Single Wide Female: The Bucket List Mega Bundle - 24 Books (Books #1-24) (56 page)

“Oh dear, this isn’t good. Do you know how much this suit costs?” He stood up suddenly from his chair and began wiping wildly at his pant leg.

“I’m so sorry.” I tried to wipe some of the drink away as well.

The bartender rushed over to clean up the mess before it could get any worse. I was horrified that I’d made such a terrible mistake—and just when I was about to win the game.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get that stain out for you. I guess I should just let you guys finish the game.”

“No, none of that. If you buy in you have to finish the hand.” The man across from Cowboy Bill looked very stern. “You can’t just walk out.”

“Okay, then I’ll keep playing.” I sat back down.

When it was time to show our hands, my heart was pounding. I was fairly certain that I had the best hand, but there was no way for me to know that for sure. I wanted to win. I could taste it.

One man said, “Alright, show us your cards. I don’t think you’re as lucky as Bill here thought you were.”

I looked at him with some annoyance, but took pleasure in knowing that he would be proven wrong.

I didn’t hold back a smirk as I spread my cards out before me.

Chapter 9

I had a pair of aces and a pair of tens.

“What the hell?” The man across from me looked rather annoyed. “There’s no way you had that hand.”

“It’s what I have.” I shrugged. I pretended to be ignorant of my hand. “Is it good?”

“Is it good? You won the whole pot!” Cowboy Bill slapped me lightly on the back to express his pride. “I knew you were lucky.”

“A little too lucky.” The man beside Cowboy Bill scowled in my direction. “I know a set-up when I see it. What did you do—trade cards when you spilled your drink?” He glared at me with such fury that I was actually a little frightened.

Suddenly I knew just why Max had taken teaching me poker so seriously. He was right. Most people who played did take it very seriously.

“I think that you need to leave.” The third man at the table eyed me with suspicion.

The bartender noticed the trouble at the table and walked over. Max was watching closely as well.

“What’s the problem?” The bartender looked from me to the men accusing me.

“This woman and Bill are cheating. No wonder she was flirting with him. It was all a ruse.”

“I was not flirting with him—”

“That’s not what you should be concerned about right now.” The bartender gave me a hard look. “We don’t allow cheaters here.”

“Now wait just a minute. I didn’t cheat at anything!” Cowboy Bill stood up from his chair so fast that he knocked it over. “Neither did the young lady here, she’s just got beginner’s luck.”

“I don’t believe it.” The man beside him shook his head. “It’s just so convenient that she knocked her drink over on this hand. I think that you pulled the old switcheroo in all of the chaos. I’m sure of it.”

“What?” I looked between the men with disbelief. “I always knock things over! It’s, like, what I do. I’m serious. If you knew me at all, you would know not to leave anything spillable or breakable around me. Tell them, Max!”

Max stood behind me. I didn’t even know that he had walked over until he spoke up.

“We should go.”

I felt his hands roll across my shoulders and then squeeze. I knew that he was indicating that we should leave right away.

“Go? Okay, fine. But I want my winnings.” I reached toward the pot to drag it toward me.

“Don’t you touch it!” The man across from me stood up and knocked his chair over as well. Instead of being scared, I was thrilled.

“It’s mine!” I glared at the man. “I won it fair and square!”

“Doubtful!” The other man piped up.

“Samantha!” Max tugged on my arm. “We need to get out of here.”

“No way, it’s my money.” I glared at the men who were accusing me. “Don’t be sore just because I beat all of you. I don’t see how you can call yourselves professional players with the tells that you have. You were all easy reads and that’s why I won—that and pocket aces. So don’t try to swindle me!”

I was slightly aware that my voice had taken on a twang, similar to the characters’ in the movies I’d seen. If not for the need to keep up appearances, I would have been grinning from ear to ear. Learning poker had turned out to be the best idea ever.

“I bet she’s got cards up her sleeve!” One of the men lunged toward me.

“Alright, that’s enough.” Max wrapped his arm protectively around me. He steered me away from the group of men who were all ready to attack, and hurried me out of the bar.

