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“So we’ve established that you’re hungry, and I happen to be hungry, too We’ve also established that you like me, and I like you, too Are you in a relationship? Is that why you’re blowing me off?”

“Maybe I just don’t like you”

“No, you definitely like me”

I step around a drunk guy who’s about to run into me, and Maverick scowls at him

“How did you find me?” I ask as we continue our walk

He shrugs “I visit lots of poker rooms Apparently, you visit lots of poker rooms…it was bound to happen”

“Guess how attractive I find lying?” I say pointedly

“What ?”

“I don’t just think it I know it You can’t win at poker unless you can read people well”

His nostrils flare slightly—I think I’ve just aggravated him

“Okay, so I looked for you Is that so wrong?”

“You knew I didn’t want to be found, though”

He stops walking, throwing his arms in the air “Look, if you don’t like ay, or you don’t like guys who go out of their way for you, just say it and I’ll turn around right now”

I stop walking, too, studying him for a few seconds He’s very attractive, and there’s an intensity about hiuard, smile, and ask him if the dinner offer still stands Poker, shht out with a man

And that’s exactly the problem I can either stay focused on poker or I can spendout with friends and on dates I can’t do both Since the day my dad died, I’ve lived and breathed to prepare myself to sit across a poker table frooal

“Listen,” I say softly, looking up at hiuy home with me, you’re exactly who I’d want to do that with I le?”

“Yeah, co here if I wasn’t”

He seems to have it all—looks, charm, fame and, I assume, money

“How are you single?” I ask, my brow furrowed in confusion

He furrows his brow in return “Well, I’le”

“I get what it le Unless you have a drug problem or a really bizarre fetish…?”