The dealer collected Ben’s cards and turned to Dan, waiting for him to make a move.
Dan stared at me, trying to pick up a sign from my body language, breathing, or facial expressions.
It was a nice try, but I was a statue.
Dan tapped his cards on the table, thinking. “Hmm. What to do? What to do?”
“Don’t let her bluff you out of the hand.” Ben took a sip of his beer. “She’s got nothing.”
I sat up and pointed at Ben. “Hey, no comments from the cheap seats. You’re not allowed to give advice at a poker table. And anyway, Dan’s a big boy and can make his own decisions.”
“See that there, Dan? She’s trying to talk you out of it. She’s scared you’re going to call her.”
I turned to the dealer. “Is he allowed to do that? That doesn’t seem right that he can tell another player what to do.”
Not that I cared, because Ben was helping me without even knowing it. And he was so darn cute when he was being competitive.
The dealer shrugged. “I don’t have a problem with it.”
I pointed to the dealer and then to Ben. “Of course not. Do you two know each other?”
“He’s Dr. Tough Love. Everyone knows him.”
Ben grinned. “Take her out, Dan.”
I laughed. “Says the man who was too scared to stay in. I’m surprised you can sit with your tail between your legs.” That got a few laughs from the spectators surrounding our table. “Dan is going to fold, so just do it before the year ends.”
Don’t fold.
He needed to push all his chips to the center of the table.
Dan nodded. “Yeah, I think you’re right, Ben. I don’t think she’s got anything either.”
Come on, sucker. Take the bait.
Dan tapped his cards on the table again. “Lori, Lori, Lori. What are you hiding under there?” He leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. “Do you have something good or are you bluffing?”
I shrugged. “I guess you need to push your chips in if you want to find out, but there’s no shame in folding, you know.”
“Oh, what the hell.” He pushed all his chips toward mine. “I call.”
I had no doubt that I was going to win and couldn’t help winking at Ben.
“Oh, no.” Ben recognized the confidence on my face and turned to Dan, wincing. “I hope you have something good under there.”
The dealer pointed to me. “Okay, let’s turn ‘em over.”
I flipped over my cards.
The dealer spread my cards apart to see them better. “Full house, aces over kings.” The guests cheered and hollered, but then settled down when the dealer gestured to Dan.
He slapped his cards on the table facedown and yelled, “Nooo!”
I smiled as the dealer stood and pushed the enormous pile of chips toward me.
The guests went wild, cheering, hooting, and whistling.
Okay, maybe there were some people who were on my side.
“Come to mama.” I began stacking the chips in orderly piles of ten, glancing up and smiling at Ben. “These chips are so pretty, don’t you think?”
I just needed to stick with the plan.
Most of all, I needed to make sure Ben didn’t distract me.
He grinned at me. “Here we are, just the two of us, partner.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. “You’re looking a little too cocky, partner.”
“That’s confidence since I’m going to win for the second year in a row. You don’t expect me to take it easy on you, do you?”
“I would be disappointed if you did.”
“We’re down to our final two!” a voice said on the microphone.
The atmosphere was electric as the guests started chanting even louder, shouting out words of encouragement as I finished stacking my chips.
“Kick his ass, Lori!”
“Dr. Tough Love is going to win again!”
A bunch of them chanted, “Tough Love! Tough Love! Tough Love!”
Then a group of them surprised me when they started chanting, “Lori! Lori! Lori!”
Ben glanced around. “Since when did you have a fan club?”
“I don’t know, but I must say, I’m really enjoying it.”
Too bad it didn’t last long.
“Give us a kiss!” someone yelled out. “Like the one in the video!”
Then the group began chanting, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
“Do you still like it now?” Ben smirked and took a sip of his beer.
I shook my head. “Now, not so much.”
Ben set his bottle down, stood, and leaned across the table.
The chanting got louder. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
What was he doing?
He thought I was going to put on a kissing show for all of them?
Ben was trying to distract me and knock me off my game, but it wasn’t going to work.
I crossed my arms and laughed, shaking my head. “Not going to happen.”
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Ben arched an eyebrow.
“No!” I said.
“Well, I don’t know what you had on your mind but I just wanted to wish you luck, that’s all.” He winked and reached his hand out across the table. “Good luck, partner.”
Ben really wasn’t looking for a kiss? I guess I was relieved he wasn’t going to force the issue, but at the same time I had to wonder why he wouldn’t.
My brain made no sense at all.
I stood and bumped Ben’s fist with mine. “Good luck.” I sat back down, ready to play.
The crowd booed us, obviously hoping for a kiss.
Ben gestured to them. “Wow, they can turn on you really fast. By the way, you look stunning this evening. I can’t remember if I told you.”
He was trying to distract me.
Ben was devastatingly handsome this evening, but there was no way I was going to engage in any type of flirty behavior with him. The only thing that should be on my mind is winning the tournament. He was not going to distract me.
I looked away. “I know what you’re doing.”
“And what might that be?” Ben asked.
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“And is it working?”
I locked eyes with him and gave him an icy look that I had perfected back in my poker-playing days. “Not even close.”
“Well, then . . .” He raised his beer bottle in my direction. “I like you even more then.”
“Knock it off.”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” a voice said on the microphone.
Everyone cheered.
“Are you ready for heads-up poker?”
More cheering.
“We have the last two standing, Dr. Tough Love and Lori Martin! May the best player win.”
Even more cheers and whistles sounded as the dealer dealt the cards.
I was going to apply pressure and apply it early, just like I had done at the other tables.
Technically, our chip stacks looked identical, so either of us could probably knock the other person out of the tournament with just one hand.
I turned up the corner of my two cards, peeking at two kings.
Yes!
My heart rate sped up at the excitement of my two amazing cards in the pocket, but there was no way I was showing it on my face.