After all the commotion ended, the slot attendant came over to pay me out. I thought I had hit the jackpot for thousands, but in reality, the jackpot was only eight hundred and fifty five dollars.
“Spence, you should go play Texas Hold’em and try to win the other half for your Louis!”
“I don’t know… maybe I’ll just save it.” Ryan’s idea sounded tempting, but I wasn’t sure. I had just won and now had eight hundred and fifty five dollars and that was a lot more than I came with.
“Come on, Spence, I have seen you take your family for all their money at Thanksgiving multiple times and you play all the time online.”
Of course, Ryan was right. I was just nervous. I had never played with real people before. “Fine, let’s go.” What did I really have to lose?
While we headed towards the Poker Room, I noticed the High Roller Room. Might as well go big or go home right? We walked into the High Roller room instead and I stopped dead in my tracks, causing Ryan to plow into me from behind. “Ow, whoa Spence, why did you stop?”
I gave Ryan the head nudge towards my left. He was sitting at the table. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything and neither did I.
I nervously sat down at the one empty seat that was on the end directly across from him. He was sitting with the guy and girl I had seen him with at the airport. When I sat down, his eyes lit up and there was that slow, sexy smile again.
The dealer took my money and gave me eight hundred and fifty five dollars worth of chips. Since the table had a one hundred dollar open, I potentially could only play eight hands if I didn’t win any hands and no one raised it pre-flop.
In Texas Hold'em, every player is dealt two cards face down. Everyone who wants to play places a bet and everyone who doesn’t want to play folds by giving their cards back to the dealer. After everyone puts in their chips and either matches the big blind (also known as an ante) or matches the highest raise, the dealer burns one card (also known as discarding) and then turns three over which is known as the flop. Everyone either bets or folds again, and then the dealer burns one card and turns another over which is known as the turn. Once everyone has bet or folded again, the dealer burns one last card and then turns over one final card which is known as the river. Everyone who is still playing bets or folds again, and then you turn over your cards to see who has the highest hand.
Since the big blind was a hundred dollars and the small blind was fifty, I thought to myself that this was probably a bad idea. But now that he was here, I was glued to my seat.
I didn’t play my first hand. I was dealt a seven of clubs and a two of diamonds. I knew enough to know that a seven-two was the worst hand in poker. Great, is this how this is going to go? I looked up and he gave me a smile that I interpreted as Hey I know what you did last night! I felt my face start to heat as I remembered the details of that night all too clearly.
While the dealer dealt the next hand, his friend turned to me and started to introduce himself and his friends. “Hi, I’m Jason, this is my wife Becca, and this here is Brandon,” he said, nodding towards my hottie. The older gentleman sitting at the table introduced himself as Stan but didn't know Brandon and his friends. Finally he had a name and the woman he was with was not his girlfriend. I was relieved. When we’d danced, I hadn’t thought once about the possible girlfriend I’d seen him with at the airport.
“Hi, I’m Spencer and this is Ryan.” Since I knew Brandon went to my gym, I didn’t feel that I should give him our fake names… especially after that dance and since I wanted to get to know him. God, did I want to get to know this gorgeous man!
“So ladies, where are you from?” From the tone of Jason’s question, I knew he already knew the answer.
“San Francisco. And you?” Two could play this game.
“Wow, what a coincidence. So are we,” Jason said, answering my question.
“You know, you look like this girl who goes to the same gym as me,” Brandon said as he looked into my eyes, making my palms grow sweaty.
“Oh yeah? I just started going to that new gym, Club 24, a few weeks ago… You know, come to think of it, you do look kind of familiar.” Our eyes were locked on each other and he flashed me his smile. We both knew who each other was, but I kept playing his game.
“Yeah, then I know I have seen you a few times there,” Brandon said with his knowing eyes.
Over the next hour, we all made small talk, talking about San Francisco and why we were in Vegas. Ryan, with her big mouth, explained to everyone that I was playing poker because I had just hit a jackpot on a slot machine and I wanted to try to double my money for a Louis Vuitton purse. Thanks Ryan. Now I was thoroughly embarrassed.
Brandon and I caught each other staring throughout the wee hours of the night. We didn’t mention the previous night once. But he gave me his signature heart-stopping smile frequently.
I was winning most hands I played, and I thought that I was about to reach two thousand dollars. The next hand, the dealer dealt me pocket kings. Being a strong starting hand, I raised pre-flop to four hundred dollars. Wow, that was like a fourth of my rent. Everyone folded except Brandon.
On the flop, the dealer turned over a king of clubs, ace of diamonds and a two of spades. Three of a kind, not bad. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my poker face and then I bet five hundred dollars. Brandon called. The dealer turned over an eight of spades on the turn. No help to me. I bet another five hundred dollars and Brandon called again. The dealer then turned over a seven of hearts on the river which again was no help to me.
Knowing that a three of a kind was a strong hand and there was no chance for a straight or a flush, I pushed all my chips in the middle and said "All in." Brandon looked up at me and flashed me that smile that I was already falling in love with. I knew I was in trouble.
