Chapter 19: The Bet

**DAWES**

Our game was shorter than usual, so it was only 10:30 pm. The full moon and evenly placed streetlights made the whole scene visible. Letty looks like a kid in a candy shop as she drives us in her car toward whatever date spot she has in mind. I can't help the giddy feeling that I'm sure is emitting from her to me. Her fingers drummed on the steering wheel to the beat of whatever best hits song was playing in the background. It sounded familiar, but music wasn't really my thing. Her eager grin brought my attention back to the present. "you're going to love this place."

"with that shit-eating grin you got on, I'm not so sure." I am deadpan, though honestly, any time spent with Letty is worth going to some dating place. Letty turned down a darker street just off the main downtown area. We were probably heading for some overly-priced food place. We pull into the parking lot of an industrial building. Nondescript on the outside with a fogged-up front door and awning cover. A lone flickering street light hung in the far corner of the parking lot. Otherwise, a dim porch lamp over the doorway was the only other light source. The whole setup screamed strip club. I turn a skeptical eye to Letty's overly excited face. "If this is a sex dungeon, I'm a Dom, and I don't share."

Her grin falters, and a deep blush spreads across her cheeks. Fuck she is so adorable; my fingers twitched with the desire to sketch her. "No, it's nothing close to that." She said in that small voice, "I'm not sure I would be comfortable with--"

I grab her hand, "I was joking. As for the sex preferences, we can talk about that at a different time."

She gave a nervous laugh, "ready?"

"Yep." I jump out, running around the car to her side and opening her door. She gave me that 1000-watt smile and grabbed my hand. Letty's hand felt so small in mine, but there was a strength in the way she led me across the parking lot.

She knocked out the beginning of a tune at the door before a huge bouncer opened it. My body immediately tensed, pulling Letty closer to me. Letty squeezed my hand reassuringly, then smiled at the bouncer, "Sammy! My main man! How's it going?"

The mean mug the bouncer wore softened as he leaned his shoulder against the door frame. "Letty Kerns! Does your momma know you are slumming it with us riff-raff?"

Letty laughs, "Sammy, this is--"

"Grant Dawes." The bouncer drawls in a deep southern accent, then sticks out his hand. I shake him, still very confused by this whole interaction. What the fuck had I let this enchantress get me into. Letty chuckles, "Yeah. Grant, this is Sammy Reyes. His dad owns the place."

Sammy sizes me up, his gaze drawn to my hand, still holding Letty's. His eyebrow raises, but he doesn't comment further. Sammy takes a step back and folds his arms over his chest. "Before I let you in, you have to promise to behave. I don't want to fight anyone tonight."

Letty scoffs, and I stare at her. This woman was a whole fucking mystery. Sammy narrows his eyes, "I mean it, Violet."

"Fine, I'll behave." Letty raises her free hand in the boy scout gesture, "Scouts Honor."

Sammy laughs, "You were never a scout."

Letty looks offended. I chuckle, "I'll make sure she stays out of trouble, and I was a scout."

"Of course you were," Letty laughs. She yanks me past Sammy, who is making a tsk sound, and into a dark hallway. It's almost pitch black, and I wonder how Letty knows where she is going. Suddenly, a door is thrown open, and Letty pulls me onto an open platform. My eyes adjust to the sudden bright and flashy lights of an arcade. Letty's face is brimming with excitement, and I let loose a deep belly laugh. "All that smoke and mirrors for a gaming arcade?"

She nods enthusiastically, "Welcome to Club G. It's my uncle's place."

"So Sammy is your cousin?"

"Yep, on my mother's side. If you ask her, though, she'll never admit it. Let's get drinks, then play!" She pulls my hand and leads me down the stairs. When we get to the bar at the bottom, Letty calls out to the bartender, 'Seth!"

The bartender grins and holds open his arms, "Letty! How's my favorite cousin?"

"Great! Can I get a bucket?"

Seth's eyes land on me, his jaw-dropping, "Violet! You realize Grant Dawes is standing right behind you." He shifts so our joined hands are visible, "Shit, His fine ass is with you!"

I grinned, my chest filling with a sudden pride. Seeing people still like me after so much hate and negativity felt good. I had started to lose hope that anyone wanted to see me play anymore. A tiny part of me even wondered if I should retire. I glanced at Letty's face, enjoying the excitement plastered there. She did this purposefully to show me that I still had it and belonged here. I leaned forward. "Hey man, Nice to meet you."

