The Only Way is Up

Part Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Lisa was squealing, throwing her arms in the air at the roulette wheel when they entered the casino. Max knew she wanted to over think all that had just occurred, but he wasn't about to let that happen. They were there for fun, and that was what he was about to ensure happened.

"Roulette with them...or poker? Your choice."

Nicole looked from the crowded roulette table to the quieter poker one, "you play Texas Hold Em ?"

"Not for a long time, but I'd like to watch you play. Especially as your boss is one of the men at the table."

She glanced over, there were six spaces at the table, three were occupied. With a smile she nodded, "perfect."

Sliding onto a stool she exchanged half her dollars for chips, and Max stood behind her as she was dealt her first hand. A waitress brought them more drinks, but as one hand became three and hour, he was happy to remain close behind her, their bodies touching as she took a few low value hands. She'd told him over dinner how poker appealed to her mathematical mind, but she had never played more than online for no money as she was a nervous gambler. This was her first chance to play against others, and whilst it was only for fake money, the biggest purse at the end of the evening did win a huge luxury hamper from Fortnum and Mason.

Nicole grinned as the river was flipped, a three. She couldn't have predicted a better card. Surely no one could beat her. Her boss looked a little anxious, the whole table had got competitive, and a large portion of the crowded room was watching the game unfold.

She was last to bet and she forced everyone's hand for another hundred dollars. Two folded, but the other three saw her.

The cards were flipped hand by hand, a good hand, another good one, and then a great one. But she had it; she had a great hand...an unbeatable one. Grinning, she flipped her three cards and the three men groaned.

Smiling with pleasure she gathered the huge pile of chips that were passed across to her. Winnings. She loved it. Especially when two of the players groaned and left the table, virtually out of chips. At some point, Maxim's hand had come to rest on her hip, wrapped around her, and it felt natural, normal. With the next hand dealt, she glanced up at him.

"This'll be my last hand, promise."

He gave a shrug, "this is your night."

Smiling she turned back to the table, then slipped on her poker face.

She lost a small amount that hand, and despite the adrenaline, the way she loved it, she stood up and pocketed her chips, thanking all at the table.

Maxim immediately gave her a hug, "you are a real shark!"

Laughing she crossed the room and cashed in her chips and dollars, her total recorded for the competition.

"Don't I still owe you a dance?"

Maxim grinned, "two, but I'm going to bank those...for another day."

"That's cheating; I haven't promised that we'll do this again."

He cocked an eyebrow at that, "in that case I'll take some music to the gym...we can dance there."

Her whole body heated at the thought of Maxim waltzing her around the sweaty gym, the other patrons staring at them. She knew she was blushing, and equally that he was smirking at her, enjoying her embarrassment.

"Yes well, we'll see."

He took her hand, "let's go."

"Leave?"