“Or maybe we can rig a basketball game and see what that does,” Cade said, leaning forward with a grin etched across his face.
I sighed, keeping a laser focus on my cards. “If you guys want to keep giving me the highlight reel of my matchmaking skills, fine by me. I have no regrets. You can’t beat the player at his own game.”
As soon as I said the words, I regretted it. I saw the way they shifted in their seats and exchanged glances. It was clear, in my happiness to see Shelby again, that I had failed to imagine what our friendship might look like to everyone else. Shelby and I had been raised more or less like siblings. We’d never crossed that barrier, and we’d never wanted to cross it. Once she got here, we’d have to set them straight.
Any paltry attempt at matchmaking would be wasted on me.
I wasn’t getting married again. Ever. Which, in a town this small, meant I wasn’t going to be dating either. There was no way I would let my daughter get attached to a woman who’d just end up leaving. There was no wayIwould be getting attached to any woman ever again.
We should have been safe here. Sophie had her grandma and all the pretend cousins, aunts, and uncles nearby that she couldask for. It was enough. It would have to be enough. But the two morons, plus Briggs, sitting at this table would never agree with me, which meant I had to divert their interest.
The bet was raised, and all the cards were out. I was definitely sitting pretty with a flush. All spades. The best hand any of us had gotten all night.
Cade sighed and threw down his cards. “I fold. Again.”
“So…should I cancel our date?” Briggs eyed me carefully. “If you got something going with her, I’ll back off.”
I looked over at Briggs. “Shelby has a thing for construction workers. You should definitely take her out again.”
I had no clue what types of guys Shelby liked. When we were younger, the only guy in her life, besides me, was a Spalding basketball. But Briggs wasn’t ugly. I doubt she’d put up a fuss to go on a date with the guy. I wouldn’t pass Shelby off to just anybody, but Briggs seemed to like her. And if the two of them going out got everyone off my back, all the better.
“So,” Briggs began, “you’re not going to hogtie me to a fence—or whatever you cowboys do?”
I motioned with my head toward the cards on the table, waiting for Briggs to decide if he was still in or not. “I might do that now, if you don’t make a decision.”
“What’s the rush?” Cade’s low voice caused me to look over at him. He was watching me across the table with a slightly amused expression on his face—one I immediately hated.
“No rush.” I leaned back in my chair and smiled back at Cade.
“I fold.” Briggs tossed his cards face down on the table.
Logan pushed his entire stack of chips toward the middle of the table. “I’m all in.”
I leaned forward and whistled. “What a cute little stack of chips.”
“Shut up. You in?”
I flung an equal amount of chips into the pile. “I’ve got some spare change I can add.”
“Show your cards, then.”
With a flourish, I set my cards down one at a time, all black and all spades, and beamed toward Logan.
My stomach dropped.
Something was wrong. He didn’t look worried. He played the part like he might be, but he wasn’t that good of an actor, which was exactly how I knew he and Tessa should be together all those years ago.
Logan tossed his cards so they landed in a heap in front of me. My stomach sank as I peered closer. A pair of nines and three queens.
“Full house.”
Deflated, but not beaten, I grinned and pushed the pile toward Logan. “Here, take it. You need it more than me anyway.”
“Thank you, good sir.”
Cade cleared his throat. “So I don’t think we ever got a straight answer, Jake. You’re good with Briggs and Shelby?”
I’d been hoping the subject had been forgotten, but Cade looked way too interested in my answer.