Wanted: Fairy Godmother by Laurie LeClair Read Free Book Online Page B

instincts paid off. He put in an opening bid, feeling confident he’d win. Looking up, he caught Callie gazing openly at him. She immediately dropped her stare, but not before a flash of heat shafted through Jake’s blood, branding him.
    Les grumbled under his breath. “Hit me with three, old man. You deal like I sh—”
    Knowing what would normally come next, Jake kicked his friend squarely on his shin, effectively shutting up Les.
    “Ouch! What the hell did you do that for?” Lester’s face contorted in pain as he grabbed the injured area, his toothpick dropping on the table.
    “There’s a lady present, if you’ve forgotten. And there also happens to be three impressionable boys here,” Jake growled.
    “Clean up your act, Les,” Gus added, nibbling on his mustache.
    “You don’t have to worry about us.” Lance spoke up eagerly. “We’ve heard worse before, haven’t we, guys?”
    “Yep,” Marvin said. “And outta your own mouth, Jake. Heck, who wouldn’t have done the same thing when a twelve-hundred-pound bull kicks you in the head?”
    “Don’t remind him.” Stan grimaced, obviously hating the subject even more than Jake did.
    “All right, I got your drift,” Les said; a surly tone laced his words. After adding his chip to the small pile, he said, “Your turn, honey.” He smiled widely at Callie, and then winked.
    Disgust crowded in Jake’s gut. His longtime friend spread the charm on too thick this time. Was he really interested in her? Or was he just digging at Jake since Les had heard so much from Flossie? Either way, it didn’t sit right with Jake.
    “I have a question,” Callie said, almost shyly. “It’s about the joker cards. Do they have a certain amount attached to them?” She looked innocently from Gus, to Jake, and then to Les.
    “Oh…brother,” Les said, obviously censoring himself.
    “Is something I said wrong?”
    Patiently, Jake explained, “Jokers are wild, so that means if you ever get dealt one, you determine what you want it to be based on the other cards you’re holding.”
    “Oh!” Dawning entered her features. “So, if I have three aces then I can make it a fourth, right?”
    Jake groaned. “Right.”
    “Good. I don’t need any cards, thank you.” Carefully, she placed her chip on top of the others in the center of the table.
    After that, the rest of the hand went through the motions. Jake folded first, Les next, and then Gus.
    “Does that mean I win?” Callie asked, a happy, expectant look on her face.
    “Yep. What do you have?” Gus leaned close as she spread her hand out gingerly.
    “A pair of twos,” she announced triumphantly, raking in the small pile of chips.
    “Twos?” Les straightened in his chair as if a hot poker struck him in the backside. “You said you had three aces.”
    She giggled, a dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Did I say that?” She shook her head in denial. “I’m so sorry. You must have misunderstood. I was just giving an example.”
    Surprise raced through Jake. He’d been sucked in just like his poker buddies. Jake noticed his cousins’ wide grins.
    She’d done the impossible by bringing the guys out of their shells and putting smiles back on their faces.
    A little bit of the tightness in his center lessened at the sight, expanding his hope that happiness would shed its light on the boys once again. He’d keep quiet and let them have their fun.
    The next two hands ended in similar fashion with Callie winning. “It must be beginner’s luck.” She flashed Jake that impish grin of hers and his breath stilled while his heartbeat galloped.
    Lord, she makes me feel like a teenager. Unsure. Awkward. And hankering to get her alone.
    Gus grumbled good-naturedly. Les muttered some expletives under his breath, shooting Jake a look that dared him to question Lester’s right to cuss.
    Rubbing his face, Jake pulled himself under control once again. He realized his mind drifted occasionally from the game.