Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lying Eyes

  Max warned her once. He wouldn’t give her the courtesy of another and she knew it. Actually, the all-in was the second warning and she needed to pay attention to it.

  “Max.” She stopped herself. What the hell was she thinking? Did she really think he was so whipped? What did she expect him to do now? Maybe just flip his cards and say ‘gee honey, I’ve got this one won’ would be nice. He pretty much did that anyway. She wasn’t acting like a poker player, she was acting like a woman with her heart on the line.

  “You called?” His voice didn’t hold one inch of humor or tenderness now. This was business. He was going in for the kill and he went all-in to show her he meant to take her down if she challenged him.

  Pissed off, she tossed her cards in and he didn’t bother to look at her again until a new hand was dealt and another flop spread across the board.

  At the break, she hurried off to the ladies room and stayed there in hiding for a good ten minutes. She filed her nails, brushed her hair, and listened to the others chat about the only woman left in the tournament. She did all of this from behind the bathroom stall. The topics were wide-ranging—her boobs, Max Reynolds, the way he looked at her, the way Max took a million from her but warned her he was capable of taking the rest, and more or less too much information in a short period of time. She felt sick to her stomach, and envied, since women everywhere wanted Max. All doubts were laid to rest as she listened to the chatter.

  “What I’d give to wake up to that,” one woman chirped.

  “I hear he is well endowed,” another said.

  “He’s one fine piece of flesh, anyway you dice him.”

  “The way they’re makin’ eyes at each other, there’s no doubt they’re making a whole lot of waves somewhere else, too.”

  “He’s all but leading her right to the end.” The conversation took a turn.

  This had to stop and stop now or else if she so much as got in the top three, Max would earn credit for her win. Taking a deep breath, she stepped back out into the open. Three women there scattered as if embarrassed, so much for guessing which trio talked openly about Max and how good he looked in a pair of snug-fitting khakis.

  After a quick glance at her watch, she realized she had another fifteen minutes before she had to sit down again. She opened the door and headed back toward the action, and that’s when she felt like the wind was knocked out of her. Someone grabbed her quickly and pushed her through two double doors.

  * * * *

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She glared at him but what else was new? Right now, he didn’t give a damn if she was ticked off.

  He was pissed.

  They agreed on something.

  “Audra, you’re going to lose. You’re going home and the best I can try to do is try to save you from yourself.”

  “You were bluffing,” she snarled. “And I swear if I hear you tell me I’m going home one more time, I’m going to send you packing first!”

  “Don’t count on it, sweetheart,” he said, sneering. “You need to quit thinking of me as your lover or I will send your pretty little ass home before you make it to life-changing amounts of money and I won’t care to rid myself of the distraction.”

  “That’s what I am now?”

  “That’s what you’ve been since this damn tournament started.” She was more than he ever bargained for but he didn’t want to remind her again. Right now, he was all poker player. He had to be or else he was going to ruin it for both of them.

  He watched how his revelation stunned her enough to keep her mouth shut and instantly felt guilty. His tone changed. “Audra, you can’t win if you are thinking about me now. You have to focus on the game. I plan to win it all but I’d like to have you right behind me. I want you there because I think you need the money.”

  “What?” She seemed to double over like she took a true punch in the gut.

  “Nothing.” What a fucking time for a slip-up.

  “You’ve been prowling into my personal life, haven’t you?” Her eyes gleamed with burning anger, just on the realm of a mind-boggling fury. He realized what a truly bad call he made then.

  “We don’t have time for this right now.” He started to reach for her and she slapped at his wrist.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “Audra…”

  “I can’t believe you. What gives you the right to put your nose in my family’s business?”

  “Audra…”

  “Just answer me, damn you!”

  He narrowed his eyes and he thought about it. He really did but he’d already fucked her up in a major way and it was bad enough that he felt compelled to carry her to the top three. He couldn’t win a tournament worrying over Audra and her volatile feelings.

  “I paid them off.” He swallowed tightly. “I didn’t want them here watching you and I paid them off so you wouldn’t have to worry about any pending threats.”

  Now things were going to spiral out of control and if he thought it was bad now, what the hell was she going to do when she found out that not only did he pay off her father’s bookies but he also had the dudes picked up for extortion. What the hell was he thinking?

  “You did what?” She blinked.

  “I saw the guy here—the one called Smoke—and Stan said he’d been here almost daily. I had it set up and I paid him off.”

  “Franco set this up,” she whispered. “What the hell gives you the right?” Her hands flew to his chest and she shoved him away from her.

  Fury flooded his veins. “Audra! You can’t handle men like Smoke. They were just going to keep coming at you and expecting more and more money.”

  “You had no right!”

  “I have every right!” he screamed back in a voice he almost didn’t recognize as his own.

  Silence engulfed them. She seemed to wait for a further explanation.

  “I had every right…because I love you.” He took her hand then and tried to coax her into an understanding. “I love you, Audra.” His lips were in a tight line. He waited for a return sentiment but he wasn’t going to get it.

