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| Chapter 12 |
Linda walked back into the bedroom after her first cup of coffee. It was seven o’clock.
She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned close to her husband’s neck. The strong
odor of cigars still tainted his skin. She kissed him and then lifted the sheet for a quick
peek, smiled, not surprised to see one of his morning erections. He won’t be needing
Viagra anytime soon.
She picked up the clock to see when he had set the alarm. Eight o’clock. That would
give him three hours sleep for the night. She shook her head and then took a pad and
pencil from the side table drawer.
Dear husband, hope you don’t oversleep. I made plans to have breakfast with
Shasha. We’re going shopping after that. See you when you get home tonight.
Love, your sexy wife.
She put the note on the table.
♦ ♦ ♦
Shasha had put out pastries on the veranda. She was making espresso when the
doorbell rang. The two women took their places at the glass table near the pool. The
morning sun glinted on the water and the trees were alive with songbirds and cicadas.
“David got home at five o’clock this morning,” said Linda.
Shasha took a sip of coffee. “James, too,”
“His car wasn’t in the driveway, is he gone already?”
A perplexed expression washed over Shasha’s face. “I’ll never figure out how men
operate. He plays poker ‘til five in the morning. At six, I open my eyes and he’s on top
of me. I wake up a happy lady. Then he’s gone by seven.”
“David set his alarm for eight. He was still asleep when I left. I peeked under the
sheet.” Linda leaned forward and propped her elbows on the table. “He was ready for
action, too. Glad he didn’t wake up. I can’t handle that cigar smell.”
Shasha’s brow furrowed. “Cigar smell?”
“Uh huh. They must smoke cigars while they’re playing cards. You know, that guy
thing.” She paused in thought, then said: “James didn’t smell like cigars?”
“No. Not a hint. More like he just stepped out of the shower. Maybe that’s why he put
his clothes in the hamper. They probably smelled like cigars.”
Linda looked down at the pastries in thought. She had read an article in one of her
magazines recently, about men who go out at night and come home freshly showered.
“Probably,” she said. “David showered after the game recently. Said he could hardly
keep his eyes open by the time the game ended. Thought the cold water would wake
him up before driving home.”
“Well, that’s understandable.” Shasha rested her elbows on the chair arms. “Does he
ever say anything about the game?”
“As a matter-of-fact he doesn’t.”
“James either. Seems odd. He’s usually talkative about what he’s involved in.
Questions about that poker game—it’s like pulling teeth.”
Linda tilted her head. “Does he avoid talking about it?”
“No, not really. But if I ask, his answers are quick and one-dimensional. Even a little
vague. I get a distinct impression he doesn’t care to talk about it. That’s just not like
him.”
“Maybe they know we think all-night poker is a little mundane. After all, we women aren’
t interested in things like that.”
“Well I’m not interested, but that never stops him from telling me all about what’s going
on in his life.” She paused. Her expression took on a hint of concern. “Linda ... has
David been acting a little strange lately?”
Linda had chosen a pastry and was looking at the topping. “Why? Is James acting
strange?”
“Subtle things. His routines. Why does he clam up about the poker game? Why hasn't
he brought work home from the office in two weeks? He usually brings something
home every night. And like this morning, waking up horny. That makes three times this
week.”
“You’re complaining!”
“No. No, that’s not what I mean. Until recently, these morning flings were rare. Usually
his eyes pop open, he jumps out of the bed and heads for the shower. He’s making a
bowl of cereal, dressed for work twenty minutes later. Point is he wakes up thinking
about what he has to get done that day ... until recently. When he comes home, I’m
used to listening to how his day went for the next thirty minutes. Here lately, he doesn’t
talk about what’s going on at the office.”
The patio door opened and out came Rhonda, Shasha’s oldest daughter. The
teenager, now a young lady, was still giddy over the new car she received for her
seventeenth birthday. “Mom,” she called out excitedly, rushing toward the table.
“Some of the girls want to take the Honda to Galveston before school starts. Can I?”
“Whoa! That’s a big one, girl. Your father won’t like that idea.”
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Won’t work. You’ll have to ask him.”
Her lips curled into a protest. “Mom, he doesn’t listen. I tried to talk to him Monday
night. I had to repeat everything I said. I just wanted to go to a movie. He finally told
me to ask you.” Her smile hinted mischief. She knew her mother would be on her
side. “That’s what he always says. So can I go?”
