Some Like It Hotter (Sweet Life in Seattle #3) (50 page)

The truth is she’s probably more nervous about seeing him tonight than she is about playing poker. Just the thought of it has her pulse racing.

Not that anything’s changed.

Except he was telling the truth about Olivia
.

Prince’s “U Got the Look” comes on next, and everyone adjusts their moves to the different beat. Lindsay dances over to Natalie and reaches for Luca, figuring she’ll give her sister a break.

Luca grins, putting his arms out, and Lindsay’s heart melts. She’s fallen completely in love with her little nephew. His brown eyes go wide, and she manages to stop him just in time before he grabs her earring. “No, I don’t think so, baby boy.”

“Gah!”

Lindsay spins him around and Luca squeals with laughter. But as soon as she starts dancing again, a ninja attack sneaks up on her. And it’s a bad one. The worst ever.

She’s dancing in a different living room than this one, “Burning Love” coming through the speakers. Giovanni is flailing his arms around with all his wild Frankenstein moves, letting his freak flag fly just for her.

God, I loved him
.

Lindsay stops dancing. Her throat closes up, and her eyes burn as she tries to breathe, tries to pull it together. She needs to calm down, knowing this is no way to go into a tournament. If this keeps up, she’ll be playing on tilt.

“It’s okay,” she tells Luca, who obviously senses her mood change. His little brows furrow as he studies her. “It’s
all
good, no worries.”

Clearly, he doesn’t believe her, because his furrowed brow doesn’t go away and his mouth opens with a wail as he starts to cry.

Natalie comes over. “Is everything all right?” She reaches for the baby, but when she looks at Lindsay her expression turns to concern. “Hey, are you okay?”

She nods and tries to smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

Pocket rockets.

Nice
.

The very best hole cards a person can have in Texas Hold ’em is two aces, and Lindsay’s staring at a pair right now. The odds of a hand like this are only two percent.

She remains calm. Indifferent even. It’s always been her strength. Most people get excited when they see these kinds of cards and immediately start raising, but she was taught better than that.

Instead, she puts her cards back down and glances around the table. So far, she’s made it through the first grueling round of play tonight, and after a short break is finally near the end of the second round. Whoever makes it past this hand will go to the final table. Since it’s only one evening of play, the action has been fast, which suits Lindsay just fine.

She was nervous going in, but as soon as she sat down with her glass of mineral water and her stack of chips in front of her, she felt her usual poker calm come over her.

Just like home
.

The flop is laid out, and it’s the ace of spades, two of clubs, seven of hearts.

Very nice
.

She pretends to look at her cards again—all part of the show.

So far, most of the games have been fast and loose as the inexperienced players fall away. She’s been playing it close and tight, though, and it’s serving her well. She hasn’t had to do much bluffing yet, but knows the players who’ve been paying attention have already noticed her style.

“Are you in?” the guy to her left asks.

She nods, but only calls.

Unsurprisingly, most of the players competing are amateurs doing it for fun, plenty of doctors, nurses, and other hospital workers. There’s a lively quality to the event with lots of jokes and laughter, and Lindsay’s been joining in.

Some of the men have been checking her out—their attention wandering from their cards to her pushed-up cleavage as they try to flirt with her.

But then there are the experienced players. The ones who don’t check her out or flirt with her. The men are definitely straight, but they’re here to win.

It took her a few hands at each table to spot them, but she’s narrowed it down. The most formidable player so far has been this short, middle-aged guy everyone calls Dr. Bill. He’s already outplayed her during a few hands and is winning a lot of money. There’s also an Asian woman named Kimmy who’s been killing it. Lindsay’s not doing too badly herself, though, and has a sizable stack of chips in front of her.

There’s been no sign of Giovanni. During the short break after the first round, she casually searched the crowd but didn’t see him.

There’s no reason for him to show up here tonight.

Except her spidey senses say otherwise.

The turn is laid out, and it’s a jack of diamonds. Lindsay decides to raise, but nothing too extreme. Happily, one of the other players is building up the pot for her anyway and, from what she can tell, he’s just made his pair.

When the river reveals an ace of diamonds, Lindsay doesn’t even blink. She’s got the nuts with four of a kind, and her goal now is to get that pot as large as possible.

When it’s her turn, she raises again but pretends to hesitate slightly. She can feel Mr. Pair of Jacks trying not to smirk as he raises to the maximum. They go around the table once more, with what appears to be a lot of confident people putting in plenty of chips. Dr. Bill already folded after the flop, and with the way he’s been eyeing her, he knows she’s got it.

It’s the showdown and Lindsay reveals her four pips. The guy with the pair of jacks’ mouth falls open. There are a few more groans around the table. Dr. Bill nods with approval, smiling at her, and Lindsay can’t help smiling back. He’s obviously been trying to figure her out all night.

She gathers her chips and lets out her breath.

I did it
.

She made it to the final round. The main event. It’s not exactly the World Series of Poker, just a fundraiser, but at least she’s made it far enough she doesn’t have to go home in shame.

Natalie and Anthony both congratulate her during the break.

“This is fantastic!” Natalie hugs her tight. “See, I knew you’d kick some poker ass tonight.”

“Thanks.” Lindsay grins. “I’ve had some good cards, which has helped.”

“Maybe you’ll win the main event! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Lindsay laughs. “I don’t know. That Dr. Bill guy has been outplaying me. Who is he? Between him and that Kimmy woman, it’s some fierce competition.”

“It looks like Dr. Bill is a vascular surgeon,” Anthony says, reading from the evening’s program.” He scans further down the list. “And Kimmy appears to be a midwife.”