"Pick your poison," Seth called, setting two buckets of coins on the bar.

"Club sodas with limes, please!" Letty ordered while I grabbed the buckets in one hand. It didn't escape my notice that she remembered I didn't drink during the season. We had a midday practice tomorrow, so I didn't need to be cautious, but I wanted to have my senses sharp for the final game. Seth nodded before he turned a serious look to Letty, "No hustling tonight."

Letty smirked, "I'm just here to play some games with Grant."

Seth turned a sympathetic look my way before Letty pulled me away from the bar area. "Why do I get the feeling I'm about to get my ass handed to me?"

Letty bit into her lip, her eyes twinkling with pure mischief. "Because you are."

0-12 is not a record I've ever had, but standing on the other side of the air hockey table, Letty showed just that on the tiny scoreboard. Me, a professional Hockey player, just legitimately lost 12 rounds of air hockey to my date. As the air stopped, signaling the end of game 13, where I scored twice to Letty's 15. I scrubbed my hand over my face. Letty looked at me, her smile now gone, replaced by an apprehensive look. My eyes furrowed, and she looked almost rejected. "We can play something else." She said in that small voice."

"Why?" I demanded a little too harshly. I wanted to bring back that smug grin she just had as she shit-talked her way through another victory.

"I... Um... like skee-ball too." She shrugged, but her voice was still small. I was not too fond of that small voice. It was like she put all her emotions into a box and used a robotic predetermined response to avoid a reaction from me. It dawned on me that she thought I was mad at her for winning. That couldn't be further from the truth. I was so fucking impressed I was speechless. I moved around the table so I was closer.

"No way. Eventually, I'll win one." I say playfully, nudging her. Letty nodded, adding more coins to start the air up again. This time, the game feels different; she allows a few easy shots in, and we go back and forth until I suddenly win 15-13. Letty let me win. It wasn't obvious, but there were no taunting or sneaky smirks like before. Did she really believe my ego was so big and easily bruised to be mad at her for winning? I could see the insecurity on her face clearly. I drop my paddle onto the table and storm around the table. Her eyes were wide, but her body suddenly took on a boxer's defensive stance. I almost laughed at how fucking cute that was, but I also could see that if she wanted, she could take me down.

"You let me win." I folded my arms across my chest and sat on the table's edge.

"Of course not, I'm just tired." Letty relaxed and waved me off. She wouldn't look me in the eye. So I knew she was lying. I didn't want her to feel the need to make my ego feel better.

"Letty?" I grabbed her hand, waiting until her eyes met mine. When she finally did, I smiled and sternly said, "Do not ever think you must fuel my ego. I can handle losing to someone who is obviously superior to me. I can't be good at everything."

"Grant, I wanted you to have fun. Instead, I got overly competitive and caused you to get mad. I'm sorry. Seriously, we can do something else or just leave."

"I wasn't mad."

"You dropped your paddle. I can see how mad you are." Letty gave me a weird look before glancing around. Was she expecting me to rage out? Maybe my reputation as being a hothead weighed on her mind. I need to keep my voice even and calm.

"I dropped my paddle because I was so impressed I didn't know what else to do. Seriously, Letty, you are a master of this game. It makes me want to spend years playing you to actually win."

"no one likes losing. You don't have to lie to me." Letty scoffs.

I laugh, "I'm serious! Anytime you want to kick my ass at this game, let me know."

Letty looked doubtful and shook her head, "Let's just play something else."

I didn't let go of her hand; instead, I wiggled my eyebrows, saying, "Let's make a bet."

Letty's eyes sliced to mine with stubbornness. "No."

I wonder if she knew that look was way more sexy than intimidating? My mind races with all the dirty ways I could get that look off her face. I gripped her hips, pulling her into me as I forced my mind back to the bet I was about to propose. I nodded toward a big, burly guy seeming to guard a flat black wall, "Look, obviously, your cousins are running something sketchy behind that hidden door down there, so let's make a bet."

Letty looked panicky but slowly nodded. I brushed my thumb over the exposed skin of her hip, loving the shiver my touch caused. "One more game of air hockey."

She opened her mouth to protest, but I continued, "If I win, you tell me what's beyond that hidden door. If you win, I'll do the interview—start to finish—no walking out."

That fiery competitive glint returned to her expression as my words sunk in. My dick pulsed with desire as her lips kicked up into a smirk. Fuck I was a goner for that cocky smirk of hers, "Deal."