  Her eyes blazed with a rare and raw madness. Her forefinger went up in his face. “This is not over.” She started back toward the gaming area but stopped short of reaching it. “You’ve used it all now, haven’t you?” She didn’t turn around to face him. “You just keep coming at me with anything you’ve got to stop me.”

  “That’s what you think?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Then great, if that’s what you think, then see if you can’t wrap your sorry little mind around one more lame idea. Focus on this, sweetie—it’s time to go back upstairs and pack now.” His pride was wounded and he lashed out. It was what he did. It was what she did. They were quite the pair. He started back inside. Joining the others seemed like a great idea.

  “Oh, go to hell!” she called out behind his back and he stalled long enough to turn around and witness the kick she threw into the wall behind her. A temper tantrum he felt confident was captured on security cameras and could later find a sale to the highest bidder. Now he had that to worry about that, too. Damn, if she wasn’t expensive.

  After a brief exchange of glares, he walked inside without her and realized soon, she was walking right there with him.

  “Don’t…” he warned before he took his seat.

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Reynolds.” She moved by him quickly and sat down with her renewed confidence.

  Her cheeks were flushed and she did look mighty angry but maybe no one would notice. Naturally, it wasn’t a good time for anyone to cross into her world unarmed.

  “Lover’s spat?” Pete, the internet poker junkie noticed before everyone else.

  Stan, as expected, nodded. “Pack up, Max. She looks ready to send you to the airport, buddy.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Audra jerked nervously right after she stunned him with the remark.

  The dealer started the shuffle and then quickly dealt the hand everyone but A
udra stayed in—for which he was thankful—since he took a sizeable pot and the lead. The next two proved uneventful and then the fateful deal arrived.

  Stan folded, the rest followed suit. Audra glanced at her cards and then tossed in her chips. “Raise, five million.”

  Pocket kings. He’d place a large side bet on it given the opportunity but since her mood made anything possible, maybe not. He watched her for a long time, feeling the smirk turning up his lips when he realized the woman staring back at him now didn’t look at him with one inch of affection. No one said anything. Stan looked like he just didn’t want to be asked a damn thing. He kept his focus on the center of the table. Max found the hilarity in it.

  “It’s five million to call.” Audra was smug.

  “That’s all?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “I’ll raise a million.” And he just did it to be a prick.

  “Shabby, Max.”

  “Then re-raise, baby.”

  Her slender fingers carefully slid over the chips directly in front of her. She looked up at him then and whether intentional or not, she began to knead those same chips in an act some men would deem downright naughty given the expression on her face. Audra acted like a scorned lover and he just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

  “Whatcha thinkin’ about down there, sweetheart?” He realized she’d already noted he called her baby in public, sweetheart behind closed doors. The word he used now was indeed carefully chosen and used for the appropriate effect.

  “Call.” She ignored him.

  Damn it. He wanted a word war. She needed to get him out of her system, at least for a few hours.

  Three queens came with the flop, two checks—his and hers—and then two aces on the turn and river.

  Max studied her before making the bet. “What do you say we play this thing out between us rather than just leave everything as-is?”

  She smirked. Raised her eyebrows, ignored him.

  “No?” Oh yeah, he wanted to give her plenty to think about. He meant to play nice but since she wanted to sulk, why not give her a few good reasons to do it?

  “Are you going to stare at me or play your hand?” She bit out her animosity.

  “Staring works for me. How about you Stan?” He didn’t look at the man he addressed. “She sure is a pretty little thing…even when she’s mad.”

  “Leave me out of this one.” All the players there looked at the gentle old man who seldom stayed out of anything.

  A few chuckled just because Stan looked like he meant it. He gulped his drink and tilted it toward the cocktail waitress in hopes of gaining another.

  Max saw her shift in her seat and that’s when he decided to go for it. He had the hand. Might as well wrap it up and finish it. “Five million—raise it up.” He tossed in his chips.

  “There’s a full house on the board, Max.”

  “Why, thank you, Audra. I never noticed.” His condescending tone was just enough to push her over the edge.

  “Call.” She tossed, flipped her cards and stood.

  He didn’t bother to look. He just flipped and walked.

  “The gentleman wins with four aces.”

  The crowd cheered and Max chatted with someone observing. He shook his hand and returned to the table but never once did he meet her gaze again until the next break was called.

  * * * *

  “There’s my girl.” He was ready to play the second she rejoined the table. Apparently, he really wanted her out of the running.

  “Shut up, Max,” she chirped. “I just want to play cards, if you don’t mind.”

  “Actually, Audra, I do mind.” He licked his upper lip and slid his glasses down on his nose. Oh, hell no, here it came. The moment she waited for finally arrived. She saw it when a flicker of light brushed his cheeks. It was anger—concealed, but ever present.

  She felt her body bristle up and anticipate the strike. Her throat tightened as she thought about his dark hooded eyes. The way he confessed his love for her and yet she sent him away. Yes, she was going to catch hell for it now.

