Page 71 of A Whim and a Prayer

Heat blasted Winnie’s cheeks, earning her mother a death stare as well. “Maybe we should trade places, Mother, to see how you fare against his obnoxious mountain of cards.”

“Nobody likes a whiner, sis.” Henry sent her a wink as he popped a peanut into his mouth before arranging his cards.

“Yeah, Collin’s proof of that,” Gabe said with a chuckle, unleashing a volley of insults Collin’s way as usual from the male contingent around the table.

“Hey, I’m not the only one who whines—McGee pouts whenever he loses at pinochle.” Collin aimed a peanut in Gabe’s direction.

Luke chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, assessing his cards. “Which is almost never, McGuire, so I don’t count.”

Grinning at the typical O’Connor volleys of ribbing and razzing, Beck studied his hand while leaning close to Winnie. “Uh, I can pass a little slower, Pooh, if you can’t handle the pace. You know,” he said in a husky tone as he tweaked the back of her neck, “give you a little more ‘space’?”

His tone and the warmth of his fingers coiled a strange heat in her belly that scalded her cheeks as well, giving her goose bumps that she’d never felt with Beck before.

Her jaw clamped tight. Except during those blasted kisses.

She slapped his hand away. “No need, Hotshot. I can handle anything you throw my way.”

“Oooo, our girl’s getting feisty, Beck”—Aunt Katie wiggled her brows—“you better watch out.”

“Always do, Mrs. McGee. Ready, everyone?” Beck scanned the table with a devious smile before flipping cards Winnie’s way with lightning speed, more of a blur than even his shuffle.

Desperately trying to focus, Beck unnerved her with every card he threw, the occasional touch of his hand wreaking havoc with her concentration.

What the devil is happening to me? she mentally hissed, her breathing uneven as she pummeled the cards, wishing she were playing poker with the other cousins instead. Which was saying something since spoons was her favorite game. Her pulse jumped when her fingers collided with Beck’s once more and then again when she finally picked up a third queen. Oh, sweet saints … only one more … Her hand shook as she picked up the next card …

Bingo! Heart racing, she tucked the fourth queen in her hand and discarded as nonchalantly as possible before going in for the kill, grasping the bowl of a spoon with a squeal of victory …

… which instantly died in her throat.

“Let it go, Winnie,” Beck whispered with an evil smile, his grasp on the handle of her spoon as knuckle-white as hers on the bowl.

“It’s … mine, Campbell,” she bit out in breathless grunts, “so … let … it … go!”

“Not on your life, kiddo.” He gave a sharp tug, her stomach plunging when he almost ripped it from her hand. “I don’t want to hurt you, Winnie, so it’s best you let go.”

“No, Winnie, hang on!” Abby cried while the other women cheered her on.

Cheers and jeers bounced off the walls as Winnie clasped her other hand on the bowl in a tight fist, slanting back to yank with all of her might as Beck merely grinned. Adrenaline pulsed hard as she gave it everything she had, blood gorging her cheeks while she strained for the win, his smug smile confirming that he was only toying with her.

“Show her who’s boss, Beck,” Luke called as he and the other males pounded their fists on the table, egging him on.

Oh yeah? With a low growl, Winnie thrust her knees up and plowed her Keds smack dab in the middle of his gut, catching him off-guard with a surprised oomph as she held on for dear life, almost horizontal while the ladies went wild.

“So, that’s how it’s gonna be, is it?” Beck said, voice breathless as he locked his free hand over hers on the bowl, “well, two can play dirty, Dennehy.” And with a shout of approval from the male element, he yanked her so hard, she landed deep in his lap in total shock, encased in his arms as he deftly plucked the spoon from her hand.

Winnie’s jaw dropped a full two inches. “Why you no-good, low-down rat,” she muttered as she thrashed in his arms, all of the prior heat rushing to her temper instead of her belly. “That was a low blow, Campbell, because you cheated.”

“Ah, ah, ah …” He held on tight, completely immobilizing her with a lock of his arms and a patient smile. “Better not ask for a show of hands, Pooh, on which one of us started the low blow.”

“You have my vote, Beck,” her brother-in-law Bren said with a toast of his drink, “because anybody who can outsmart and outhandle that little scamp deserves the win.”

“Bren!” Winnie stopped struggling to shoot her brother-in-law a scowl. “For pity’s sake, we’re related—he’s not!”

“For pity’s sake is right, Pooh-Bear,” her father said with a wink, “because we sure could use him to keep you in line.”

“Hear-hear!” her mother shouted with a raise of her ginger-ale. “He’s got my vote.” She tweaked her daughter’s knee while Winnie sat perched in Beck’s lap. “And since you’re now a ‘SPOON,’ how ’bout you ‘spoon’ out a little dessert by taking orders while we start another game, sweetheart?” She fluttered her lashes while she handed Winnie the scoreboard notebook and a pen. “Unless, of course, you’d rather stay in the arms of that tall, good-looking best friend?”

Grrrr … Winnie wrestled her way out of Beck’s hold as she seared her mother with a thin-lidded stare. “Not funny, Mother,” she whispered as she straightened her blouse and skirt. She snatched the notebook and pen from her hand.