“You still have to ask him. But I’ll help you work on it. In the meantime, think about how
you’re going to convince him you’re mature enough to drive the car to Galveston.
Pouting won’t work.”
Rhonda, cell phone in hand, smiled at Linda, turned and hurried back into the house.
Linda watched her disappear behind the door. “She’s really turned into a beautiful
young lady. Terrific figure. Any trouble with boys?”
“Not as far as I know. She stays on the phone constantly, but I think that’s mostly her
girlfriends.”
“Will he let her go?”
“Lord no.” Shasha looked toward the house. “Guess we’ll give it a try, anyway. But
that’s something else. Rhonda rarely complains about her father. What’s really
puzzling though is his work. It’s like his career has become an afterthought. He came
home early last ... Tuesday I think it was. I was in the gallery, sculpting. He came in
and sat down and watched me work for thirty minutes without saying a word. He’s
never done that before. And all of a sudden he’s always in a good mood, and playful. I
love it, but why isn’t he constantly fretting over those damned contracts?”
Linda scratched her head. “Well, now that you mention it, I guess I’m slightly confused.
I've been thinking David is back to normal. He hasn’t been moping around and staring
into space lately. Always in a great mood. So I’m wondering what’s normal. He wasn’t
that happy-go-lucky before he started acting weird. He certainly wasn’t always in a
good mood. Nothing seems to irritate him lately. And naked Saturdays. I never
expected him to go along with it, not routinely. The other day he suggested we move to
the den when the weather gets cold. Said we can sit around the fireplace. Can you
believe it! David Westin thinking of ways to extend naked Saturdays into winter?”
“Yeah. That’s working out better than I expected. I’m glad everyone enjoys it.” A
roguish smile formed on Shasha’s lips. “Since we’re on the subject, I’ve given it some
thought. What would you think about inviting others to join us, now that our husbands
have been more accommodating than usual?”
Linda sifted her weight in the chair. “You serious?”
“Yeah, why not?”
Linda considered it for a moment. “Could be interesting. But who?”
“That’s the sticking point. No one we know comes to mind. All of James’s business
associates are too uptight. I don’t know. It’s just something that sounds like fun.”
“You really are serious!”
“Yes I am. But I imagine Rhonda has a better chance of getting the nod for her
Galveston trip. James would never go along.”
Linda laughed, taking a small bite of the pastry. “Oh, I don’t know. Like you said, the
men we married seem to be getting unpredictable in their old age.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Tuesday noon, five men had made arrangements to meet for lunch at Jake’s Prime
Rib. They were sitting at Jake’s private table. They had met his wife earlier and were
watching her work the customers.
“She’s a dynamo, Jake,” David said, looking at the portly woman that had carried on
with them as if they were all old friends. “Got the impression she approves of your
fellow poker players.”
“She did,” said Jake, watching her proudly. “Give her the credit for this place. She’s
the one who makes it work.”
“Michelle loves to eat here,” said Jorge. “Problem is getting a table.”
“That won’t be a problem for you guys,” said Jake. “Just call me before you come. You
can use this table right here. Make it soon. I’d like to meet the other wives.”
“Be interesting if we all came in together,” Tim said, followed by a short, thoughtful
silence.
“I think so, too,” said James. “If they knew each other, it’d be like sharing a part of what
we have with them, especially if they became friends.”
“There’s a downside to that,” David said. He nodded at James. “His wife and mine
are already friends. They ask questions about the poker game. We worry they’ll get
together and talk. Discover a conflict. I tell Linda we use chips, he tells Shasha cash,
we’re fucked.”
The others looked at him with a hint of disquiet.
“It’s a problem,” David added. “You have to watch the little things. That first Thursday
night, Linda wanted to know why I smelled like I just stepped out of the shower.”
“We all shower before we go home,” Jake said, concerned.
“That’s right, but we don’t anticipate the pitfalls. Linda expects me to smell like cigars,
so I smoke one on the way home with the windows closed.” He grinned and added:
“I'm surprised it doesn’t run her out of the bedroom.”
The others pondered for a moment, suddenly uncomfortable with the unforeseeable
snags.
“Good lord.” Jake shook his head. “Well, there’s no going back for me. We’ll just have
to keep the other wives apart. Damned shame.”