Once outside he breathed a sigh of relief. “That was crazy!”

“Are you kidding me? That was awesome!” I laughed. “It was like being in an old cowboy movie! It was great!”

Max looked at me with a half-smile. “You’re an odd one, Sammy.”

“That may be true. But I won, didn’t I?” I smiled. “All thanks to your careful instruction.”

He shook his head and studied me with widened eyes. “I don’t think I’m ever going to figure you out.”

“Thanks. I think.” I started to walk down the sidewalk toward where we had parked the car.

Max caught up with me. He fell into step beside me.

“Yes, it was a compliment.”

“If you say so. Just promise me one thing.” I looked over at him.

“What?” He looked back at me.

“You’ll never stop trying to figure me out.”

He grinned. “There’s no chance of that ever happening. You’re one fascinating creature, Sammy.”

“Right back at you, Max.” I winked at him.

Chapter 10

When we reached the car, Max opened the door for me. I slid inside. He started the engine. I tried to focus on anything but how lovely it had been for him to be so protective of me.

There was my crush rearing its ugly head again. Friend—Max is your friend, that is all.

I chanted those words in my mind, but I found myself peeking at him out of the corner of my eye. I wondered if I could ever truly let go of the notion of romance between us. Part of me wished I would, but a bigger part of me hoped that I wouldn’t.

I looked out the window to distract myself. With each street we passed I sank deeper into my own thoughts. In my mind I was replaying the scene and just how amazing it had been. It was much more than I could have ever hoped for. Maybe I didn’t go home with the money, but I sure had a great time winning it.

I thought about the way I’d thrown myself into the game. Even when things had gone south, I’d loved every minute of it. In fact, when the arguing started, I’d felt something that was rare for me—I’d felt tough. I felt strong and ready to fight back. It was a good sensation and had my blood pumping wildly through my veins.

It made me think that other things I’d talked myself out of might really be possible. Things like martial arts classes, woodworking, and the next item on my bucket list—getting a tattoo.

I’d always admired those that had tattoos, and now I wanted one of my own. But the thought of enduring the pain always made me cringe. The horror of facing a needle made it much worse. But recently I’d overcome my fear of needles. Maybe a tattoo was the perfect way to signify a start to a new leg of my journey. I was ready to face even the hardest, most challenging things.

Max walked me up to my apartment. I could tell from the look on his face that he was still feeling a little frustrated.

“I’m sorry it wasn’t the night you expected.”

“Are you kidding?” I looked into his eyes. “It was the best night ever! I couldn’t have planned it better myself.”

“Are you serious?” Max shook his head. “We barely made it out of there alive.”

“I know, and that was my favorite part.” I laughed.

“You’re an odd one, Sammy.”

“Odd, as in quirky? Or odd as in sideshow museum?” I narrowed my eyes. “Answer carefully.”

“Odd as in no one else in the world is quite like you.”

“I think that’s a compliment.” I unlocked the door to my apartment.

“It is.” He leaned against the doorway. “So when do I get a rematch?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Will the same rules apply?” He smiled dangerously. “When I win, do I get to ask you to do anything I want?”

“If you win.” I smiled. “I guess we’ll just have to see how the cards fall.”

“Cute.” He nodded. “Well, thanks for a fun evening. It certainly was memorable.”

“Thanks for being my muscle.” I stole one quick squeeze of his arm.

“Any time.” He flexed. “Although it would be nice if we didn’t have to start a bar fight everywhere we went.”

“I can’t make any promises.”

“Do you think you can keep yourself out of trouble while I’m gone?”

“I’ll do my best. Bye, Max.” I smiled at him.

“Bye, card shark.” He shook his head as he walked away.

I tried not to let my eyes wander down to the seat of his jeans, but I couldn’t help it. They were just so snug.

I sighed and ducked into my apartment. I felt a brief wave of disappointment that my attraction to Max would always just be a fantasy.

My disappointment gave way to excitement, though, when I decided to update my blog. I was sure that Blue would be interested in how my game turned out.