“I call,” he said. The dealer counted all the chips I had put in the middle which totaled one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. I was nervous. I couldn’t believe I had just bet all that money. My heart started to beat fast and my palms were sweaty. This was it. I could either win enough for my purse or go home empty-handed.
I turned over my pocket kings revealing I had a three of a kind. Still smiling, Brandon turned over pocket aces. Shit! Of course. Brandon also had a three of a kind, but it was aces and that beat my kings.
I was stunned. What are the odds? “Ah Spence, you lost all your money!” Ryan said mournfully. No shit Sherlock!
“Yep, well it was nice playing with you all,” I said as I stood up. “Time to call it a night, Ry.” I was extremely disappointed, but at least I’d finally met Brandon officially.
Ryan and I turned to leave, but stopped when Brandon spoke. “Hey Spencer…”
I hesitated for a slight moment then turned. “Yeah?”
Smiling, Brandon said, “See you at the gym on Monday.”
"Okay," I said with a huge smile on my face. I probably looked like a complete idiot as I grinned from ear to ear, but I didn't care. Vegas had turned out to be everything I wished for and more.
Ryan and I walked out of the room and there were butterflies in my stomach. As soon as we got out of earshot range—at least I hoped we were—we did a little victory dance and jumped up and down. The hottie at the gym finally talked to me. Unlike Vegas' slogan, not everything stays in Vegas––thank God!
*~*~*
Ryan and I made it home from Vegas on Sunday afternoon. We were both exhausted; partying all weekend really took a lot out of us. We ordered pizza and lounged in our PJs for the evening as we’d already decided it was going to be an early night for both of us. “Are you nervous about seeing Brandon tomorrow?” Why did Ryan always seem to ask the obvious questions?
“Um, yes.” God was I nervous. It would be the first time we were “alone” together after Vegas and our dance. I had no idea what was going to happen.
I tossed and turned all night because my brain would just not shut off.
The next day, work progressed as
a normal Monday; very slow and I thought it would never end. Finally, at five, I made my way to the gym. My guest pass was expired, so I had to buy a membership.
When I got to the front desk, there was a person in front of me. While waiting, I looked around, but I didn’t see Brandon. Finally it was my turn. “Hi, I need to purchase a membership,” I said to the guy at the front desk.
Before he had a chance to respond, I heard Brandon say from behind me, “Luke, I’m taking care of Spencer’s membership.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Montgomery,” Luke said.
Just then, Brandon was on my right leaning on the desk. I quickly sized him up and down. He was dressed in black basketball shorts and a dark blue tank top that clung to what looked like perfect abs and what I knew was a rock hard chest. His biceps were big but not too big. He was perfect. “That isn’t necessary,” I said to Brandon.
“It’s the least I can do for taking all your money!” he said with laughter in his voice.
“Ha ha, very funny. But really, you don’t need to. It was just money I won in Vegas anyway, so no big deal.”
“Spencer, don’t worry about it, I kind of own this place.”
“What? Really?” I wasn't expecting him to say that, I’d just thought we went to the same gym, not that I went to his gym!
“Yep, now go change so we can work out,” he said, his tone a little bossy, but I liked it.
I hurried and changed. Brandon was waiting for me when I exited the locker room. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yep.” We walked over to the treadmills. Again, this reminded me of a scene in one of my favorite books. If every work day ended like this, I might never retire.
After running on the treadmill for twenty minutes and sharing those flirty glances, Brandon asked me if I wanted to go to the weight room. I had never lifted weights before because I thought I needed to do cardio only. I didn’t want to be bulky like a man, but he assured me that I needed both. Who was I to argue? He was, in fact, the owner of the gym, so I figured that meant he knew his stuff.
In the weight room, he showed me some basic exercises. While I was concentrating on trying not to pull a muscle, he was working on his triceps. He was leaning backwards on a weight bench with his legs stretched out in front of him while doing backwards pushups. It was then that I saw the sexiest thing I had ever seen. Not all men have it, but when they do, it made my mouth water. People refer to it as “the horseshoe”. It’s where the tricep is so defined, it makes a horseshoe shape on the back of your arm when the muscle flexes.
Just as I started to lick my lips, Brandon looked up at me. “You like what you see?” Fuck, did I ever!
“Uh huh…” was all I could muster out of my mouth.
“Good,” he said with a wink.
After we were done in the weight room, Brandon walked me back to the locker room. “What are you doing tomorrow night after the gym?” he asked.
Not wanting to seem over eager, I pretended to think for a moment then casually said, “I don’t really have any plans.”
“Would you like to have dinner with me after we work out?”
“Sure, I would love to,” I said, smiling at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I turned and walked into the locker room.
*~*~*
When I got home, Ryan was in the living room watching TV. She started to grill me about my night at the gym.
“So tell me. Did you kiss?”
“While working out at the gym?”
“He could have cornered you in the ladies locker room.”
“I wish!”
“So what did you do?”
“First of all, Brandon has the sexiest body I have ever seen!”
“You didn’t kiss, but you had sex?”
“What? No! But I can just tell. While he was lifting weights, he had the horseshoe on his triceps for crying out loud!”
