Chapter 17
SHEPHERD
I’m halfway through calling Jake’s bluff when headlights sweep across the front windows. My attention snaps up before I can stop it and the room erupts immediately.
“There it is,” Jake says.
“Right on time,” Boone adds.
“What’s right on time?” Kyler asks.
Killian grins. “You mean who is right on time.”
“Shep’s distraction,” Bishop answers on my behalf.
“Fuck you all,” I mumble, though I don’t even bother denying it this time, because yeah, it’s her.
I don’t need to see the car to know Sutton just pulled up.
It’s weird, but it’s almost like a part of me can feel it when she’s near.
That and I’ve been feeling guilty all day about the way I acted this morning.
I should’ve texted her earlier about it, but I didn’t and it’s been eating at me all day.
The engine shut off outside and then there’s nothing.
No door opening.
No movement.
Just her in the car.
Sitting there.
“She’s not getting out,” Kyler says.
Something in my chest tightens.
Fuck.
I forgot to tell her about tonight.
She’ll think she shouldn’t be here.
I’m already pushing back from the table before anyone says anything else.
“Be right back,” I mutter.
“Don’t scare her off,” Jake calls after me.
I ignore him, grabbing my beer on the way to the front door. The night air is cool when I step outside, quiet except for the faint creak of the car when she finally opens the door. She steps out slowly like she’s trying her best not to make any noise. Like she’s afraid to be seen.
“Hey.”
Her eyes flick up when she sees me and there’s that split second of surprise followed by the guarded softness I know she’s used to.
“Oh. Hey,” she says.
I lean casually against the porch railing, like I didn’t just abandon a poker game mid-hand. “Long night?”
She nods, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Busy.” Her gaze flicks past me toward the house, where the faint sound of voices and laughter carries through the open window.
“I’m so sorry, Shepherd,” she says. “I didn’t know you were having people over. I can go back into town if you—”
And there it is.
The step back.
The automatic retreat.
“Fuck no.” I smile, shaking my head. “Sutton this is your home too. You don’t have to go anywhere. You’re free to come and go as you please.”
“Right. I’ll just…” She hitches her thumb in the direction of the guest house. “Get out of your hair,” she adds quickly. “I don’t want to—”
“You’re not interrupting anything,” I cut in gently.
She frowns. “You sure?” She’s always giving me an out. Always making sure she’s not too much.
“Yeah,” I say simply. “It’s just my brothers and some of the guys. I forgot to tell you they were coming over to play some poker. Want to come hang out? Say hi?”
She hesitates, because of course she does, so I add, “You don’t have to stay long if you don’t want to. They’re just being loud and losing money.”
A small smile tugs at her mouth. “That sounds like a personal problem.”
“It is,” I agree. “For them. They suck at poker and I just happen to be good at it.”
She puts a hand on her hip. “Oh, so you invite them over just to steal their money?”
There’s the witty charm I like so much.
“Hey, I bet you’re good at it too,” I say, watching her eyes flash with curiosity. “You read people for a living.”
She tilts her head, considering this. “I read drunk people. That’s different.”
“Same principles.” I take a sip of my beer, then offer it to her. “Want some?”
She takes it, her fingers brushing mine, sending that familiar electric current through my system. She drinks, her throat working as she swallows, and I try not to stare.
“So,” she says, handing the beer back. “Poker night with the boys, huh? And you do this on the regular?”
“Yeah.” I glance back at the house. “It’s just something we started when we moved here. It was actually our agent’s idea. She suggested we invite teammates over to play as a way to bond off the field. Now it’s a whole thing. Every other Tuesday.”
She winces. “And I’m crashing it.”
“Nah. You’re enhancing it,” I correct her. “Besides, Killian’s been cheating all night. We could use a fresh set of eyes.”
She laughs, the sound warming me from the inside out. “I’m not exactly dressed for poker night.” She gestures down at her bartending clothes, black jeans, a fitted T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun.
“Fuck that. You look perfect,” I tell her, allowing my eyes to roam her body. It’s all I can do to not picture her nearly naked except for my T-shirt like she was this morning.
When I walked away from her like a stupid ass chicken.
It’s not that I was afraid to kiss her. God knows, I’m attracted to Sutton Price. It was more that she’s been guarded since the day I met her and then basically offered herself to me after I did her a favor. Like she owed me. And that didn’t sit well.
I’ve never been the kind of guy to take advantage of a woman’s vulnerabilities like that and I never will be. That’s not the kind of man I want to be.
Sutton shifts her weight, her eyes darting to the house then back to me. “I don’t know how to play poker,” she admits.
