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“Keep them, a souvenir.”
“I’d rather you put them on while you’re out there, unless you’re heading straight home?”
The way he says it, sounding hopeful, pisses me off. If I want to hang around with no knickers on, I’ll do just that, so instead of answering him, I pull the door open and head back through the room where the poker game is still in play. “I hope you didn’t peek at his cards, boys,” I say as I pass.
“Do you play?” asks one.
I pause. “A little.”
“We have enough players,” snaps Albert, stepping into the room looking slightly less put together than he did before our little encounter. I smirk.
“We can deal her in. We’re starting a new game,” one of the men replies, pulling out a seat next to him.
Albert watches me in irritation because he already knows I’m going to agree. I nod once and head back over to the table, taking the offered seat. “Really?” asks Albert, glaring wide-eyed. “You wanna play with the big boys?”
I grin wider. “I’ve been playing with big boys since I was thirteen years old, Bert. Sit down and watch an expert.” The men around the table laugh, and the one nearest to him slaps him on the back. I reach over to Albert’s stack of chips. “I’m just gonna borrow these,” I tell him, sliding them towards myself.
“Why do you always come here empty handed, Red?” he asks, arching a brow.
“I’m like the Queen, Albert. I don’t carry cash.”
I play the first couple of hands badly, luring them into a false sense of security. Albert groans each time I lose more of his money. He has no faith in me, but my mum taught me to play poker at six years old. When you’re a club whore like she was, you have to know how to make money quick.
There’s a good pile of chips on the table when I reveal a flush. The men around me groan, chucking their cards in, and I smile innocently. “I won?” I gasp.
“Beginner’s luck,” mutters the man next to me.
I lose the next hand, and they all relax a little.
ARTHUR
I can’t keep my eyes off Rosey, knowing she’s naked under that tiny skirt is driving me insane. I had her two hours ago and I want her all over again. We’re on the last game and we’ve put all in. I need it to end, so I can get Rosey alone. Two of the guys have already folded and they’re soon followed by the rest until it’s just me and Rosey. Staring down at my cards, I have a good hand, and I’m more than confident I’ve got this in the bag. “I’m about to win,” I tell Rosey. “Wanna make it interesting?”
“Go on,” she says.
“If I win, you give me an entire night . . . tonight.” The men make approving sounds.
“And if I win?” she asks.
I laugh. “Whatever you want, Red.”
She thinks for a minute. “You take me on a date, no expense spared.”
“You don’t date,” I say, “but sure, whatever.” Her suggestion tells me she’s not got the winning hand because she hates romance. She’s not the type of girl you take home to meet your mother.
She smiles, laying her cards on the table. I lean over, hardly trusting my eyes. “Royal flush,” she confirms. The men all lean closer too.
“Fuck,” Jack whispers. “That’s not beginner’s luck.”
I throw my straight flush on the table as Rosey sweeps the chips towards her. “I’ll take cash, boys.”
I remain seated as the men file out the room. Rosey sits opposite me, still looking smug. Once the door closes, I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. “Did you cheat?”
Her mouth falls open. “I resent that.”
“A royal flush,” I say. “Who the fuck is that lucky?”
“For my date, I was thinking a limo to pick me up, a drive around London while I sip Champagne, and dinner somewhere expensive. I really want to try lobster.”
