Chapter Ten
Elise
I had said yes.
To a senior citizen center. On a Wednesday night. To play a card game I had never heard of.
I told myself it was strategic. The more time I spent with Brady Holliston, the more opportunity I had to study his methods, observe his tells, and uncover his true motivation for being in Basin Ridge. Public location. Multiple witnesses. No isolation variables. Acceptable risk.
So far I hadn’t found anything concerning. He hadn’t even mentioned my father recently.
That was the story I was sticking with as I walked toward the entrance of the senior center.
As I reached the heavy glass doors, they swung open before I could touch the handle.
Brady was standing there, leaning against the frame as if he’d been waiting for me. He looked effortless in a way that always made me feel like I was overthinking my own existence.
Effortless was usually curated. No one moved through the world that easily without intention.
“You actually came,” he said, a slow, appreciative grin spreading across his face.
“I said I would.”
“I know. But not everyone would have agreed to this kind of first date.” He reached out, his hand hovering near the small of my back as I struggled for how to respond. “Ready to meet the board of directors?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The place was already buzzing as he led me inside. A long oval table dominated the center of the room, and the group was already gathered around it.
“Everyone,” Brady announced, his voice projecting with that easy charm. “This is Elise.”
Mrs. Donnelly spotted me first. Her face lit up with pure, unfiltered smugness. She clapped her hands once. “Look who decided to shoot her shot!”
Heat crawled up my neck. I had not been prepared for immediate public credit.
I scanned the room automatically. No hostility. No territorial tension. Just amusement.
Brady moved me along the line, keeping his hand lightly at my back.
“This is Gloria. Don’t let the tattoos fool you; she’s even tougher than she looks.”
Gloria stood and gave me a quick, appraising nod. “So you’re the one who’s got Brady grinning like a fool. Glad you showed.”
“And Jennifer,” Brady continued.
Jennifer gave me a slow once-over, then a regal nod. “Outfit passes inspection. We’ll judge the rest by how you play.”
Another woman offered a gentle smile. “Don’t mind them. I’m Sandra. I told Brady you’ve always been nice to me. Welcome.”
A woman waved from her seat, fanning herself with a menu. “Hi! I’m Kara. Just fair warning, I didn’t sleep well last night, so if I look grumpy, I’m not.”
A retired veteran lifted a hand. “David. More players make the game better. Glad you’re here.”
I sat. Brady dropped into the chair beside mine. When he leaned in to slide my stack of quarters closer, his shoulder brushed mine and stayed there for a breath.
They launched straight into the game. Gloria dealt while Jennifer rattled off the rules in rapid-fire bursts. I absorbed the probabilities instantly but kept my face neutral.
I lost the first hand. Then the second.
By the third I was starting to enjoy the cutthroat speed.
On the fourth I knocked early. Everyone groaned, and when the cards flipped, I actually won the round. A small, surprised laugh escaped me.
Gloria’s eyebrows shot up. “She speaks and she wins. I like her.”
Jennifer gave an approving nod. “Not bad for a first-timer.”
Sandra smiled warmly. “You’re catching on fast.”
Kara fanned herself harder. “See? I knew you weren’t that weird. You just needed the right table.”
Weird? Is that how I come across? Is it why people tend to not talk to me? How does a person un-weird?
Mrs. Donnelly looked positively thrilled. “Told you she had more going on in that head than she lets out.”
Brady was grinning at me like I had hung the moon. Every time I won a small pot or made a dry observation, his smile got wider. The ladies noticed. When I passed him a fresh quarter our fingers brushed and held half a second too long. The contact sent a low, electric hum straight down my spine.
Gloria cackled after one of my comments. “She’s funny! Brady, you didn’t tell us she was funny.”
Brady’s eyes sparkled. “She just needed the right audience.”
Me? Funny? It wasn’t how I saw myself, but I found that I liked thinking I might be. It meant I was . . . more than I knew. That thought was destabilizing in the best way.
These people wanted nothing from me. They weren’t analyzing my every word for weakness or threat. They weren’t calculating leverage or advantage.
They were just including me. Teasing me. Laughing with me.
Inclusion lowers defenses.
Lower defenses create exposure.
It felt dangerously good.
My quarters were running low when Brady’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and his expression turned uncertain.
Gloria pounced. “Trouble already? We’d ask, but you’re almost out of quarters.”
Brady shook his head. “It’s not a big deal.”
David, sly as anything, reached over and stole Brady’s last quarter while he was distracted.
Next hand started.
Brady looked around, confused. “I thought I . . . hmmmmm.”
The table erupted in laughter.
Mrs. Donnelly explained with glee, “When you run out, you confess a secret to stay in for one more round, something no one else at the table knows.”
All eyes turned to Brady.
He looked at his phone again, then at me. Normally I was good at predicting what would come next, but I had no idea with him. My breath went shallow as my focus narrowed to him and what he might confess.
Please don’t let it be anything that ends us right here.
All I want is a little more time . . .
His expression was slightly pained. Oh, no.
It’s not good.
“I was just invited to something this upcoming week and normally I would say yes to it but . . .” He trailed off.
“But?” someone asked.
He looked at me, a little flushed. “I’m not ready to leave Basin Ridge yet.”
My breath came out in a rush.
Did he just imply . . . what does that mean?
Several of the women fanned their chests. “That’s so romantic,” Jennifer declared.
And confusing.
Also, slightly terrifying, because . . . because I want to be why he wants to stay.
Gloria asked bluntly, “Who was asking you to go somewhere?”
Who.
A woman?
His wife?
No, he’s not married. My search would have uncovered that.
Brady hesitated, then said, “I’ve been invited to a birthday party by Thomas Steele.”
My chest tightened.
No. That’s a lie.
My father didn’t do birthday parties. Not even for me. Not since our mother left.
The table erupted with questions. “The man you were asking us about?”
Brady’s face flushed and his expression turned sheepish. “Not exactly.”
I leaned in.
“He’s a Thomas Steele, but not the one I was looking for.”
“I don’t understand,” Jennifer said.
I don’t either, but he has my full attention now.
“When I started looking for him, I had no idea Thomas Steele was a common name. I’ve met a few recently, but the most recent lives on Lake Tahoe.
He and his wife were so welcoming that I spent a weekend at their place and got to know their family.
They’re right on the water and their kids taught me how to jet ski.
Their youngest, Sam, is turning ten this weekend and they’d like me to go to his party. ”
He had to be joking.
I searched for the flicker in his eyes that signaled a lie.
Nothing.
Gloria clapped him on the back. “I like you, Brady. I never know what you’ll say next.”
Me neither.
“You should go,” Kara said with enthusiasm.
Brady’s gaze settled on me and his earlier declaration about not wanting to leave echoed through me. The whole thing was absurd to the point of being unbelievable . . . or was it so implausible that it had to be true? I couldn’t decide.
All around us the ladies went, “Oooooh.”
Mrs. Donnelly, still immensely smug, said, “And you should take Elise.”
Brady tilted his head, raised an eyebrow hopefully. “Elise, would you agree to attend a birthday party for a ten-year-old with me?”
I looked around the room.
I hadn’t expected to enjoy this group as much as I had. Saying yes instead of no was taking me on unexpected, but also amazing, adventures.
And logically, going with Brady to see if his story about meeting the wrong Thomas Steele was even true could provide me with critical intel regarding the real reason he was in Basin Ridge.
When his finger brushed over my cheek and he whispered, “Say yes, Elise.” My heart hammered and my speech failed.
This is reckless.
And potentially dangerous.
I’ll need to lie to my family about where I’m going.
Fuck it.
“Yes.”