“It is a shame,” said Jorge. “I know Michelle would like to meet some new friends. She
hasn’t cared much for the social prim Donnas she’s met in Dallas so far. She’d rather
trade recipes with someone like Sally.”
Tim lightened the mood. “All I want to know is if any of you married a woman who’ll
blow the rest of us away if you get caught?”
A hint of trepidation tarnished their laughter. Then Jake waved over a waiter and they
ordered lunch.
“Well, Tim,” said David, “you ready for that Addison project? We start in two weeks.”
Tim’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait. Got most of the subs lined up already, and I’m not taking
on any other jobs until it’s finished.”
Jorge was curious. “You have a project going in Addison?”
David looked at him. “Yeah. A high-rise. I’m the finish-out contractor. Tim got the
landscape bid. It’s for Spence and Associates, Ltd.”
“Oh?” Jorge said casually. “That’s one of my projects.”
James looked at him over his glass of beer. Tim turned his head to look at him. David
was stunned. “Your project?”
“In a manner of speaking. There’s three of us in Spence and Associates. I’m a rather
casual partner though. The other two are the legmen. They work full time. I handle the
financing. We get together a couple of times a week for a few hours and I sign off on
the deals I approve. That’s about it. Got my fill of the fast lane in New York, so I just
fool around with a few stocks and this little investment company. I had no idea you
guys were involved in that project.”
David’s mouth hung open. “Little investment company!” he said incredulously. “Jorge
... just how much are you worth?”
Jorge smiled. The others were looking at him intently. “Wasn’t it H.L. Hunt who said
the man who knows how much he’s worth isn’t really a rich man?”
“Okay then,” said David. “Approximately, how much?”
“Three hundred million.”
Four jaws fell open.
“Guess he won’t be hitting any of us up for a loan,” said James.
“Gentlemen, you’ve succeeded in embarrassing me. Rest assured, I have a healthy
perspective on the value of wealth. I realized how good a tuna fish sandwich tastes
when I could afford to eat steak everyday. Michelle and I plan to give it all away when I
retire.”
David shook his head. “And on top of that, he’s hung.”
♦ ♦ ♦
At six o’clock on Thursday evening, Linda took two hamburgers off the grill and handed
David a plate. “Umm, smells good,” he said.
“They should. It’s fresh ground sirloin.”
“I meant you, sexy. The hamburgers smell good, too.”
She batted her eyelashes. “You want a little poke before you go play poker?”
“Baby, I still haven’t recovered from last night.”
She took a bite and then spoke with her mouth full. “Should I expect you to be out until
dawn again? Seems like you guys would get weary playing cards that long.”
His imagination went into gear. “Well, we always plan to quit by two o’clock. Then it's,
Just one more hand.’ And that goes on a couple of hours.”
“How many show up?” she asked.
“Five.”
“Always the same guys?”
He looked at her. She’s curious again. Be careful, David. “Yeah, same guys every
time.”
“Well, I know about Tim. He’s the boy you gave the Addison job.”
“That’s right.”
“What about the other two?” She noticed right away he seemed tense.
“The other two?” David said nervously, not sure what she wanted to know.
She glanced him over. “Why are you fidgeting all of a sudden?”
“Fidgeting? Didn’t know I was.” He flashed a forced smile. “I just didn’t understand
your question.”
She looked at him a moment, then repeated: “What line of work are the other two in?”
“Let’s see ... one’s an investor. The other guy owns Jake’s Prime Rib.”
“Really! Jake’s! He needs to expand that place. You can’t get in.”
“That’s the last thing he wants to do. Likes it just the way it is. But he did invite us to
use his private table anytime we want.”
“Let’s take him up on it. What’s his name?”
“Jake.”
She grinned. “Silly me. Well, I’m excited. I get to meet Jake himself!”
“He’s a good guy. He wants to meet you, too.”
“So what kind of stakes do you guys play for?”
David rubbed his forehead. Guilt had ruined his appetite. “Let’s see ... a dollar ante,
ten dollar bet limit.”
“Oh? I would have assumed a higher limit. Something exciting.”
“Well, it probably would be higher if Tim wasn’t playing. He can’t afford higher stakes.”
“That’s awfully thoughtful of the rest you. Must be why I love you so much.”
He watched her take another bite. She began to look around the back yard as if her
mind had shifted to something else. David, shaken by a slight sense of panic, realized
something had to be done to tighten the poker game ruse.