I walked over to my computer and turned it on. Right away I saw a message from Blue.

SWF,

I have a feeling that you’re going to take the poker world by storm. I’d love to hear an update about how your game went tonight. That is, if I don’t see it on the news first.

Blue

I laughed at his message. Not only because he was getting to know me so well, but also because it had almost turned out to be true. If fists had started flying at the poker table, it might have made the local news. Then again, I had no idea if Blue was local or not. I assumed he was, from comments he’d made, but the truth was, I had no clue.

I resisted sending him a message back right away. I wanted to update my blog first.

As I typed out the events of the evening—being accused of cheating and how it made me feel like a cowboy—I laughed again. It really was absurd to think of me coordinating a scam like the one I was accused of concocting with Cowboy Bill. None of the men at the table had believed that I could simply just be that clumsy—or that lucky. But I knew that I was.

And I had friends like Max and Blue, who were there for me no matter how clumsy I was. That made me the luckiest person I knew.

When I finished my blog I returned to the comments section. I logged in and replied to Blue.

Blue,

It was an amazing night. I won the pot, but didn’t come home with a dime. Wish you could have seen the look on my face when I saw pocket aces in my hand. Another fun-filled evening. One of these days we’ll have to try our luck at sharing one of those.

I hovered the mouse pointer over the submit button. I didn’t know if I was daring enough to send the message through. Would Blue decide to take me up on the suggestion?

With a tattoo in my future, I decided I was brave enough to find out—and strong enough to deal with whatever the result might be.

Single Wide Female: The Bucket List

#16 Get a Tattoo

By

Lillianna Blake

Copyright © 2015 Lillianna Blake

Cover design by
Beetiful Book Covers

All rights reserved.

LilliannaBlake.com

Chapter 1

Slowly I opened my eyes.

Today was the day, but I wasn’t sure that I was ready for it.

I’d spent most of last night on all kinds of websites. I was researching the possible consequences of getting a tattoo. Some websites should just be illegal. After viewing more than my share of infected skin and drooping flesh, I’d finally gone to bed feeling slightly discouraged.

Now that I was awake, I knew that I had to make a decision.

I had already picked out a tattoo parlor with a stellar reputation. I had already enlisted Max to go with me. I just wasn’t sure if I could do it.

When I’d first thought about getting a tattoo, I’d been determined that I would be able to go through with it. But the more I thought about it, the less certain I felt.

I tugged on my slippers and padded over to my computer. It had been some time since I’d revisited the writing project I was fiddling around with. Lately, it had been on my mind more and more—to the point that I was ready to make a commitment to finishing it. That fact that I was even considering publishing my work was pretty amazing to me.

When I opened up the file and began to read over what I’d already written, I felt as if the character in the book was coming alive for me.

Zara was a brave and daring woman who never took no for an answer. She was adventurous, confident, and determined to make her own choices. She was everything that I felt like I’d yet to become—but yearned to be. That was the main reason I’d been keeping her a secret. I felt to reveal Zara was to reveal the truth about myself.

Zara had a tattoo of a tiara on the inside of her ankle. It had deep meaning to her, because of the changes she’d made in her life. It reminded her whenever she looked at it that she was a warrior princess, worthy of everything amazing that was happening to her.

I wanted to feel that way about the tattoo that I was considering—that I didn’t owe anyone an explanation or an apology for it. But I wasn’t Zara. I was Samantha, who didn’t even know how to get dressed without considering how people might react to how I looked. If my pants were too tight, were they thinking terrible things about my rear end? If my shirt drooped too low, did people think that I was showing off my cleavage?

All of these thoughts buzzed through my mind each morning. It had become such a part of my routine that I didn’t even notice I was doing it.

But Zara was different. Zara wore skintight leather pants one day and a loose flowing sundress the next. She wore what she felt like wearing and never stopped to consider whether her clothing was acceptable to others.

When I’d first created Zara as a character, I’d made her rail thin and drop-dead gorgeous. I thought that I should stick to what was most accepted by society—what I thought most women wanted to be like.

But I found out that I couldn’t write her that way.