly smirked at him like a cool seasoned pro.
    “You know this I’m-better-than-you smile makes you look real ugly, Madison.”
    Cole just smiled wider. “Does it? I thought it made me look…” He paused, cocking his dirty blonde head to the side as the other two sat back watching. “Rich?”
    Josh shook his head and picked up his beer, taking a swig. “Nope, sorry, just ugly.”
    Cole nodded and asked him, “So, what’s eating you? Usually, you’re a much better loser when these other guys win. Is it because it’s me kicking your sorry ass?”
    Josh laughed a little and ran a hand up and through his hair, thinking about a certain blonde. “Nah. Not that I’ve lost ,” he stressed. “You going to show your cards or keep talking shit?”
    Cole casually put down his five cards. Sitting up and leaning across the table, Josh and the other two men stared in