She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned close to her husband’s neck. The strong
odor of cigars still tainted his skin. She kissed him and then lifted the sheet for a quick
peek, smiled, not surprised to see one of his morning erections. He won’t be needing
Viagra anytime soon.
She picked up the clock to see when he had set the alarm. Eight o’clock. That would
give him three hours sleep for the night. She shook her head and then took a pad and
pencil from the side table drawer.
Dear husband, hope you don’t oversleep. I made plans to have breakfast with
Shasha. We’re going shopping after that. See you when you get home tonight.
Love, your sexy wife.
She put the note on the table.
♦ ♦ ♦
Shasha had put out pastries on the veranda. She was making espresso when the
doorbell rang. The two women took their places at the glass table near the pool. The
morning sun glinted on the water and the trees were alive with songbirds and cicadas.
“David got home at five o’clock this morning,” said Linda.
Shasha took a sip of coffee. “James, too,”
“His car wasn’t in the driveway, is he gone already?”
A perplexed expression washed over Shasha’s face. “I’ll never figure out how men
operate. He plays poker ‘til five in the morning. At six, I open my eyes and he’s on top
of me. I wake up a happy lady. Then he’s gone by seven.”
“David set his alarm for eight. He was still asleep when I left. I peeked under the
sheet.” Linda leaned forward and propped her elbows on the table. “He was ready for
action, too. Glad he didn’t wake up. I can’t handle that cigar smell.”
Shasha’s brow furrowed. “Cigar smell?”
“Uh huh. They must smoke cigars while they’re playing cards. You know, that guy
thing.” She paused in thought, then said: “James didn’t smell like cigars?”
“No. Not a hint. More like he just stepped out of the shower. Maybe that’s why he put
his clothes in the hamper. They probably smelled like cigars.”
Linda looked down at the pastries in thought. She had read an article in one of her
magazines recently, about men who go out at night and come home freshly showered.
“Probably,” she said. “David showered after the game recently. Said he could hardly
keep his eyes open by the time the game ended. Thought the cold water would wake
him up before driving home.”
“Well, that’s understandable.” Shasha rested her elbows on the chair arms. “Does he
ever say anything about the game?”
“As a matter-of-fact he doesn’t.”
“James either. Seems odd. He’s usually talkative about what he’s involved in.
Questions about that poker game—it’s like pulling teeth.”
Linda tilted her head. “Does he avoid talking about it?”
“No, not really. But if I ask, his answers are quick and one-dimensional. Even a little
vague. I get a distinct impression he doesn’t care to talk about it. That’s just not like
him.”
“Maybe they know we think all-night poker is a little mundane. After all, we women aren’
t interested in things like that.”
“Well I’m not interested, but that never stops him from telling me all about what’s going
on in his life.” She paused. Her expression took on a hint of concern. “Linda ... has
David been acting a little strange lately?”
Linda had chosen a pastry and was looking at the topping. “Why? Is James acting
strange?”
“Subtle things. His routines. Why does he clam up about the poker game? Why hasn't
he brought work home from the office in two weeks? He usually brings something
home every night. And like this morning, waking up horny. That makes three times this
week.”
“You’re complaining!”
“No. No, that’s not what I mean. Until recently, these morning flings were rare. Usually
his eyes pop open, he jumps out of the bed and heads for the shower. He’s making a
bowl of cereal, dressed for work twenty minutes later. Point is he wakes up thinking
about what he has to get done that day ... until recently. When he comes home, I’m
used to listening to how his day went for the next thirty minutes. Here lately, he doesn’t
talk about what’s going on at the office.”
The patio door opened and out came Rhonda, Shasha’s oldest daughter. The
teenager, now a young lady, was still giddy over the new car she received for her
seventeenth birthday. “Mom,” she called out excitedly, rushing toward the table.
“Some of the girls want to take the Honda to Galveston before school starts. Can I?”
“Whoa! That’s a big one, girl. Your father won’t like that idea.”
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Won’t work. You’ll have to ask him.”
Her lips curled into a protest. “Mom, he doesn’t listen. I tried to talk to him Monday
night. I had to repeat everything I said. I just wanted to go to a movie. He finally told
me to ask you.” Her smile hinted mischief. She knew her mother would be on her
side. “That’s what he always says. So can I go?”
