As she speaks, she shifts slightly, her knee brushing against mine. The contact, even through layers of denim, sends a jolt of electricity up my leg. Her scent spikes momentarily, and her eyes dart to mine, wide with surprise.
She doesn’t pull away, though, and neither do I.
“I’m good at building things,” I offer. “I mean, if you want help—with the gingerbread—houses…Building.”
“Smooth,” Finn teases, and I feel my face heat up.
I’m the most confident person I know, and I’m reduced to a baffling buffoon.
But Melody’s eyes light up. “Really? That would be amazing. My attempt this morning was a disaster.”
“I brought a whole stack of games that were supposed to be for family game night,” she adds, a flicker of sadness crossing her face before she brightens again. “There’s Monopoly, Scrabble, Uno…”
“I’m terrible at cards,” I admit, looking at the hand I’ve been dealt with confusion.
“Perfect,” Finn says with a grin. “We’ll play poker. Strip poker.”
“We will not,” Gabe says firmly, shooting Finn a look.
“Regular poker,” Melody agrees, her cheeks turning pink. “Or Uno. I’m a savage at Uno.”
We settle into the game, and I find myself directly across from Melody. Every time she looks up from her cards, our eyes meet, and something electric passes between us. I try to focus on my cards, but I’m hyperaware of her every movement, every slight shift in her scent.
I’m also aware of Gabe watching me watch Melody.
“I’ll take three,” Finn says, breaking my train of thought.
I look down at my cards. I have absolutely no idea what I’m holding. Something with a king. Maybe a seven? I’ve been too distracted to pay attention.
“Earth to Everett,” Melody says, her lips curved in a teasing smile. “How many cards do you want?”
“Two,” I say randomly, discarding what I hope aren’t the good cards.
She deals me two new ones, her fingers brushing against mine as she passes them over. The brief contact sends a jolt through me that’s entirely disproportionate to the touch.
“Careful,” Gabe murmurs, his voice low enough that I’m not sure Melody can hear. “Your scent’s getting stronger.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein myself in. This is ridiculous. I’m acting like a teenager with his first crush, not a grown alpha running a business and managing millions in investments.
But then Melody looks up from her cards again, catching my gaze, and all my self-control evaporates. Her eyes widen slightly, and I see her nostrils flare as she takes in my scent. Her own scent shifts in response, the vanilla notes intensifying, the clove becoming more pronounced.
“I fold,” Finn announces, dropping his cards on the table. “I know when I’m outmatched.”
He’s not talking about the poker hand.
Gabe follows suit, setting his cards down without comment. His eyes move between Melody and me, watchful but not interfering.
“I guess it’s just us,” Melody says, her voice slightly breathless. “What do you have?”
I look down at my cards, realizing I still have no idea what I’m holding. “Honestly? I have no clue. I wasn’t paying attention.”
She laughs, the sound bright and genuine. “That makes two of us. I can’t remember the last time I was this bad at cards.”
We both lay our hands on the table. She has a pair of twos. I have a king high.
“You win,” I concede, leaning back in my chair.
“With a pair of twos? That’s pathetic,” she says, but she’s smiling as she gathers the cards. “Another round?”