Steph’s sensible side screamed at her. Why didn’t you turn him down flat? She should’ve insisted they seek a divorce as soon as possible. But how could she be expected to make an intelligent decision? After not one, but two, mind-altering kisses—tender and sweet, yet full of passion and restrained power—how could she think at all? Her iron will felt a lot like gelatin.
Declaring his love was one thing, but when his fingers read her face and he declared her beautiful with genuine wonder in his voice, her brain turned to warm goo. Nothing made sense. She was only certain of one thing… for all eternity, he’d ruined her for any other man.
“Are you gonna bet?” Cole’s voice brought her back to the present.
With only twenty minutes left in the tournament, many of the participants had abandoned the casino for the celebration party next door. Most of those who remained were clustered around two craps tables in the back of the room. Jarrett and Finn stood on the opposite side of their table, beside Branson, to whom Carina clung like a second skin. Stephanie had turned off her microphone thirty minutes ago. Bran certainly didn’t act nervous, and she was tired of watching Carina hang all over him.
“No, I’m done betting. I think I’ll go upstairs. My ankle hurts.”
“But you have a lot left.” With his neon hand, he pointed to the chips in front of her.
“Yeah.” She stared unenthusiastically at the large stacks of chips. Upon her return to the casino an hour ago, she’d been surprised to learn she’d actually doubled her money earlier at the slot machines. Must’ve been that last angry push of the button before she stomped off after Carina.
At first she’d been enthusiastic about her newfound wealth and had relayed the news to Branson via her microphone, before hobbling back to the craps tables, ready to play. Yet, seeing Branson and Carina together turned her stomach, though she knew it was coming. It reminded her what a good actor he was.
She groped her vacant ring finger, thinking of the simple gold band at the bottom of her purse, while Carina’s diamond engagement ring sparkled in the casino lights. She ought to throw it away, along with the marriage license she’d stashed in the zipper pocket.
“You can’t leave now.” Cole continued his protest. “What about all those chips?”
“I don’t really feel like playing. Why don’t you take them?”
“Are you kidding? Jarrett and I are both cold as ice tonight, but you’re hot—in more ways than one.” His eyebrows danced a jig, coercing a reluctant smile. “Anyway, house rules… contestants aren’t allowed to transfer chips to each other. That’d be cheating.”
“I still think I’ll call it a night.”
“Wait.” His hand gripped her arm as she turned to go. “Why not make a few big bets? If you lose, you lose. But you might accidentally win enough to get ahead of Finn and Branson. Think how they’d hate having to admit you bested them the first time you ever played craps.”
“That would be fun,” she agreed, though instead of Finn and Bran, she pictured Carina’s shocked expression. “What should I do?”
“To start, take maybe a fourth of your chips and bet them on the Pass Line with this new shooter. You’ve been doing well with that bet.”
She pushed a large stack of chips forward. Two rolls of the dice later, her chip stack had grown a bit bigger. Across the table, Carina flicked her blond locks behind her shoulder, laughing at something clever that passed between her and Bran. From the haughty expression in her eyes, Steph wondered if the comment was at her expense.
Steph bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. She had to get away from everyone, before she lost it.
“Hey, Cole.” She swallowed hard, hating the way her voice trembled. “Can I add a bigger bet to my Pass Line?”
“You can, but the casino has rules about how much you can add.” He motioned for the boxman and relayed the question. “Good news. There’s no limit to the Odds bet, for the tournament. But you might want to go easy with a four as the opening roll. I wouldn’t bet too much.”
“I’m betting it all.” Before Cole could stop her, Steph pushed her chips forward, in hopes of ending her torturous evening. She couldn’t handle any more stress. Right now, all she wanted was to be home with Ellie, away from Branson Knight and his beautiful fiancée. To be hopelessly in love with her boss had been painful before… now it was excruciating.
Suddenly, her feet were dangling in the air as the room turned in circles. Cole cheered and hollered, spinning her around and sending her crutches crashing to the floor. “You did it! You doubled up!”
“Can’t breathe,” she wheezed. “Put me down.”
Obediently, he let her slide to the floor and steadied her while retrieving her crutches. His expression was full of merriment as he waved across the table, calling out, “Eat our dust!”
It took every ounce of energy Steph had to muster a small fake smile.
Oblivious, Cole said, “Let’s go cash you in before you bet again and lose it all. Finn and Bran are gonna lose their shirts trying to catch up with you, now.”
Daring a surreptitious glance across the table, she found Finn’s mouth hanging open and Branson wearing a confused frown. But it was Carina who caught her gaze. Her steely eyes skewered Steph like a pinned butterfly. She could only watch as Carina slowly caressed Branson’s arm with her delicate, manicured fingers. Then she planted a slow, deliberate kiss on his neck, leaving a red slash of lipstick behind.
The air turned caustic. It hurt to breathe. Steph twisted and hobbled after Cole, blinking through watery eyes. Carina had made one thing perfectly clear. She had staked a prior claim on Branson Knight, married or not.
Branson accepted the drink Carina shoved into his hand, but he couldn’t make himself take a swallow. Sitting on a barstool at a round table, surrounded by hundreds of celebrants, most of whom already sounded drunk, he felt like a man adrift in an ocean.
“Finn,” he called, hearing his friend’s voice in the crowd a short distance away.