  “You know how I feel about women and poker. We’ve had more than one occasion to discuss it. You know, during pillow talk.” He went in for the final kill. She expected it but it didn’t lighten the blow because he decided to do it when there was enough press around to witness it. Never mind, capture it all on tape.

  Her gaze narrowed and she turned to the other players who sat motionless now. She cleared her throat. “Oh, I guess Max wants everyone here to know he’s banging the only woman left in the tournament.” She slapped her forehead.

  He seemed amused. “I think they get that part, Audra.” He winked.

  She smiled for the media, grinned at the fellows around the table and glared at Max. She then continued, almost in a maddening rush to say everything she wanted to say before the live coverage of the tournament continued. “Gee, what else is new? It’s not a first for Max, now is it?” She turned to the guy closest to her. “Yeah, it’s true, I’m fucking him.” She pointed at the ‘him’ in question and quickly moved on to the punch-line, “Or at least, I was, but you know, all good things meet a rapid end—and speaking of a rapid end—yeah ladies, you know what I mean, it’s kinda over before it starts.” She shrugged.

  He flinched.

  She wasn’t sure if it was because of the insult or the promise. Both existed in her words.

  Cameras reeled in closer now. Microphones were everywhere. Max tried to wave one or two of them off after realizing he only drew her in for more self-destruction rather than anything else.

  “Audra, just let it go now—”

  “Oh no, not on your life.” She turned to Stan first. “I can only imagine the kind of play by play action you’ve managed to get.” She then turned to the chip leader and addressed him, too. “Let’s see. First time was, uneventful for me but put quite an interesting twist on room service, didn’t it Max?”

  “Audra, stop it. I pushed too far, you’re right.”

  “No, you’re right, Max. A woman’s place is always going to be in the sack with her legs open and waiting.” She turned back to the cameras then. “If anyone is interested in seeing how well I play the part—”

  “Audra, I said, enough!” Max stood up.

  Sambo Grundle stepped forward with a quick hand sliding to his old friend’s shoulder. “We’re back live in five…four…three…twooooo…one!” He turned back to face several of the cameras then and his raspy voice addressed the at-home audiences as well as those sitting nearby.

  “Ladies and gentleman we are at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. We’ve had an interesting break and can’t wait to get back to playing live Texas Hold’em!” He turned to Audra with a look of warning. The officials wouldn’t care to boot her out and disqualify her for inappropriate conduct. One glance from him was all it took. The dealer started with the shuffle and Audra let out a sigh of anger, one of disgust and several of relief.

  It was time to truly play the game she loved. It was time to claim her win and finish off Max somewhere along the way.

  * * * *

  She only spent about two minutes in the restroom—just long enough to splash some sense into her face. Maybe the cool water would provide some kind of refreshment since she was going down fast with one sucker-punch after the next. Yes, she realized she was her own worst enemy right now and those hard knocks were hers to own. She almost asked for them with a ‘pretty- please’ attached.

  Still drying off her neck with a paper towel, she left the ladies room only to catch a leggy brunette and Max slipping through the swinging doors and down the same hallway he’d shown her earlier. She followed. It was a mistake to do it and she understood just how big of one soon enough.

  The hallway provided alcoves, just small recessed areas leading to another area of the casino. Outside of her own clickety-click of high heel shoes, she could hear laughter as she approached. She moved toward the evidence of what she realized, without a
doubt, she’d find.

  There, up against the wall, the brunette had her hands at Max’s belt and her neck turned to the side as his lips scraped down toward her chin. The girl spotted her and giggled only louder. “Wrong door, sweetie.”

  Max’s gaze met Audra’s and his lips turned up in a curve. “Private party, baby.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” She choked back tears and then ran, sprinted really, toward the gaming floor. Max Reynolds was a cold-hearted, lying prick, and she planned to destroy him where it would hurt him the most. Her stomach rolled with the pain seeing him with another woman brought. She darted in the restroom once more. Tears threatening to fall and shortness of breath all but strangling her. She felt sick.

  Yes, she was going to win the tournament and then she was going to leave Max and any memories of him right where she’d made them—in the city designed for men like him. She glared in the mirror. She really couldn’t breathe. He cut out a piece of her heart and laughed about it. Apparently, her heart wasn’t the only organ he wanted, he wanted to strip her of her ability to live because her lungs refused to function, too. She gasped for air.

  “What have I done?” Several women came and went and only shot her a quick look on their way out.

  She had about five more minutes and she imagined Max was making his three hundred seconds count for something. “I could kill him!” She slammed her palms down on the marble countertop and took a deep breath in and out. She closed her eyes hoping to barricade the tears waiting to fall. “I’m so fucking stupid!” When she blinked once, they began to spill and that’s when she saw a woman about twice her age staring back at her. She moved closer.

  “Yes, you can say that again.”

  “Caroline?” She shook her head. “I thought someone said you went back to Atlantic City yesterday.”

  She turned on the faucet and splashed water in her face again, repeating the process at least kept tears at bay. “Good to see you’re still here.”