Page 102 of Filthy Twisted Devil

LUKE

Eden set the barn up perfectly for a low-key bachelor party. She filled a long table with every chip and snack imaginable and had me stock the bar with my best whiskey. Low country music plays from the speakers, and a few worn couches are waiting for us to crash on later.

Of course, since it's Beau’s, the centerpiece of the whole place is the poker table.

Which is where we’re all enduring the current awkwardness.

There's an invisible line down the center of the old card table we’re using as a poker table. On one side, Beau, Ryan, Nate, James, and I are as dressed down as we get. Nate and James are still wearing tailored button-ups and the trousers from their suits. I have a feeling that Cat’s interference is the only reason Nate didn’t come down to the barn with his matching blazer. The rest of us look better, but even Ryan’s jeans are tailored.

On the other side of the table, Brinley’s brothers look stiffer than I’ve ever seen them. They’re all in their version of nice clothes, western shirts and well-worn jeans. Reed’s wearing a cowboy hat that probably costs more than it looks like it does.

When Beau invited them at breakfast this morning, Wade’s face shuttered and Jasper’s lips firmed into a thin line. They probably would have made their excuses if Reed hadn’t said “we’ll be there” in a tone that made it clear his acceptance was more to torture his brothers than from actual desire to enjoy our company.

Then Eden smiled brightly and said, “Yes! You should all go!” in a way that suggested we had given her a gift. After that, nobody wanted to disappoint her.

“So, are you big poker players?” I ask the Lockes.

The three of them exchange glances. “We play hold ‘em sometimes,” Jasper says.

“That’s what we play, too,” Ryan says. “I can help if you have any questions.”

“You’re the professional, aren’t you?” Wade asks. “You’re not trying to hustle us, are you?”

Ryan folds his hands awkwardly. “Yeah, I’m a poker pro. But I’m not some shark trying to cheat you or anything.”

“Relax,” Reed says. “He’s joking.”

“Right.” Ryan takes a long sip of whiskey.

“So what are we playing for?” Wade asks.

I exchange glances with Beau. Normally, we all put in around $10,000 and start big blinds at $200, but I don’t want to assume the Lockes have that kind of money to throw around. I know from my grain deal that they must do well, but their overhead is a complete mystery.

“$500 buy-in, $5 big blind?” I throw out, guessing.

The number must not scare Eden’s brothers, because they all nod. “You do cash upfront?” Wade asks.

“Nah. We’ll figure it out at the end,” Ryan says. “Playing banker is a pain. Let’s get right to the game.”

I start as the dealer, with James and Nate putting in the little and big blinds. Beau throws in his chips, and Ryan immediately doubles the pot. On his right, Reed raises his brows.

“You like your hand, huh?” Reed drawls, and Ryan shrugs.

“I don’t hate it.”

Reed nods. “I’ll raise by fifty.”

Ryan’s brows raise slightly. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t for Reed to quadruple his bet. Jasper’s next, and he silently matches Reed’s bet. Wade throws his cards down.

“You boys deal with these two,” he says, throwing back half his glass of whiskey.

Ryan’s eyes flash between the three of them, clearly doing mental calculations about the kind of players he’s facing. He seems to decide it’s worth playing the hand out, because he’s the only one to match the bet.

At the end of the hand, Ryan takes the pot with a pair of kings, while Reed fails to get the flush he’s going for and Jasper’s pair of tens falls short. Ryan frowns as he reaches for the chips.

“I don’t love taking money from the bride’s family,” he says.

Wade scowls. “What, you think we can’t afford it?”