18. Bad Bets
Bad Bets
Fly
If one more person asks me to do something, I’m going to punch them in the nose. Literally. All day I’ve been trying to talk to her, and all I’ve been able to do is stare at her from afar as she worked with her friends.
It’s been complete and utter torment to be so close and yet so far.
That ends tonight.
Cake and kisses are the plan for the night.
Which I want more of just depends on how sweet they both are. Though how could she be anything but sweet with a name like Sheri?
The mixture of the scents of cakes and flowers fills my nostrils as I open the door to the common room.
Even after watching the women work all day, it’s hard to believe they turned this open space into a warm and beautiful party, fitting of way more than a cake tasting.
Though this might be the best part of the wedding events.
Depends on how much…cake. The Cake Lady’s house must have exploded.
Bear walks over. “Have you lost your mind yet?”
“It’s close.” Very close. We hit cake paradise.
“You can’t have any.”
“What?” Surely Bear must be joking. All of this cake is here for us to literally eat.
“Integer tried grabbing some, and he almost lost a hand. No joke, that woman is scary.” Bear nods towards where Winnie stands sentinel, protecting the display and soon-to-be feast.
“She’s not that scary. I could get her to give me some cake.” It wouldn’t be hard, either. It’s just understanding people’s weaknesses.
“Twenty says you can’t.”
“I’ll be happy to take your money, Bear.” It’s too easy. People don’t understand just what I’m capable of.
He snorts. “We’ll see.”
Yes, we will. As I walk over, my demeanor changes.
I add in a little bit of practicality and all those business vibes Winnie gives off.
“Hello, Winnie, is it? I’m Fly. Tonight, I’m in charge of coordinating the security team.
Most of them won’t be able to join in the festivities.
Do you think you could help me arrange for them to have some cake to celebrate with us? ”
With each word I utter, sympathy and practical understanding run across her face. There’s no way she isn’t giving me cake.
“Of course. Let me grab them for you to bring to them.”
And that is how easy it was to get cake early and make a twenty off of Bear.
Sheri isn’t here.
Where did she go? She was literally here all day. She couldn’t have disappeared while I was home changing.
“Here you go.” Winnie holds out two plates stacked full of different mini cakes.
“Thanks.”
“And whoever you’re looking for, she’s probably changing.”
Wait. “How did you know?”
“I’m neither blind nor oblivious. You can tell Bear he can have all the cake he wants later.”
Never underestimate your target. And it seems I did with this woman. “I’ll pass that message on to him.” And these cakes to the people working.
“Who is it you’re looking for?”
Should I tell her? “Why?”
“Because you and your brothers need to remember that we don’t play games. Hurt one of us, and we’ll all happily make you pay regardless of who you are.”
Wow. “I like you.”
“Most people do…almost as much as they fear me.” And that little hint of deadpan reality is the voice of a woman who has no compunction about hurting another person.
Interesting and good to know. “Understood.”
She tips her head to the side. “That isn’t going to stop you from looking for her.”
“Nah.” I’ve always lived life on the edge.
***
Two hours later, Sheri hasn’t stepped one foot from her cluster of friends. It’s like they’re engrossed in whatever conversation they’re having, which I’ve almost interrupted several times.
But half of a successful encounter is picking the opportune time.
“Are you going to stare at them all day or are you going to play?” Bear lifts his plate of cake up. He hasn’t stopped eating since the event started, not that I blame him. That is, as always, the best cake of my life.
The problem is the sweet I want to taste is twenty feet away from me, laughing about some story someone else is telling her. “Fine.” I walk over, line up a shot, and walk away.
“You aren’t even trying.” Bear grumps as he sets his plate down.
I'm not, but being patient is taking all of my concentration.
“Bram!” Bear shouts. “Come over and make this a real game so Fly tries.”
That draws everyone’s attention.
Interesting.
Sheri’s eyes meet mine, and she stops talking to her friends.
Perfect.
“Eh, I don’t know if I want to take Fly’s money today.” Bram saunters over.
“Yeah, right.” Though if there is a single brother who can come close, it’s him.
“Fine, if you want to give me your money, who am I to fight it?”
Several of the women stop talking and wander over to watch us, including Sheri. She’s still wrapped up in that coat of hers.
I hate that she’s cold, but love that I finally got her attention. Now, to keep it. “Why don’t we make it interesting?”
She’s the one who raises an eyebrow at me.
Now, I’ve really got her attention.
“What were you thinking?” Bram doesn’t really care about money, which he knows I know.
“A kiss. We have all these lovely ladies around us. If I win, I receive a kiss from one of the beautiful women around us. If you win, you receive a kiss.”
Bram raises an eyebrow at me.
“Are you gambling with our affections?” Sheri asks.
“I would never.” But I am hoping to score another kiss.
“If Savannah will agree to kiss me, I’ll take you up on that bet.” Bram walks over to one of the women…she’s got on a grandma-style dress that resembles a fancy doily, but somehow looks sexy on her, which seems really wrong.
The woman blushes. “I don’t know. What do you think, Sheridan?”
Sheri taps a finger on her chin. “Hmm. Maybe. Assuming we get the chance to win our kiss back. The winner has to play the woman he wants to get. If he wins, he gets two kisses, but if he loses, he has to pay a forfeit of the lady’s choice.”
“That seems more than fair to me.” Savannah nods. “What do you gentlemen say?”
“Two kisses sounds like the perfect way to end a sweet night.” Bram reaches for his que. “Flip for the break.”
Bram is good, but he can’t clear the table from the break. It’s probably wrong to show off, but I’m going to do it anyway. Plus, it’ll give me a chance to flirt with Sheri. “You can have the break.”
What was she thinking, bargaining for a second kiss? Or was that her way of telling me she’d like to spend the evening kissing me?
I don’t want to spend the rest of my night with my brothers eating cake. I want to spend it with her, and this is my chance.
There aren’t a ton of private spots to talk in the public spaces of the clubhouse. But my place is less than five minutes away.
Would she leave her friends? I think we’re about to see.
But first I need to do what I’ve wanted to since those few stolen moments in the kitchen. That means getting close to Sheri. “Bram’s pretty good at this.”
She raises an eyebrow at me. “I bet he is. But he isn’t going to win.”
“How can you be so sure of that?” He usually doesn’t win when we play. I lean down and whisper, “Because he doesn’t have my motivation.”
She glances at him, then back at Savannah. “Are you sure about that? He looks like one determined man to me.”
Does that mean…“Really?”
“I guess we’re about to find out.” Sheri pulls her coat tighter around herself.
Bram sinks two balls on the break with a grin. “Stripes.”
That kiss on the first day had to have meant something.
WOW. Interesting. It kind of makes sense that Bram would like the grandma-type. He’s a bit stodgy himself. At least until you get to know him. It’s tempting to lose just to see what would happen with the two of them. “Do you want me to win?”
Sheri raises an eyebrow at me. “I think I’d enjoy having you owe me a forfeit.”
Her brazen words make me smile. “And what would you ask for?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a ride on your motorcycle. Or a night in your arms.”
WHAT? She didn’t just say what I think she did.
“Before you get all excited, I’m not that kind of girl. A night where you simply held me in your arms.”
I close my eyes, picturing the woman next to me wrapped in my arms with her head on my pillow and her hair spread out across my face. “Can I concede?”
She gives a low, saucy little chuckle that could send a man to his knees. “Where would be the fun in that?”
Is she playing a game with me? Probably.
Do I care? Not in the least.