With the way his cards currently looked, probably.
“It wouldn’t be the first time, but, truth is, I plan to win this game.” He did. Somehow. Some way. He would win.
“Because you want something from me?”
He nodded, studying his cards so intently he hoped connections that weren’t there would suddenly appear.
“What?” she asked, as if unable to help herself. Good, he needed her to be interested. He needed her a lot more than that.
“You’ll find out after I win.”
“Ah, that’s your strategy,” she accused him, drawing a card from off the top of the deck. “Try to convince me to let you win. Better luck next time. I’m not that kind of girl.”
The corners of his mouth tugged upwards. “I know. I like that about you.”
She tossed a card from her hand down onto the table.
“Actually, there are a lot of things I like about you,” he said, going for casual despite the fact his insides quaked.
She glanced at him from above the cards she held.
“Like how smart you are,” he continued.
“Yes,” she intoned. “All men like smart women. It’s always their favorite quality in the opposite sex.”
“I’m not all men, and I do admire that quality in you. Along with quite a few others.” He drew a card off the top of the deck, then discarded one he didn’t need.
When he didn’t elaborate, she asked, “Such as?”
“Such as how intensely blue your eyes are when curiosity is burning inside you,” he teased, buying himself a little time to try to figure out how to play his cards right. Figuratively and literally.
“That’s corny and superficial.”
“You’re a beautiful woman, Savannah. You’ve always turned me on.”
She glanced down at her rounded belly. “Oh, yeah, I’m the stuff dreams are made of.”
He nodded his agreement. “You are. My dreams.”
Her mouth pinched into a tight line. “Don’t say things like that.”
She picked up the card he’d discarded, placed it into her hand, then tossed one she didn’t want.
“Why not? It’s true.”
She set her cards down on the table. “If this is your strategy to win, I don’t like it. Nor is it going to work.”
He arched a brow. “What would work?”
“To beat me in cards?”
He nodded.
Her gaze narrowed. “Cheating?”
He shook his head. “I won’t cheat you, Savannah. Not ever again.”
Her mouth fell open. “You cheated me?”