Raven smiled. “No, I think it’s . . . nice.”

“Me too,” Sydney said. “The only time I ever felt like that was with—” She broke off, as if realizing the name she was about to drop like a nuclear bomb.

“With . . . ?” Morgan prodded.

A flush hit her cheeks. She waved a hand in the air. “Nobody. Not important. Someone I loved when I was very young and very naive.”

Raven wanted to ask more questions, but she respected Sydney’s secrets like her own. Some things weren’t meant to be shared.

The door swung open, and a trail of women came through, giggling and excited about a night out for themselves. Raven set everyone up with drinks, noting that the key lime martinis were the most requested, and led them over to the tables. She dispersed chips, completed a round of introductions, and gave everyone cheat sheets to begin.

Most of the women had played some form of cards before, so it was easier than Raven thought. Within an hour, they were able to play a decent game with a big enough pot to get interesting.

Morgan threw a chip in the pot, her face cool and politely distant. She was definitely the best bluffer in the group. “I’ll raise a dollar.”

Susan, a sweet, doe-eyed pastry chef, batted her lashes like she was flirting. “I think you’re bluffing,” she announced. Her silver bracelets jangled as she threw a bunch of chips in the pot. “I raise five dollars.”

A hush fell upon the table. It was the biggest raise of the night. Sydney quickly threw her cards in. “I fold.”

Victoria stared at her cards, then back and forth between Susan and Morgan. She was a young blonde with animated gestures and seemed to have trouble keeping still. “I’m in. Five to stay.”

Two more dropped out, including Raven, and there was another raise. When it came back to Morgan, a strange expression gleamed in her eyes. Almost like a predator sensing prey.

Uh-oh.

With a sharklike smile, she pushed all her chips into the center of the table. “All in.”

The group broke into excited chatter and gasps.

“You can’t do that!” Susan said. “Can she?”

Raven nodded. “Since someone else raised, she could either meet the raise or raise again herself. We didn’t put a limit on the raise, just the ante. So, yes, she can do that. But Morgan has fifteen left, and you only have ten, so you’d need five more to stay in.”

“Fine. I’m all in, too.” She pushed her chips into the center and turned to her friend Lindsey. “I need to borrow five dollars.”

“Done,” Lindsey said.

“Umm, guys, why don’t we agree we’ve reached our limit at fifteen and everyone show their cards?” Raven suggested.

The quietest woman in the group—the librarian, for goodness’ sake—practically stood up to make her announcement. “I raise by fifty dollars!”

And then it became a bloodbath.

The rush of adrenaline combined with key lime martinis turned them feral. Victoria grabbed more money from her purse, buying more chips, and friends borrowed from friends. Morgan shoved her hundred-dollar bill at Raven with the mad expression of a gambler on track to win a big pot. Voices raised in a fury, and when Raven finally halted the madness, there was five hundred dollars in the pot and almost all the chips were gone from her stash.

She’d have to buy more chips. She had seriously underestimated her students.

Tension settled over the group. Cards were gripped with deathly tightness, drinks drained, and everyone stared at the colorful pile of chips in the center of the happy red table.

Raven cleared her throat. “Susan, you go first, since you were the last to raise. Show your cards.”

“Three of a kind. Jacks.”

“Nice hand. Next.”

They went around. There were two people who showed two pairs, one with three deuces, and two bluffers, including the librarian, who’d just gotten caught up in the excitement of the moment. Victoria bounced up and down in her chair when it was her turn and flipped over a straight with eight high.

“Sorry, Susan, straight beats three of a kind.”

“Fuck!”

Raven pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. Damn, she liked this group. “Morgan, show your cards. This is it.”

Morgan’s French-manicured hands flashed as she flipped them over. Raven figured she’d lost, since there wasn’t a shred of emotion in her face. Five hearts stared up at her.

“Flush. I win.”

Raven’s mouth dropped open. Sydney screamed, the ladies cursed and congratulated in varying degrees, and Morgan finally broke out in a big, satisfied smile.

That woman had balls.

Everyone began taking out more money to play another round, but Raven held up her hand. “Sorry, ladies, we’re done. It’s almost ten and I have to work tomorrow.”

Sydney gasped and shot up. “Oh, my God, my poor sitter! How did it get to be this late?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t keep my eye on the time,” Morgan said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Things got a bit crazy.”

Raven grabbed the wad of cash, quickly wrapping it in a rubber band and putting it in an envelope. “There’s your winnings,” she said. “I can’t wait to see you hustle Cal. You’re really good.”

A frown creased her brow. “Yeah, but I get the feeling he was humoring me about poker. Almost patting my head, like I was some lamebrained blonde who couldn’t play a man’s game. Isn’t that a bit archaic?”

Susan came over. “I agree! My husband laughed and said, ‘Enjoy your cute poker game.’ Cute? Screw him.”

Lindsey agreed. “My boyfriend said you wouldn’t be able to teach me right, Raven. Told me he’d teach me the right way.”

Raven tilted her head, considering. “Got it. Well, it’ll take a few more game nights to increase your skills, but I’ll show you some simple ways to make sure you beat them when we finally combine male and female poker night.”

“How?” Sydney asked.

Raven smiled slowly. “I’m going to teach you to cheat.”

Sydney sighed. “I really love you.”

Raven laughed, made sure each of them blew into the Breathalyzer, then watched them disappear one by one until the bar was finally silent.

Damn, that was fun.

She began cleaning up, wondering when Dalton would show. Maybe she’d text him to cancel. Or maybe he’d texted her already—she needed to check her phone. It was already late, and though she ached to see him, her emotions were still complicated. Another day to clear her head might not be a bad idea.