Logan (Carolina Reapers 4)

“You got it. They agreed to put themselves in the auction since their players were...all in, as they say?” She tilted her head, but still stared up at Cannon.

“Axel? Connell? Nathan? You guys are up.”

Delaney’s voice punched me in the gut, and my eyes found her again before I could stop myself. Damn, I was a fucking moth to the flame with that woman.

She watched me as the others walked toward her, and I could have sworn I saw a familiar heat in those green eyes, but she blinked, and it was gone. A few seconds later, she was too, back through the curtain.

“You okay?” Cannon asked me, still staring at Sephie.

“This is harder than I thought it would be,” I admitted.

“Give her time, and she’ll come around,” Persephone said softly. “You can’t ignore something as powerful as what you two have.”

“Jesus, they’re still going?” Lukas asked, motioning to Sephie and Cannon. “Price, for fuck’s sake, give the woman what she wants.”

“What an excellent idea!” Sephie crinkled her nose.

“Lukas?” Langley called back.

“Guess I’m up!” He gave us a mock salute and took off.

“You know you’re next, right?” Sephie narrowed her eyes.

“Guess I’d better get out there,” Cannon countered.

“Cannon!” she snapped.

“Persephone!”

Her jaw locked. His did, too.

“Why do you have to be so ever-loving difficult?” Oh man, there was an edge to that tone.

“Why can’t you give a little?” He shrugged like it was a rhetorical question. “First rule of battle, Princess. You have to know your opponent. When have you ever known me to concede?”

Never. Anyone back here could answer that.

“Guys, seriously, they’re going to call for you in a second,” I warned.

“I’ve known you to compromise,” she noted, raising an eyebrow. “No tie. Button the buttons.”

“I don’t really see how that’s a compromise.” He passed off his drink to the waiter.

Her jaw ticked. “Two buttons.”

“Princess, if you want me to button up, you’re going to have to do it your damned self, and make it worth my while.”

Fuck, we were never getting out of here.

“Cannon! Logan!” Langley called out.

“Hold on, they’re having a staring contest,” I answered.

“I’m sorry?” Langley fired back.

“Yeah, I don’t really understand it either.”

“What do you want for the stupid button?” Sephie rushed.

Cannon grinned. “Make sure you don’t let me go home with someone I wouldn’t want to fuck.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“Oh for the love of God!” Langley snapped. “Get over here!”

“As opposed to letting you go home with someone you would want to…” Her ears flushed, but she reached up and slid the debated button home, closing his shirt to almost the base of his neck.

“Fuck,” he said simply. “Yes.”

“Fine,” she answered. “I won’t let you go home with anyone that Logan doesn’t approve of, since I don’t have the first clue why you choose the women you do.”

“Wait. Are you serious?” I questioned.

“Deal,” he said.

The two looked away at the same moment. Did that mean no one won the pot?

“Jesus, Sephie, it’s about fucking time,” Michael snapped, reaching for her arm and missing.

“Yeah, you don’t talk to her like that,” Cannon replied, his voice soft and low.

“Okay, and off we go,” I said, walking between the two and motioning toward the curtain until Cannon followed, Persephone on his heels. I didn’t bother to bring up the hypocrisy of his statement.

“I like brunettes,” Cannon threw over his shoulder as we approached the curtain.

“I like your button,” she answered sweetly.

“I like it when you all shut up,” Langley said through a smile as we stepped onto the back of the catwalk.

The audience clapped vigorously for Faith, who’d just won her husband’s date. Lukas kissed her soundly after he jumped down from the catwalk.

“You’re up, Cannon,” Langley motioned toward the catwalk.

“This is fucking ridiculous,” he muttered.

“Stop being such a baby,” Persephone chided.

“Princess, you ever call me baby again, it better be in a breathy, orgasmic tone, hear me?”

Her jaw dropped.

He started down the stage, and my attention drifted as I searched for—there she was. Front row, all the way at the end of the stage on the right hand side. Langley’s words didn’t register. I was too lost in simply watching Delaney, relegated to being a spectator in her life for the night.

Tomorrow? Well, we’d never have a reason to see each other again. How the hell was that possible? How could you love someone so much your entire soul was in their keeping one second and have them disappear from your life in the next?

“Ten thousand,” Persephone said clearly on my right, holding up a paddle.

Shit. Right. I was supposed to be approving his dates.

“Did I mention that you’ll be flying in a private jet for this three-day trip to Vegas with our resident Heathcliff?” Langley asked the crowd.

“Fifteen!”

“Twenty!”

Up and up the bids went, and Persephone stayed silent next to me, watching each paddle go up in the audience.