Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic)

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Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 25

by Lying Eyes


  * * * *

  “I have something for you.” She handed him the beautifully wrapped box.

  “What’s this?”

  “It belongs to you,” she told him.

  His eyes darted over to a distant wall and he kissed her hand. “Audra, you don’t have to shower me with gifts.”

  “This one is yours. You earned it.” She smiled.

  He unwrapped the box and settled against the headboard. “Honey, I don’t want your bracelet.”

  “It’s yours.”

  “How about we share it.” He studied the back of it closer.

  Before he could read it for himself, she did it for him. “For the man who landed a bracelet and a bride—may you keep them close and never tire of them when they tarnish.”

  “Oh, Audra.”

  “Love me forever.” She wanted the reassurance.

  “Until you beat me at poker again, it’s a done deal.” He winked.

  “Then it’s forever because you don’t have to worry about losing to me again.”

  “You’re not going back, are you?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m not going back.”

  “It was always about the retribution, wasn’t it?”

  “In a way. There were a lot of reasons to play and even more reasons I wanted, or needed, to win.”

  “You’ll miss it,” he told her.

  “I’ll still be around because I’ll be with you.”

  “Hmmm…so you think the family thing will keep you busy, do you?”

  “I think you are going to keep me well entertained, Mr. Reynolds.”

  “I’m counting on it, Mrs. Reynolds.”

  He took a deep breath and moved away from her. “I guess we’d better get this show on the road.”

  She pulled him back for one more kiss. “Yes, we need to because I want to be fat and sassy by this time next year.”

  “Can’t wait to be a mom, huh?”

  “Max, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re not a spring…stud.”

  He chuckled. “Feel again, sweetheart. Feel again.”

  Epilogue

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  The World Series of Poker 2008

  Max looked like the happiest man in the world once he saw her walk in and take her seat in the audience. His gaze fell to her stomach and he flashed a quick wink. Sambo announced the final three players and Max had an enormous lead. Audra overheard the numbers when she first walked into The Amazon Room. He was going to lock up the championship and it was all Audra could do to just wait for her chance to hit him with even more good news.

  She squirmed through the first fifteen minutes and was glad when Max knocked off the cocky Canadian who insulted him for slow playing his pocket aces. Now, it was only a matter of waiting for the right time to go for the gold bracelet and she wasn’t surprised when the final stage was set.

  It didn’t take long for Max to make his move. Before he called the all-in bet on the table, he pointed at Audra. “This is for you.” She read the words he mouthed and she giggled then before patting her stomach.

  The cards were turned up and Max finished out the tournament as the lone survivor capturing a cool twelve million and another gold bracelet for the Reynolds family. During the fanfare, Max made his way over to his wife. “Come here, sexy you.” He flirted openly as Audra tried to push the weight of her round body away from the chair.

  He held his hand out to her. “I was worried.”

  “Sorry, I was late. I had to wait something like two hours to get in the doctor’s office.”

  “Everything, okay?” He framed her face and kissed her lips as cameras flashed around them.

  “Fine.” She smiled.

  “Good. I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d be here.”

  “Never doubted it?”

  “Not for a second.”

  “Because you know me so well,” she stated.

  “I can still read you like a book.” He smiled.

  “And I still never surprise you?”

  “Never.”

  She smiled then for the cameras. “Well, this time, Mr. Reynolds, you’re going to be surprised.” She threw her arms around his neck and then whispered in his ear.

  “Really?”

  The cameras rolled, reporters waited. “Mr. Reynolds? Mr. Reynolds?” The media was hungry for it now and Max recognized a prime opportunity to let the world know just how kind Lady Luck was to a man in love.

  “You’re sure?”

  She nodded. “Ultra-sound.”

  He turned around and shouted to the crowd. “All right, ladies and gentleman, I have a huge announcement here!” And true to form, Max Reynolds gave the crowd what they came for.

  “My beautiful wife just informed me we have another reason to celebrate.” He grinned only wider. “Looks like we needed two bracelets, we’re having twins!”

  She laughed. “You’re ridiculous!” she screamed over the cheers.

  “No, lady. I’m just crazy about you.” He moved over to her and swept her off her feet. “And I plan to love you until I have one bone in the grave.”

  Audra giggled as she thought of Franco’s words of wisdom one year earlier. “As long as it’s not the one I like most, we’re going to be in good shape.”

  Max looked like the color left him as he understood her meaning. “Well then little lady, plan on seeing a lot of it tonight.”

  “I’m planning on seeing a lot of it for a lifetime…but uh, I don’t think it will be tonight.” Her breathing picked up and Max looked down at the floor around the same time her water broke.

  “It’s time, isn’t it?” Shock shook him as much as the surprise took her.

  “It appears that way.”

  “Well, no one will ever be able to say what happens in Vegas—”

  “Don’t be corny now, please. Just get me to the hospital before I have these babies right here!”

  “You got it, sweetheart. I’m looking forward to bottle duty because there’s one thing I’m never sharing with my kids.” He ran a playful finger down the side of her breast.

  “Max! Please, not now. I promise you, I’m not thinking about anything remotely close to what you’re thinking.”

  “Sorry about your luck. It’s all I think about.” He kissed her on the cheek before he moved them through the crowd.

  “Please! Think of anything but that right now! I’m in labor, now!”

  She was trying to focus on her breathing and Max continued to tease as he pulled her close and led her to the sidewalk.

  “Uh-huh. But remember, I always get my way.” He grinned, flashed a wink for the cameras and waved good-bye.

  “This may be the exception. Have you ever delivered a baby…or two?”

  “You’re bluffing right?”

  “I never bluff you, Max. Never you.”

  THE END

  www.destinyblaine.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Destiny Blaine lives in East Tennessee with her husband and two teenagers. When she isn’t writing, she’s generally found in a casino around a packed craps table or in a football stadium watching her favorite teams. Readers are invited to visit her online at www.destinyblaine.com or www.myspace.com/destinyblaine.

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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