by Lying Eyes
He’s smooth. Dapper Don in the flesh. She couldn’t concentrate for his babbling. Her eyes focused on the board. The dealer deserved a standing ovation. The cards came down and formed a beautiful flop and if anyone else, anyone other than Max that is, was in the pot with her now then her confidence of a sure win would’ve been at an all-time high.
The ten of Hearts quickly led to the Jack and Queen of the same suit. It was without a doubt, absolutely gorgeous. Anyone would think so, especially if they held the suited eight and nine. The only thing better would be the royal flush.
Audra continued to stare at the three cards in the middle. What were the chances of the royal? Pretty slim.
Max pressed on. “I hear you play it pretty tight, little lady. Is it true or are you going to let go of it just for me?” Max’s ability to shake her left nothing and everything to the imagination, a skill which showcased some measure of calculated talent. Right now, she thought of it as an annoyance.
His choice of words proved he wanted her weak in the knees. Her legs weren’t jelly yet but the chill bumps existed there. He did have one thing right. She played it tight—all the way around.
She watched him only closer now. Oh yeah she did, and he was right there waiting for her when she finally tilted her chin upward in order to defy her better senses.
Glaring back at her, she saw a man with a woman’s means. She blinked. Damn it all, she did. Now, she was forced to look away from those broad shoulders and muscular arms because she didn’t find one inch of reassurance there.
She meant to give him a longing stare, one to channel some of the initial flirting back to the source but it wasn’t going to happen today. His light rose-colored shirt all but flaunted a glorified tan and the man just looked too sexy-hot for pretty in pink.
Now, her throat was dry and she felt a wave of heat, too warm for comfort. Someone must’ve messed with the thermostat. She focused on the fact until she voiced her sentiments. “Blistering,” she whispered quietly but someone heard a softly spoken word or better yet, focused enough on her lips to read them.
“Hot.” He snapped his teeth. Letting it slide must have been out of the question.
Max’s charming way with the ladies threw many of them off their game so fast their heads, and undoubtedly their bodies, would spin. It only required a few seductive words, a tongue swipe across very kissable lips or a provocative look. He’d have a woman stripped down to her thong in record time, but before the clothes came off, he wanted her chip stacks and he typically took those with a smile.
“Call.” Audra preferred to sit there all day and try to figure out what cards he held but the best thing to do was play her hand and move on. She wanted to see if he still had the balls to play. Her hand remained steady as she counted out the precise amount she needed to place the bet.
“It’s four hundred fifty thousand to make the call,” the dealer informed of the amount needed.
Audra nodded, continued the count and then moved the chips forward to indicate a placed bet.
Max looked over her shoulder and smiled for the cameras. They were playing at the featured table and Audra knew by his notorious theatrics, he thought he most definitely won the hand. He wanted to be sure the crowd believed in him too before they made it to the showdown.
The turn card came down and when it did, everyone could’ve heard a card fall from the table. King of Hearts.
Max’s shoulders shifted. He almost did a little dance movement. He stretched, yawned and then grinned even bigger than before. He certainly knew how to play it if he didn’t hold the Ace. “Baby, how much you got left over there?” Another round of conversation didn’t take long to start. Max and patience didn’t have a close personal relationship and those in the audience loved him for it.
Audra thought about how she wanted to finish out the hand. If he had the Ace of Hearts, which certainly seemed possible now, she’d lose and her tournament dreams would end. If she folded, she would take a substantial hit and start the following day off at a big disadvantage. She would spend the first part of the next day trying to make up for the loss. She didn’t like to play from behind or start the day bringing up the rear with the short stack.
The other players at the table shook their heads. They chuckled and waited. Stilly eyes glared at the looming evidence of possible combinations as if the cards themselves revealed the winner. In the crowd, side-bets were most likely placed on who had the winning hand. If so, Max stood as the running favorite. She was a long-shot.
She decided to play his way. She just hoped like hell he would either fold or give away his hand. “I have enough to steal your lead today.” She finally answered him with a good comeback and she flashed a smile too, just for the camera crew.
“Ouch!” one of the other men responded. All eyes around the table turned back to Max.
The superstar leaned forward and focused on her chest with a cold stare before he offered a sudden flirtatious wink. He tortured her with his long, leisurely gaze, and then pressed his lips into a slow pucker. Upon smacking them in a makeshift kiss, he informed the dealer, “I think she has about three hundred left down there.” He nodded in Audra’s direction.
“I’ll raise for you baby.” He tossed his chips like three hundred big ones meant nothing to him. His words, never mind the tone he used or the quick show of tongue that followed, were thick with implication.
“Fine, but don’t expect me to roll over and play dead. I like to feel a little heat when a man decides to rise for the occasion.” Right now, she would almost give up the pot to feel it coming off of him but that’s only because of the way he continued to watch her—like he wanted to shuffle more than cards with her.
The man was working her, playing the player. Spectators waited and reporters brought out little notepads and voice recorders. She reminded herself of what she knew and what she wouldn’t have trouble verifying through online photographs and poker articles if she needed a refresher course on Reynolds. He had his own paparazzi of sorts and they adored him. If she ever needed to win a pot, her time was now. She needed to forget who contributed most to it because it was too late to change her strategy, even though it would prove advantageous.