“You still have to ask him. But I’ll help you work on it. In the meantime, think about how
you’re going to convince him you’re mature enough to drive the car to Galveston.
Pouting won’t work.”
Rhonda, cell phone in hand, smiled at Linda, turned and hurried back into the house.
Linda watched her disappear behind the door. “She’s really turned into a beautiful
young lady. Terrific figure. Any trouble with boys?”
“Not as far as I know. She stays on the phone constantly, but I think that’s mostly her
girlfriends.”
“Will he let her go?”
“Lord no.” Shasha looked toward the house. “Guess we’ll give it a try, anyway. But
that’s something else. Rhonda rarely complains about her father. What’s really
puzzling though is his work. It’s like his career has become an afterthought. He came
home early last ... Tuesday I think it was. I was in the gallery, sculpting. He came in
and sat down and watched me work for thirty minutes without saying a word. He’s
never done that before. And all of a sudden he’s always in a good mood, and playful. I
love it, but why isn’t he constantly fretting over those damned contracts?”
Linda scratched her head. “Well, now that you mention it, I guess I’m slightly confused.
I've been thinking David is back to normal. He hasn’t been moping around and staring
into space lately. Always in a great mood. So I’m wondering what’s normal. He wasn’t
that happy-go-lucky before he started acting weird. He certainly wasn’t always in a
good mood. Nothing seems to irritate him lately. And naked Saturdays. I never
expected him to go along with it, not routinely. The other day he suggested we move to
the den when the weather gets cold. Said we can sit around the fireplace. Can you
believe it! David Westin thinking of ways to extend naked Saturdays into winter?”
“Yeah. That’s working out better than I expected. I’m glad everyone enjoys it.” A
roguish smile formed on Shasha’s lips. “Since we’re on the subject, I’ve given it some
thought. What would you think about inviting others to join us, now that our husbands
have been more accommodating than usual?”
Linda sifted her weight in the chair. “You serious?”
“Yeah, why not?”
Linda considered it for a moment. “Could be interesting. But who?”
“That’s the sticking point. No one we know comes to mind. All of James’s business
associates are too uptight. I don’t know. It’s just something that sounds like fun.”
“You really are serious!”
“Yes I am. But I imagine Rhonda has a better chance of getting the nod for her
Galveston trip. James would never go along.”
Linda laughed, taking a small bite of the pastry. “Oh, I don’t know. Like you said, the
men we married seem to be getting unpredictable in their old age.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Tuesday noon, five men had made arrangements to meet for lunch at Jake’s Prime
Rib. They were sitting at Jake’s private table. They had met his wife earlier and were
watching her work the customers.
“She’s a dynamo, Jake,” David said, looking at the portly woman that had carried on
with them as if they were all old friends. “Got the impression she approves of your
fellow poker players.”
“She did,” said Jake, watching her proudly. “Give her the credit for this place. She’s
the one who makes it work.”
“Michelle loves to eat here,” said Jorge. “Problem is getting a table.”
“That won’t be a problem for you guys,” said Jake. “Just call me before you come. You
can use this table right here. Make it soon. I’d like to meet the other wives.”
“Be interesting if we all came in together,” Tim said, followed by a short, thoughtful
silence.
“I think so, too,” said James. “If they knew each other, it’d be like sharing a part of what
we have with them, especially if they became friends.”
“There’s a downside to that,” David said. He nodded at James. “His wife and mine
are already friends. They ask questions about the poker game. We worry they’ll get
together and talk. Discover a conflict. I tell Linda we use chips, he tells Shasha cash,
we’re fucked.”
The others looked at him with a hint of disquiet.
“It’s a problem,” David added. “You have to watch the little things. That first Thursday
night, Linda wanted to know why I smelled like I just stepped out of the shower.”
“We all shower before we go home,” Jake said, concerned.
“That’s right, but we don’t anticipate the pitfalls. Linda expects me to smell like cigars,
so I smoke one on the way home with the windows closed.” He grinned and added:
“I'm surprised it doesn’t run her out of the bedroom.”
The others pondered for a moment, suddenly uncomfortable with the unforeseeable
snags.
“Good lord.” Jake shook his head. “Well, there’s no going back for me. We’ll just have
to keep the other wives apart. Damned shame.”
