Chapter 33
Ringer – someone who knows the loophole to win the game and doesn’t hesitate to use it
Rowan
Istand with my arms crossed over my chest in front of the door blocking Ash’s exit from the house. “You’re not going.”
She waves a hand in dismissal. “Sure, I am. It’s for charity.”
“I don’t care if it’s for the Queen of fucking England. You are not going.”
She giggles. “I don’t think there’s a Queen of Fucking England. Where is this kingdom? Next to Screwing Scotland?”
“Don’t be cute.” She beams at me. “You are not doing a fun run with a broken ankle.”
She lifts her boot. “I have a walking cast.”
“And I was there the days after you decided to wander around all night after paint and sip. I saw how much pain you were in. Not again.”
Every time she winced, I had to beat back the impulse to wrap her in cotton and secure her in our house until her bones healed. At least I managed to force her to take a few baths to help with the swelling, although she only conceded after I agreed to join her. It wasn’t a hardship.
“You’re not going to give on this? I can’t walk the poker run?”
I nod. “Correct.”
She claps. “I guess you’ll have to push me then.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Push you?”
“In a wheelchair,” she says.
“What wheelchair?”
“The one I borrowed from Dr. Blue’s office because I knew you’d go ballistic if I tried to walk the poker run.”
“If you knew I’d go ballistic, why did you fight with me?”
She grins. “Because it’s fun to watch the vein in your forehead pulse.” I grit my teeth. She’s driving me crazy. “And there goes the muscle twitching in your jaw.”
“You enjoy making me mad.”
“Damn straight. You are sexy on a normal day. But when you’re mad?” She fans her face. “You are f-i-n-e. Fine.”
I step toward her and place a hand on her hip. “We can skip the poker run.” I slide my hand from her hip to her ass and squeeze in case there’s any uncertainty about what we would be doing instead.
She kisses my jaw before stepping away. “Raincheck! I have a poker run record to keep.”
The poker run is a big annual charity event in Winter Falls. It attracts tourists from all over as the grand prize for having the best poker hand is an all-inclusive week at the Inn on Main. The worst hand wins dinner at the Naked Falls Brewing brewery including a sampler package of their beers.
There are also prizes donated by local businesses at each stop such as a basket of treats from the bakery and a necklace from Bohemian Treasures. All proceeds from entry fees and food and consumptions are donated to the chosen charity. This year’s charity is the community center. Or, I should say, the future community center as there isn’t one currently.
“A poker run record?” I ask, but Ash is already out the door.
I follow and find her sitting in a wheelchair. I half believed she lied about the chair, but since she didn’t, I can hardly deny her wish to participate. Damnit.
She lifts her hand and points toward the town center. “To the start, Jeeves!”
“Let’s discuss strategy,” she says as I begin pushing her.