“Really? Wow. Well, they’re both wicked-good card players.” She looks at Anthony. “What does it say about me in there?”

“Lindsay West, Sculptor and Teacher.”

Lindsay takes this in. Giovanni must have given them that information. She tells them she’s going to grab a bite to eat. “Just something light to keep my stamina up. I’ll be back.”

On her way over to the buffet, Dr. Bill, of all people, comes up to her. “I wanted to formally introduce myself,” he says, putting his hand out. “How long have you been playing poker?”

Lindsay shakes his hand and tells him she’s only been playing seriously the past year or so but has been around card games all her life.

Dr. Bill fishes something out from his pocket and hands her a business card. “I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to invite you to a regular game that I’m a part of. We play weekly, and it’s whoever shows up.”

She looks at the card in her hand. It’s his business card, and on the back, he’s written his cell phone number, along with the name and address of a restaurant downtown.

“It’s a private game,” he continues. “Some of the local grinders play, as well as some of the more talented amateurs. A few of us participate in the World Series every year. We’re always looking for exceptional players to join our group.”

“Thank you, I’ll check it out.”

“Please do.” He grins. “It’s a good place to sharpen your skills, and I think you’ll discover you’re among friends.”

After he leaves, Lindsay slips the card into her purse, buzzing with excitement. She’s heard about some of these private games.

She’s about to head over to the buffet but stops. The hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and when she turns around, she discovers why.

It’s Giovanni.

He’s right across the room talking to some woman, a tall, attractive brunette wearing a dark blue flapper-styled dress. They’re close together and he’s smiling.

Her heart pounds as she takes in the scene, trying to make sense of it.

Did he bring a date?

Her first instinct is territorial. That’s
my
man. The two of them are laughing about something, and Lindsay stands there frozen in some kind of bizarre fight-or-flight mode.

Just as Giovanni turns his head and sees her, some man walks up beside the brunette, putting his hand on her arm, and Lindsay realizes she’s misread the whole scene.

That’s not his date
.

Giovanni starts walking toward her. He’s wearing the blue Armani suit, the one he picked up in Rome for their wedding. He’s not dressed for the 1920s at all, but it doesn’t matter because he looks incredible.
My God, did I actually forget he’s this handsome?

“I see you made it to the final table,” he says with a grin. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”

She nods, still recovering from her near heart attack when she thought he was here with someone.

“Maybe you’ll win this thing.”

“Maybe.” She takes a deep breath. “There are actually some good players here.”

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I am.”

His blue eyes are focused on hers and he feels so familiar, so right.
If only things were different
.

“Are you really selling the house?” she can’t help asking. “It’s what Anthony told me.”

He nods, his expression changing to the tense one she knows so well. “Yes, I don’t see any point in keeping it now.”

“That’s too bad. You put so much work into it.”

He considers her. “Lindsay, we both know that house is nothing to me without
you
in it.”

She turns her head to the side and pretends to study the crowd.

“Which brings me to the main reason I came here tonight. I need to talk to you.”

She looks at him again.

“I’m leaving,” he says. “I’ve decided to take another assignment overseas. I just wanted to tell you in person. I have a lawyer handling the paperwork for the divorce.”

“What?” Her eyes grow wide as her pulse shoots up. “Why?”

“It’s for the best. I can’t stay here anymore.”

“So, you’re running away again?”

He shakes his head. “No.” He glances around. “Come on, let’s find someplace private to talk.”

He leads the way, and she follows him out of the main area into one of the corner alcoves. There are still some people walking around, but not as many.

“I’m not running from anything,” he tells her. “I just don’t see the point in staying.”

“I saw a picture of Olivia,” she blurts out, shifting uneasily. “I looked her up online, and you were right.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t look like her. I was freaking out over nothing.”

Giovanni nods slowly. “I’m glad you finally believe me, but I don’t want to talk about Olivia. She’s taken up too much of my life already.” He goes silent and then his expression softens as he takes her in. “I admit I’m not immune to your outer beauty, Lindsay. How could I be? I’m still a man.”

She goes still at his words, her back pressed against the wall.

He moves closer. “But it’s
you
I fell in love with. It’s everything about you.”

His clean scent drifts over her. His nearness is having a powerful effect on her, making her want things she shouldn’t. Her breath catches. “Don’t do this. Not now.”

“I fell in love with how you sometimes swear so much I want to call an exorcist. With how you’d rather be bled by leeches than plan ahead.” A smile tugs on his mouth. “Even with the crazy way you drive.”

“What?” she scoffs at him. “There’s nothing wrong with my driving.”

“You drive like you’re behind the wheel of a getaway car after a bank robbery.”

“I do not!”

He chuckles softly. “You do.”

“There are just too many damn people in my way,” she mutters.

“As beautiful as you are, your appearance isn’t what matters the most to me.”

Her breath shakes. He’s telling her everything she’s ever wanted to hear. Except it isn’t enough.

“I know you don’t believe me, but I don’t care about your infertility.” He pauses. “That’s not what I meant. I care, but I’d be just as happy if we only ever adopted.”

Her eyes go to his, skeptical.

“You still don’t believe me?” He shakes his head. “Look at my life. Who knows more than I do about how many children there are in this world who need a good home? Why do you think I agreed so readily to adopt Joseph and Sara? It wasn’t a stretch for me.”

“But you’ll want your own someday too,” Lindsay insists. “I can’t take that from you.”

“You think you’re so good at reading people. Well, then tell me if I’m lying about this.”

She opens her mouth then closes it. She’s spent the last three hours doing just that—searching for weaknesses, searching for whatever it is the other players were trying to hide.