Chloe let out a sound of disgust and displayed her own hand; a valiant, though failed, attempt at a straight.
“How delightful; final match decides the winner,” Maxwell said, picking the cards up to shuffle again.
“I hope you like sticky floors and Australian rock,” Chloe said, and she actually poked her tongue out at him.
“I suppose I can put it up with it if the company’s good,” Maxwell said, returning her gaze. “But you’ll be playing poker with me again soon. Having fun. Even if it kills you.” The bet had been a joke, but Maxwell was shocked by how much he wanted to win. Because he really did want to see Chloe let her hair down, so to speak.
Chloe shook her head. “No chance.”
Maxwell dealt out their final hands, and when he picked his up, he felt a twist of excitement in his stomach. A pair of tens and a pair of sevens, plus an ace. A two pair was good, but he had a chance at a full house. A slight chance – he knew the odds better than anyone.
“Draw one,” he said, placing the ace face down.
“No draw,” Chloe replied, her voice giving nothing away.
“I see,” Maxwell said. He looked right at her as he drew his final card. Another seven. Well, that was settled. There was no way Chloe could beat this.
“Fold?”
“Never,” Chloe returned his gaze, and she bit her lip. If she was trying to distract him, it was working. He couldn’t help thinking about how that soft, plush lip would feel against his own. “You?”
“You know me better than that,” Maxwell said, fighting to keep his voice even. “Show.”
Chloe laid out her hand triumphantly. “I hope you like Toohey’s New and Yellowglen Sparkling!
“A straight,” Maxwell tilted his head. “That’s very good, but…” He laid out his own hand.
Chloe said a word that Maxwell had never thought he’d hear her say.
“Bloody hell, you talk to clients with that mouth?”
“You’re not a client anymore,” Chloe said, and she rubbed her face with her hands. “You bastard.”
“Don’t hate the player,” Maxwell said, enjoying the moment far too much. “And I hope you don’t hate the game, because you’re coming to mine. And no leaving early. You have to stay for the whole night and at least try to have a good time.”
“My mother never told me not to play poker with a vampire, but if she had, I should have listened,” Chloe groaned, but she was smiling too. Then she looked at her watch. “It’s late; I should probably get back to work.”
“Ah yes, you’ve got to get back to the love of your life,” Maxwell raised his hands in defeat.
“It’s not the love of my life,” Chloe said as Maxwell stood, returning his cards to his pocket. “I mean, I hope I’ll get the real deal one day. Doesn’t everyone want that? I just don’t have time right now.”
And Maxwell, for once, was utterly lost for words. Don’t we all want that? He didn’t. At least, he was pretty sure he didn’t. Well, not certain, but—
“I’ll let you know when Jim and Cecil get the knife in, okay?” Chloe said, walking him to the door. “I guess I’ll see you soon.”
“Very soon,” Maxwell said, but he was distracted.
As he drove back to the Sanguis Estate, Maxwell couldn’t help thinking about what Chloe had said. Did he want the real deal when it came to love? And could a guy like him ever hope to get it?