The Bachelor Auction(44)
“Diablo’s blocking the door,” Brock said. “And the twins are making dinner. Actually, Bentley’s eating the dinner Brant’s trying to make. The point is, I have all the time in the world.”
And he was spending it with her.
She chewed her bottom lip as his gaze lowered.
“Checkers?” she blurted.
Brock’s expression relaxed. “Sure. Just don’t get mad when I kick your ass.”
“Hmm. What do I get if I win?”
“Oh, she likes to gamble.” He flashed her a tempting smile that she felt all the way down to her toes. “If you win I’ll give you one favor. You can ask for anything but money.”
“I would never ask for money.” She said in a horrified voice.
Brock studied her with an intensity that had her nearly squirming in her own skin. “I know.”
She broke eye contact. “And if you win, I’ll give you a favor. Clearly you can’t ask for money because I don’t have any.”
“I would never take money from a woman anyway.”
“You’re making me want to bet money now.” She snorted.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch.” He winked. “All right, let’s play.”
She nodded and rubbed her hands together. “Prepare to have your world rocked.”
Jane could have sworn she heard him whisper under his breath. “Too late.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
He’s going to lose,” Bentley announced, tossing more money into the pot. He and Brant had started betting once they heard that Brock and Jane were playing checkers, and now they were sitting on Jane’s bedroom floor being annoying as usual.
They had gone from making a simple five-dollar bet to five hundred dollars.
Which, all things considering, was pretty tame for his brothers, given the last thing that Bentley had won was an ass.
“Shh, you just take your time,” Brant coached Jane. “In and out, there you go, deep breaths, make your decision then stick with it, stick it to him hard.” He gave Brock a wicked smirk and mouthed fuck you.
“Don’t listen to Brant, Brock. Just focus.”
Jane moved her black checker forward. It was a bad move; he could easily jump it, so clearly he was missing something. He glanced around the board. Impossible. She’d just given him the game!
And this was their tie-breaking game.
The first she’d won.
The second he’d won.
“You’ve just lost.” Brock smiled arrogantly.
Her poker face stayed completely unreadable as she gave him a noncommittal shrug and glanced down at the board. “Then move.”
He moved his red checker, hopping over the black and stealing it. “The way I see it, you have two left. I have three.”
“Mmm-hmmm.” She smiled sweetly and then, very quickly, jumped one of her other black checkers, one he hadn’t noticed because he’d been so focused on that damned stupid move she’d just made. All in all he lost two checkers. Leaving him with a lingering thought that he’d completely underestimated her ability at board games. “What was that? About losing?”
“Son of a bitch!” Bentley yelled. “The hell, man! I told you to focus!”
“You mean you saw that?” Brock roared.
Bentley held up his hands. “Rules are rules, no audience participation.”
“Thank you.” Brant grabbed the pot of money on the floor and threw it in the air. “Hey, if we have dollar bills I bet the cock will dance for us.”
Brock rolled his eyes. “And Grandfather wonders how you guys end up in every newspaper in the country.”
Bentley shrugged. “We’re hot and rich. Two plus two, man; two plus two.”
“It’s good that humility runs in the family.” Jane nodded while Brant gave her a kiss on the head and a pat on the back, like she’d just won him a freaking car or something.
“How’s the ankle?” Bentley moved to her side. There were entirely too many people in this room. Brock wanted to shove everyone out but that would look bad. Him forcing his brothers to leave so he could do what? Kiss her again? Stare at her? Watch her kissable lips pout?
“It’s good.” Jane yawned behind her hand. “Sorry, all the excitement must have worn me out.”
“Checkers. Almost like running a marathon with your hands.” Bentley winked. “Lay down; it’s dudes’ night to clean up.”
Brock had no choice but to stand.
And follow his brothers out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
But the minute he turned from the door, both Brant and Bentley gave him dumbfounded looks.
“What?” He crossed his arms. “Why are you both looking at me like that?”