Free Love in the Cards (Whole Lotta Love #1) by S. L. Carpenter, Sahara Kelly

Yeah, some things really are inevitable.” He glanced at each player in turn. “But that’s for later. Right now we’ve got a game to play.”
    The air tensed around the table—the four were all keyed up and ready to go.
    Deuce felt the adrenaline hit his system and let it roll through him. He knew it was going to be his day. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind because he felt the sign he always felt before he was going to score big. He was hungry.
    I wonder if I could get an order of chili-cheese nachos before we start. Deuce licked his lips. But Donnie was already shuffling the cards and getting ready to deal.
    “Five card stud, folks. Ante up.”
    Let’s do this.
    The crowd waited in eager anticipation. They whispered to their neighbors as each player sat silently, eyes swiveling between their own cards and their opponent’s body language. The slightest of emotions or a smile could be the difference in a bluff.
    It took less than an hour of solid, conservative play to reduce the table by one.
    Maggie, Deuce and an older guy named Vince were the final three, after the flamboyant Lucky Bangera had lost to Maggie’s flush. Deuce and Vince had folded earlier, obviously both sharing a hunch that Maggie had a good hand. They were right.
    Several hands later, Vince’s chip pile had dwindled down to almost nothing. His trademark cowboy hat rested at the back of his balding head and his forehead was damp with sweat.
    As Donnie threw out the last card it became apparent to everyone that Vince didn’t stand a chance. The nine of hearts wasn’t the suit or the card he needed to fill his straight. He had bet it all in a last ditch effort to stay in.
    “Well, I’m done. Good luck you two.” Gracious in defeat, Vince tipped his hat to Maggie and shook Deuce’s hand.
    Donnie cracked open a new deck of cards and flared them across the table, then flipped them, showing off a few tricks of the trade with smooth professionalism. “Sir, it’s your cut.” He held the cards out to Deuce.
    “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer the lady to cut the deck for me.”
    Maggie tapped the top card. It was a nice gesture but she’d be damned if she’d take any advantage. Not now. Not when things were so far along in the game.
    Deuce wasn’t going to let this go. The game was his big enchilada, the big burrito, the—whatever. He realized how tense he was, since he usually thought of food—or pussy—to relax.
    He didn’t know if he could stand the idea of another hour or so of pretty equal competition against Maggie. It was down to the two of them. There was nothing more to prove. They were well matched, the best of those who’d come to the Last Resort to compete.
    He took a breath. This could be the biggest gamble of his life.
    Before Donnie could begin the deal, Deuce rapped his knuckles on the table and silence fell. “Listen, we’re about even here. I say let’s not drag this out any more than we have to.”
    Both Donnie and Maggie stared at him as he continued. “We’re gamblers. Let’s gamble. All in. One hand , all or nothing.” His balls tightened at the thought of half a million dollars on one hand of cards. He was either brilliant or out of his fucking mind.
    “Ballsy call.” Maggie’s voice was cool. “But what the hell! I’m up for it.” She looked straight at Deuce with no expression in her eyes at all. No sign of what she was thinking, what she was feeling or any fear whatsoever. It was one hell of a poker face.
    Holy shit, I’m in trouble now.
    Donnie straightened and looked around. “Since this is my casino, I get to make this call. I’m in favor of it. We’ve got ourselves two superb players here and I know you’re as excited about that as I am. Anybody got any objections?”
    The hushed silence was answer enough and was followed by a rustle of expectancy, as everyone leaned forward in their seats or moved to get a better look, anxious not to miss a single thing.
    For Deuce, time slipped into slow