Stroke of Luck

“This was in college?” Quinn asked, his eyes narrowed.

She nodded.

So Quinn was the first man to kiss her?

Austin’s gaze turned to his friend’s face and could see that clearly he hadn’t realized it. And the thought disturbed Quinn.

“It sounds like you’d rate that kiss pretty high,” Austin said.

“Of all the kisses I’ve had in my life, that is the most special.”

Silence hung over the room. Finally, Quinn sat forward.

“Let’s get on to the next hand.”

* * *

Damn, Quinn hadn’t known that he’d been April’s first kiss. She’d been in college, for God’s sake. Who knew she’d never kissed a man before that?

He sat back in his chair and watched as Austin dealt the cards.

But thinking about it now, with all he’d learned about her background, it made some sense. She’d been abandoned by her own mother. She’d never had anyone in her life to take care of her. To love her. It made sense that she might have kept men at a distance, her lack of trust in others making her believe, even if only at a subconscious level, that she would probably get hurt.

Why the hell had she let him kiss her, then? Especially only hours after meeting him?

“Quinn, your ante,” Austin said, dragging Quinn’s attention back to the table.

Both of them had thrown in their chips. Quinn grabbed one from his stack and tossed it in with the others, then picked up his hand. He had two fours with a king high. He tossed the other two cards and got back another four and a king. Exhilaration rushed through him, but he kept a tight rein on his expression.

After a quick round of bets, Quinn laid down his full house with a smile.

He didn’t want to push Austin into this too fast. Austin had challenged April with a truth or dare that any college student might have tried. Quinn could work with that.

“Describe the bra you’re wearing, April.” He gave her a slow smile. “And I want details.”

He’d already seen it, and they both knew that, so it would be clear to her that he was doing this for Austin’s benefit.

“Um … it’s a coral color and has thin black ribbon woven into the edges.”

When she didn’t continue, Quinn prompted her. “Is that all? Is it underwire so it lifts your breasts nice and high? Is it a three-quarter cup? Or maybe a half cup so it reveals most of your breasts?”

Quinn saw Austin lean forward in his chair. His friend was obviously envisioning April’s round, firm breasts in a half bra, her hard nipples exposed and peaking forward.

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s not … uh … it’s three-quarter.”

“So if you showed it to us now, we’d see a nice swell of your breasts.”

“Uh … yes.”

“What else?”

“Um … it’s made of lace. And I think there’s a little bow on the front.”

“Show us.”

April’s gaze darted to his.

Austin jumped in with, “Isn’t that going a little too far? That sounds like strip poker to me.”