“It is a shame,” said Jorge. “I know Michelle would like to meet some new friends. She
hasn’t cared much for the social prim Donnas she’s met in Dallas so far. She’d rather
trade recipes with someone like Sally.”
Tim lightened the mood. “All I want to know is if any of you married a woman who’ll
blow the rest of us away if you get caught?”
A hint of trepidation tarnished their laughter. Then Jake waved over a waiter and they
ordered lunch.
“Well, Tim,” said David, “you ready for that Addison project? We start in two weeks.”
Tim’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait. Got most of the subs lined up already, and I’m not taking
on any other jobs until it’s finished.”
Jorge was curious. “You have a project going in Addison?”
David looked at him. “Yeah. A high-rise. I’m the finish-out contractor. Tim got the
landscape bid. It’s for Spence and Associates, Ltd.”
“Oh?” Jorge said casually. “That’s one of my projects.”
James looked at him over his glass of beer. Tim turned his head to look at him. David
was stunned. “Your project?”
“In a manner of speaking. There’s three of us in Spence and Associates. I’m a rather
casual partner though. The other two are the legmen. They work full time. I handle the
financing. We get together a couple of times a week for a few hours and I sign off on
the deals I approve. That’s about it. Got my fill of the fast lane in New York, so I just
fool around with a few stocks and this little investment company. I had no idea you
guys were involved in that project.”
David’s mouth hung open. “Little investment company!” he said incredulously. “Jorge
... just how much are you worth?”
Jorge smiled. The others were looking at him intently. “Wasn’t it H.L. Hunt who said
the man who knows how much he’s worth isn’t really a rich man?”
“Okay then,” said David. “Approximately, how much?”
“Three hundred million.”
Four jaws fell open.
“Guess he won’t be hitting any of us up for a loan,” said James.
“Gentlemen, you’ve succeeded in embarrassing me. Rest assured, I have a healthy
perspective on the value of wealth. I realized how good a tuna fish sandwich tastes
when I could afford to eat steak everyday. Michelle and I plan to give it all away when I
retire.”
David shook his head. “And on top of that, he’s hung.”
♦ ♦ ♦
At six o’clock on Thursday evening, Linda took two hamburgers off the grill and handed
David a plate. “Umm, smells good,” he said.
“They should. It’s fresh ground sirloin.”
“I meant you, sexy. The hamburgers smell good, too.”
She batted her eyelashes. “You want a little poke before you go play poker?”
“Baby, I still haven’t recovered from last night.”
She took a bite and then spoke with her mouth full. “Should I expect you to be out until
dawn again? Seems like you guys would get weary playing cards that long.”
His imagination went into gear. “Well, we always plan to quit by two o’clock. Then it's,
Just one more hand.’ And that goes on a couple of hours.”
“How many show up?” she asked.
“Five.”
“Always the same guys?”
He looked at her. She’s curious again. Be careful, David. “Yeah, same guys every
time.”
“Well, I know about Tim. He’s the boy you gave the Addison job.”
“That’s right.”
“What about the other two?” She noticed right away he seemed tense.
“The other two?” David said nervously, not sure what she wanted to know.
She glanced him over. “Why are you fidgeting all of a sudden?”
“Fidgeting? Didn’t know I was.” He flashed a forced smile. “I just didn’t understand
your question.”
She looked at him a moment, then repeated: “What line of work are the other two in?”
“Let’s see ... one’s an investor. The other guy owns Jake’s Prime Rib.”
“Really! Jake’s! He needs to expand that place. You can’t get in.”
“That’s the last thing he wants to do. Likes it just the way it is. But he did invite us to
use his private table anytime we want.”
“Let’s take him up on it. What’s his name?”
“Jake.”
She grinned. “Silly me. Well, I’m excited. I get to meet Jake himself!”
“He’s a good guy. He wants to meet you, too.”
“So what kind of stakes do you guys play for?”
David rubbed his forehead. Guilt had ruined his appetite. “Let’s see ... a dollar ante,
ten dollar bet limit.”
“Oh? I would have assumed a higher limit. Something exciting.”
“Well, it probably would be higher if Tim wasn’t playing. He can’t afford higher stakes.”
“That’s awfully thoughtful of the rest you. Must be why I love you so much.”
He watched her take another bite. She began to look around the back yard as if her
mind had shifted to something else. David, shaken by a slight sense of panic, realized
something had to be done to tighten the poker game ruse.
