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Memphis seemed to pay more attention to her than his cards. Every time she paused to walk them through a piece of strategy, his attention was on her, and he asked questions that required drawn out answers and follow-up questions. But based on the way he was playing, Rylee was convinced he didn’t need to ask the questions at all.
She found herself reaching for her water bottle often as they went through the deck. He unnerved her, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, either.
As the fifth hand was wrapping up, Memphis got a phone call and excused himself. Rylee watched as he walked away. He seemed stiff, much the way he’d seemed when he got the phone call earlier.
“Poor guy can’t even relax for my bachelor weekend,” Andrew said.
“We all know the mess he’s in is bullshit though,” Evan said as he studied the community cards.
“I do feel bad for bringing Miller in and starting this mess,” Andrew said.
“I thought Miller came to us,” Evan said as he fiddled with his chips.
Andrew shifted in his seat. “It’s complicated. Like you said, a mess. Just do me a favor and don’t bring it up to Kimberly. I haven’t told her what’s going on and I don’t want her dragged into all of this.”
“What mess?” Rylee asked while she laid out the last card and watched Andrew’s expression go sour. He needed to work on his poker face.
“Seriously?” he asked, tossing his cards on the table. “You must have recognized Memphis Foster.”
She shrugged as she waited for the others to make their moves. “Unless he’s from Avondale or plays on the professional poker circuit, there’s no reason for me to know who he is.”
Evan shrugged. “Avondale is basically Phoenix, and that’s where he usually lives, but I thought the entire world knew who Memphis was.”
“Thankfully, you’re wrong,” Memphis said as he returned from his phone call. “And I’ll thank you to let Miss Colton get to know me on her own, gentlemen,” he said, tossing a wink at Rylee. “That was Hunter on the phone. We’re moving locations. We get early access to the party tonight.”
Andrew laughed. “And that’s where I’m out. I’ll be in the casino practicing my new skills.”
“Prude,” one man said with a snicker.
“Not a prude, just someone who isn’t a pervert and also I’m getting married in a week,” Andrew shot back.
Rylee smirked. She considered herself neither a prude nor a pervert, but she was definitely kinky and would enjoy Hunter’s party tonight even if it meant going as Memphis Foster’s guest. There was no way she could afford the ticket on her own right now.
“Speaking of your wedding,” Memphis said, clearing his throat. “How would Kimberly react to the idea of changing the location of the ceremony?”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? I’m assuming there’s a reason.”
Memphis nodded. “Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Andrew agreed and promised to call him in the morning.
“Ride with me,” Memphis said as the others stood to leave. “We can stop for an outfit on the way.”
“You assume I didn’t bring one.”
“Did you?”
“No, but I don’t care for the assumption. You’re bad about assuming things, and you know what they say about that.”
Memphis just stared at her. “I don’t understand the irritation. It wasn’t an unfounded assumption. You came with a carry-on suitcase only, you have a poker tournament in three days, and you didn’t have a ticket to the party. Why would you have an outfit with you?”
She blew out a breath. OK, he wasn’t wrong.
It still irked her, though.
“What makes you think I only had a carry-on?”
Memphis lifted one corner of his mouth into the semblance of a smile. “I was in the hall when the driver dropped the bag in your room.”