The other men there began their wise cracks once more and a few of them shifted in their seats. She leaned over the table and sported enough cleavage to inspire foaming at the mouth. Oh yeah, they were thinking about several possibilities and various end results.
Only one card can beat me. Her inner voice took the lead. She liked her odds and believed in her chances.
Audra never talked trash at a table with another player—never. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. Maybe Max Reynolds just chapped her ass. Using his notorious Mr. Alpha Male-to-you attitude ribbed her in just the right place and really, that was quite unfortunate. It put her at a great disadvantage but it placed him at one too. Didn’t it? She hoped so. In fact, she was betting on it.
“You’ve played well, Audra,” Max commented. “Especially for a woman.”
He just had to bring up the female factor. He wasn’t the first man to do it and he wouldn’t be the last.
“Yes, she has, without a doubt,” someone to his left chimed in, which only pissed her off more. He apparently thought Max held the rare royal flush. “There’s nothing shameful about the way she’s played today. I’ve watched her before and I have to say, it’s always a pleasure.” His eyes drifted to her neckline again.
Audra stood and the whole room fell quiet, or so she imagined. Both palms rested easy against the rough grit of the green felt. She swayed forward and back for a few seconds. This event and everything about it was her dream. She craved a seat at the final table. She wanted to be the last one standing. She longed to wear one of the treasured WSOP bracelets and really needed the estimated ten million dollar cash prize.
She looked back at Max. “Damn you.” She mouthed the words but they fell from her lips all the same. If he just wasn’t so damn-ass cocky, but then again,
this is poker. Her inner voice really needed to take a nap.
“Audra, today is not going to be your day of reckoning.” His jaw set about the same time his eyes did. The amusement washed away with his words. Finality existed there.
She knew what he meant. She shouldn’t have told him about her father or any of her reasons for playing poker. She gave him a glimpse inside her house of truths, three years ago. Now, he couldn’t wait to use the knowledge he possessed against her. He pulled out the wrong stop. He’s bluffing. She had to believe it.
Sambo Grundle, one of the announcers, addressed the crowd in a low-pitched voice as he whispered his play-by-play assessment. “It appears Audra Alexander is ready to make the call. Now, if she makes this call, it would indicate to us that she may indeed have the flush, but the question is, which one of our players has the higher flush? Does someone hold the coveted straight flush or better still, the royal? We’re about to find out.” He slowly turned back to the table as he anticipated the final outcome right along with those in the audience.
Audra squinted harder but X-ray vision was instantly ruled out. Her lips tightened and before she second-guessed herself once more, her hands defied her and acted out on a passing thought. She had nothing left to do but state the obvious. “I’m all-in.” She would’ve been all-in ten minutes ago if any other player was there with her and those seated next to her probably assumed as much.
Chips were moved in slightly to indicate she didn’t have anything else left to lose. She also had everything to gain. A win would put her in a position of strength early in the tournament.
Max stretched his arms outward and placed both palms on the table. He took his time but he finally stood—an act of theatrics, too. A couple of the others at the table joined him. Everyone looked on with eager speculation and whispers began.
“Turn them up. Let’s see ‘em.” The dealer indicated she wanted both players to show their cards by rotating two index fingers.
Max still wanted his ten minutes of fame. The media realized it and several cameras zoomed in and waited.
“Ladies first, Audra.” He licked his upper lip and his tongue caught in the corner of his mouth.
“Oh, I don’t know, Max. This seems to be your game. I wouldn’t dream of stealing your spotlight.” She took a deep breath and held it. She was ticked off. She wanted to play cards, not poker players.
Max bent over the table and with a flip of the wrist, turned them face-up. His grin widened with the show of cards.
Most would consider it a sight to behold.
Two Hearts, pretty as you please. His flush wasn’t enough to beat hers. She almost laughed, rejoiced really. He should’ve won an Oscar nomination for the drama he created.
Audra let out a sigh of relief and flipped her two cards. “Straight flush.”
The dealer turned to the announcer to be sure he saw it. “Straight flush. The lady wins.”
Audra didn’t hide her enthusiasm. Before she stopped to think about it, she jumped up with her legs kicking out to one side and a victorious wave high above her head indicating a triumphant win. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Excitement lit up the room and with her unprecedented victory, a chip lead by the end of the day seemed probable if she continued to play her cards, or even the players, just right.
Max appeared stunned but since he’d started the day as one the frontrunners, he was crippled but far from destroyed. He looked at the proof straight in front of him and then back up at her. “Well played.” He shrugged, shook his head and then took a seat. A masculine and very sexy smile never indicated disappointment.
Audra continued to dance around for another thirty seconds. Beaming from ear to ear, she finally sat down again after a few more yelps and squeals.
The men around the table congratulated her. Most seemed somewhat relieved she captured the win. If Max secured her stack, he would’ve finished the day as the chip leader with a significant advantage. He would’ve been viewed as very dangerous with a phenomenal lead no one wanted to see Reynolds secure early in the tournament.