“Wow, that is sexy,” she agreed with a wistful sigh.
“I know, right? Also, he owns the gym.”
“Holy shit! Really?”
“Yep, and he took care of my membership.”
“Ah, I am so jealous of you right now Spencer,” Ryan said as she slouched down on the couch.
“I know. I can’t believe this is happening. Oh, and we are going to dinner tomorrow after work.”
“I hate you,” Ryan said quietly and crossed her arms over her chest.
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do!” We both laughed. Ryan was never really good at hiding her jealousy.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next day at the gym, Brandon joined me for the Tuesday kickboxing class. The instructor gave us a weird look when we entered the class. I thought for a second that maybe it was because the owner of the gym was in her class but then I remember he was in here last week too. This time during crunches we partnered up right away.
After I did my set of fifty crunches we switched positions so he could do his set. I had my hands on his feet to hold them down as my face leaned close to his bent knees. His basketball shorts slid up his leg a little exposing his thick muscular thigh.
When he was on number forty nine, Brandon crunched up and quickly brushed his lips with mine, taking me by surprise. He did the same with number fifty and it took everything I had to not straddle him in the crowded class and return the kiss but for much longer. I was starting to really enjoy working out again.
After the class, I went to the locker room to shower and get ready for dinner. I had brought my clothes so I didn’t have to waste time running home to get ready.
I dressed in a simple navy blue a-line dress that fell loosely above my knees. The dress was sleeveless with ruffles down the front. I accented the dress with a rope braided belt, snake skin wedge heels and a ruffle clutch purse, all cream colored. Given that I didn’t want to keep Brandon waiting, I quickly blew-dry my hair and put in my go-to princess cut diamond stud earrings.
When I exited the locker room, Brandon was leaning on the wall outside the door waiting patiently for me. He was dressed in dark denim jeans, and a black pinstripe long sleeve button down shirt with his hair a little spiked, but in the messy just-fucked look, and he smelled like the fresh air mixed with warm sunshine, the ruggedness of the earth and all man. I still couldn’t place his cologne even though I had smelled it before.
“Hey, beautiful,” Brandon said as he caught his first glimpse of me coming out of the locker room. “Wow, you’re breathtaking.”
“Thank you, you’re not too bad yourself.” I was blushing.
He placed his hand on the small of my back, sending a shiver of excitement down my spine. We walked out of the gym toward the parking lot and he directed me to his silver Range Rover Sport that was parked in one of the two “Reserved” parking spots right outside the front doors. Being very chivalrous, Brandon came around and opened the passenger side door. While he walked around to the driver’s side, I took in the sleek all black leather interior with chrome accents. It felt very masculine to me.
“Cold? Would you like me to turn on the seat warmers?” Brandon said as he slid into the car.
“What? Your car has butt warmers?” I said with a chuckle.
“Yes, we do live in the Bay Area.”
There was no argument there. San Francisco seemed to have more foggy days than sunny days year round. There were maybe a few weeks out of the summer months that were perfect; not too warm and not too hot. The nights were always chilly though.
“I would love my butt warmed!” I said with a big grin on my face. After all, I was in a dress.
“I’ll have to remember that.”
“Where are we going for dinner,” I asked smiling at his comment as he pulled out of the lot. Michael Buble's song Home was playing quietly in the background.
“Do you like seafood? I was thinking we could go to Scoma’s in Sausalito.”
“I love seafood. That sounds perfect.”
There was also a Scoma's that was only a few minutes from the gym. I figured Brando
n wanted as much time with me like I wanted with him. As we made our way out of San Francisco towards Sausalito, Brandon reached over and laced his fingers with mine, gently stroking his thumb over the back of my hand. The Golden Gate Bridge was lit up with golden lights as the sun was setting behind clouds that started to roll in.
"Did you guys have fun in Vegas?" I asked.
"Let’s just say Vegas was… unforgettable," he said with a huge grin that made me blush. "I’ve never been a huge fan of 50 Cent before, but I have to say I am a new believer.” My face was fully beet red as I concentrated furiously on the dashboard in front of me. “But how did you know it was me?”
I turned toward him with my face still beet red. “Ryan and I have been friends forever. The look she gave me said it all.”
“Well I was considering myself lucky I didn’t get a knee in the groin. But when I saw you dancing there, all sexy and confident, I couldn’t stop myself.”
"I wouldn't dance with just anyone like that." He was making me feel warm all the way down to the tips of my toes as I just sat there grinning like an idiot. I couldn’t help it.
“So did you and Ryan have fun the rest of your trip?"
"Yeah, much needed girl time. She’s getting over her ex and it’s still pretty recent. How much money did you end up winning at the poker table?"
"After I took your money, I then took Stan for two thousand. After that, we called it a night since it was just Jason, Becca and myself left at the table...so I walked away with about four grand."
"Damn that's a lot."
"Yep, not too bad. Jason made me buy them an early breakfast before we headed for bed though."
After the twenty or so minute drive, we pulled into downtown Sausalito driving past the restaurant to find parking. Almost to the end of Bridgeway where Scoma’s was located on a small pier, we found an open spot.
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