Her heart hammered in her chest. It couldn't be. It just couldn't– It was. She looked up. He towered over her, all fury and might. Anger tensed his solid shoulders, clenched his square jaw and radiated in those eyes that were intelligent enough to see right through her. "Howdy, Sheriff." She couldn't think of one explanation to offer him. Especially since the pile of greenbacks and gold pieces in front of her testified to her skill at the game. "You look like you know what you're doing." He pulled over a chair, all controlled power, and dropped it with a clatter. "It isn't every woman who can beat One-Eyed Tommy at poker." "I have a talent." "Then you admit it?" A muscle in his temple jumped. "I admit that I won some money. That's not against the law, is it?" "No, but against my principles." "You're not the one gambling." Really. She tried to tell herself she didn't care what handsome Ben MacLain thought of her, but she did. She truly did.