After things calmed down and Audra regained some of her composure, two players posted their blinds and the dealer dealt the new hand. Audra folded. Max followed soon after.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been defeated by a poker player where the winner cried out with such orgasmic pleasure. If I hadn’t lost, it would’ve been music to my ears to hear such a joyful cry, and of course, witness such a tender explosion of emotion.” Max’s eyes met hers in a satisfying lock of appreciation before he nodded his final seal of approval. He sat back in the chair and folded his thick arms over a broad chest.
Audra snickered. “Oh, but Mr. Reynolds, I’m capable of multiples now.” She leaned over her money and ran a slender finger down her tallest stack unable to hide the unmistakable enthusiasm after beating one of poker’s finest.
“I certainly hope so, ‘cause I’m counting on it.”
So caught up in the moment, she barely heard his comeback. Before she offered a response, a player next to her asked a question and soon his suggestive reply was all but forgotten.
* * * *
A little over nine thousand players entered the 2007 Main Event with roughly five hundred women competitors. The number proved important because by the end of the third day, only one hundred and fifty female players remained. Audra was a little disheartened when she heard the news.
She realized her chances of being ignored after a successful afternoon bordered along slim to non-existent after raking in several big pots. She stood as the chip leader by day’s end, and celebrating would’ve been nice but a little premature.
With the winnings she secured, her position dramatically changed. When the announcer called out the standings, Audra recognized a new vulnerability. She knew what it meant when a woman moved ahead as the chip leader. She became an easy mark and wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she discovered a bounty on her head. She felt the target when it was placed on her back because everyone in the casino, especially those who filtered in and out of The Amazon Room, realized what position she held.
The Rio hummed with activity but after ten hours of hard play, Audra barely noticed it when she left the poker room. Many of the players were staying there and most added party plans to their agenda. Audra didn’t. She needed to eat, strategize, and rest for the next day. Long days didn’t come easy for her but many of the entrants had the stamina for it. Those who didn’t search out nearby parties returned to their rooms while others headed poolside for a few drinks. Die-hard poker enthusiasts made a beeline for cash games around town.
After she played about all the poker she could stand, she walked around the casino taking in everything The Rio represented. The festive décor, the noisy table games, the even louder music, along with all the dings, bells, and whistles of the over-crowded gaming environment made her long for a remote private island.
She quickly discovered patrons there now who considered her as part of the atmosphere. Her new status as the WSOP chip leader made her far too recognizable. After one too many strangers said hello and called her by her first name, she needed some down-time. She grabbed a martini from the bar and set her sights on a little rest and relaxation.
“Hold the elevator!” Max’s command rang out above the cha-chings of the nearby slot machines.
Audra might have considered an escape route if only she had somewhere to go. She didn’t. Much to her dismay, the elevator seemed large enough to hold the two of them.
Max slid inside just in time to join her for the ride. “Going up?” His smile gave everything away. A real smoking gun, it wasn’t by sheer accident they were sharing a lift. She saw him sprint toward her right before she turned the corner.
Eyes batted uncontrollably. She hated it when involuntary movements placed her at a disadvantage. Her second nature flirted for her and never so much as allowed her to have a say-so. Max was handsome. Yes, sexy as hell. To add even more spice to sugar, like she needed it, he looked at he
r with a naughty little come-hither stare. The interesting glare alone sent her nerve endings on an outer body mission.
“Well?” He paused before he pushed the numbered buttons. “Up or down?”
“After today?” She laughed. “I’m not going down.”
“You think you’re the funny one, do you? Just for the record sweetheart, you wounded me but you didn’t kill me.” He hit one of the buttons. “I’m going to nine. What floor are you on?”
“Same.” Her tone was just matter-of-fact. She was stunned stupid and truly incapacitated by the way he said ‘sweetheart.’
“So, how have you been?” He started the small talk.
“Good. How about you?”
“I’ve had better days. You did really well down there. I was proud of you.”
The choice of words shocked her. “Proud? Why?”
His dimples tempted her to find out more. “The way I look at it, no one else here can say they knew you when.” He propped up against the back of the elevator with his arms tucked behind him.
“Oh yes, I suppose you do reserve the right. You can tell everyone you knew me when I used to cry over nearly-missed flights.” She found plenty of amusement when she thought back to her first Max-meeting. Missing her plane wouldn’t have been a catastrophic event but for some reason, after days of poker, she wanted out of the flatlands of Mississippi and a full day of rest before her next tournament. She definitely over-reacted.
“I’m surprised you just didn’t hand me a pacifier and bottle that day.” It was truly one of her more embarrassing moments.
“I didn’t have your diaper bag or I would have offered.” He always had a quick comeback. “I take it you don’t sweat the small stuff now?”
“I’ve missed too many flights to worry about it. You know how it is. You sit down at a table for one more game and then before you know it, you can’t leave.” She laughed with the acknowledgement of the true poker player’s law. “Players never leave when they’re winning unless there’s a fire somewhere.”