Ben arched an eyebrow.
“No!” I said.
“Well, I don’t know what you had on your mind but I just wanted to wish you luck, that’s all.” He winked and reached his hand out across the table. “Good luck, partner.”
Ben really wasn’t looking for a kiss? I guess I was relieved he wasn’t going to force the issue, but at the same time I had to wonder why he wouldn’t.
My brain made no sense at all.
I stood and bumped Ben’s fist with mine. “Good luck.” I sat back down, ready to play.
The crowd booed us, obviously hoping for a kiss.
Ben gestured to them. “Wow, they can turn on you really fast. By the way, you look stunning this evening. I can’t remember if I told you.”
He was trying to distract me.
Ben was devastatingly handsome this evening, but there was no way I was going to engage in any type of flirty behavior with him. The only thing that should be on my mind is winning the tournament. He was not going to distract me.
I looked away. “I know what you’re doing.”
“And what might that be?” Ben asked.
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“And is it working?”
I locked eyes with him and gave him an icy look that I had perfected back in my poker-playing days. “Not even close.”
“Well, then . . .” He raised his beer bottle in my direction. “I like you even more then.”
“Knock it off.”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” a voice said on the microphone.
Everyone cheered.
“Are you ready for heads-up poker?”
More cheering.
“We have the last two standing, Dr. Tough Love and Lori Martin! May the best player win.”
Even more cheers and whistles sounded as the dealer dealt the cards.
I was going to apply pressure and apply it early, just like I had done at the other tables.
Technically, our chip stacks looked identical, so either of us could probably knock the other person out of the tournament with just one hand.
I turned up the corner of my two cards, peeking at two kings.
Yes!
My heart rate sped up at the excitement of my two amazing cards in the pocket, but there was no way I was showing it on my face.
I was a statue again.
I glanced across the table at Ben.
