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We entered the high roller poker room that had a game in progress. Dante grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the side, keeping me out of the players’ view.
He pressed his index finger to his lips.
I nodded and leaned against the wall beside him. The damn thing had to hold me up because I was exhausted and ready for a nap. I didn’t understand how Dante could repeat the same shit every day. And I thought my days were long and hard.
At least I got breaks.
“The guy with the red hat,” Dante whispered, “he’s going to take the pot.”
“How do you know?”
He smirked.
After the players placed their bets, the dealer drew the Ace of Spades and put it in the center of the table.
“What did I tell you?” Dante pushed off from the wall and walked over to the man with the red hat.
The man got out of his chair as Dante approached. He tapped Dante on the back like they were old friends.
I hung out in the corner of the room and watched Dante congratulate the no-limit Texas-Hold Em tournament winner. He raised his hand and flagged over several casino guards. They also spoke to the winner, then escorted him out of the room.
After everyone cleared out, Dante walked over to me with the usual swagger in his step. This man could melt a woman’s panties right off her body. If only he smiled every once in a while. He always looked so miserable.
“The man you saw win the tournament.” Dante tipped his head at the door. “That was Johnny Salamanca. He’s won the World Series of Poker seven times. The Portofino is sponsoring him this year.”
My eyes widened at his confession. He spoke more about a poker player than anything all day.
And that gave me an idea.
“I don’t know how to play poker.” I inched closer to him and licked my lips. “Will you teach me?”
Dante briefly considered my question, then shoved up his shirt sleeve to inspect his Cartier watch. “We have thirty minutes until dinner. I suppose we can fit in one hand.” He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me. “Depending on how quickly you learn.”
“I was the valedictorian of my graduating class. Poker will be a breeze.”
He snickered as he pulled out a chair from the table. Then he nodded at it for me to sit. I was so shocked by his rare moment of kindness I stared at him for a second before taking my seat.
Dante grabbed a deck of cards from the table. He plucked two stacks of chips from the holder on the felt table and slid a pile in front of me. They were gray and worth five thousand dollars each.
Damn.
Well, it wasn’t like he would let me keep the money if I won. So I decided to take a gamble. I wanted something from Dante that money couldn’t buy.
When his gaze met mine, I stared at his full lips and pushed out my chest. His eyes lowered to my breasts that spilled out from the V-neck dress.
“How about we play for something other than money,” I suggested.
His eyes narrowed on me. “Such as?”
I bit my lip to still my nerves, eventually finding my voice to ask for something so bold. “I want a kiss if I win.”
He scrunched his nose as if the thought of kissing a woman made him want to vomit.
“Fine,” he agreed after a moment of contemplation, confident he would beat me. “And if I win, you’ll be my slave for the week.”
I grinned so wide it reached my eyes. “I like the sound of that.”
Dante folded his arms over his chest and shook his head. “No, you won’t.”