“Even better,” I say. “You can be my good luck charm.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can see her resolve weakening. “Careful, Haynes. That was almost smooth.”
“Almost?” I place my hand over my heart in mock offense. “I’ll have you know I’m very smooth.”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” she says, but she takes a step toward me.
I extend my hand, and after a brief hesitation, she takes it. Her fingers are cold from the night air, and I resist the urge to bring them to my lips. Instead, I nod to her other hand, still bandaged but healing. “How’s your hand?”
“Only hurt a few times tonight when I flexed too hard.”
I nod. “Beast mode problems, am I right?”
She laughs and the sound is absolute music to my ears. “Totally.”
We walk inside together and the second we step into the kitchen where the guys are seated at the table, it happens.
The shift.
Five heads turn almost in sync, and instead of confusion, there’s immediate grins, raised brows, and way too much interest.
“Uh… hi.” Sutton waves, a little unsure of what to say to everyone.
Jake recovers first, of course. “Distraction was accurate, Bishop. That explains everything.”
I shake my head. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m starting,” he says, smirking as he leans back in his chair. “So glad you decided to join us, Sutton. Pull up a chair.”
Sutton pauses just inside the front door her weight shifting slightly like she’s deciding whether to step in or step right back out again but I squeeze her hand to let her know it’s okay.
“Hey, Sutton,” Bishop greets her, giving her a small wave. “Welcome home. We promise we’re less chaotic tonight than move-in day.”
“That’s a lie,” Kyler mutters.
“Bold-faced lie,” Boone adds.
Orry gestures toward the table. “We’ve upgraded from manual labor to gambling. Much more our speed.”
Sutton’s lips twitch, the beginning of a smile she’s trying to hide.
Jake points a chip at me. “You’re just in time. Your boy’s getting absolutely destroyed.”
“I’m not—”
“You folded three hands in a row,” Bennett cuts in.
“Fuck you. That’s strategy.”
“Or fear,” Boone says.
Sutton glances at me, amused now, the tension in her shoulders easing just a fraction. “Wow,” she says, glancing at me. “Weren’t you just singing a different tune outside?”
“What?” I shake my head. “No. You must’ve misheard me.”
She laughs. “Ah. I see. I’ll add Q-Tips to my shopping list.”
“Did he tell you he’s good at this?” Jake asks, gesturing between Sutton and me. “Because if he did, he’s totally lying.”
“Careful,” I warn.
“Oh, I’m being careful,” he says, grinning. “I just think she deserves to know what she’s dealing with.”
Sutton huffs out a quiet laugh and gestures toward the kitchen. “Do you guys need anything? Drinks or—”
“Nope,” Killian says immediately. “You’re off duty, woman. Have a seat.”
“He’s right,” Sebastian adds. “We’re big boys. We can get our own drinks.”
“Yeah, sit,” Orry says, nodding toward the open chair. “Join in. Shepherd can spare some chips.”
“I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to poker.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I say, placing my hand lightly on her lower back. “I’ll teach you.”
Jake snorts. “The blind leading the blind.”
“Shut up, Jake,” I mutter, guiding Sutton toward the chair that was somehow placed next to mine while we were outside. Seb winks at me, letting me know it was him. At least my brothers are good for something. Well, Sebastian, anyway.
He’s always been my favorite.
Sutton slides into the seat, her body angled slightly toward me. I catch a whiff of her scent—something citrusy mixed with the faint smell of whiskey from the bar—and it takes everything in me not to lean closer.
“Alright,” Killian announces, shuffling the deck with practiced ease. “Let’s show Sutton how we do poker night.”
“You mean poorly?” Bennett suggests with a laugh.
“And with excessive trash talk,” Bishop adds.
“And questionable snack choices,” Kyler chimes in, gesturing to the pile of half-eaten beef jerky, an open box of Twinkies, and pretzels scattered across the table.
Sutton glances at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “So, this is what professional athletes do on their nights off? Eat gas station snacks and trade money?”
“Hey, these are premium gas station snacks,” Killian protests, holding up a bag defensively. “I’ll have you know these are artisanal beef sticks.”
Sutton plucks one from the pile, examining it critically. “Ah yes. Gas Station Gourmet, indeed. Very exclusive.”
The guys laugh, and I can’t help the pride that swells in my chest watching her effortlessly slide into our chaos.
She’s different here than at the bar. She seems a little looser, her guard not completely down but lowered just enough that I can see glimpses of who she is when she’s not bracing for impact.
“Alright,” I say, sliding half my chips toward her. “The basics are simple. Best five-card hand wins.”