[Ace's POV]
The roar of the crowd faded into a distant hum. The smug owner, the scattered cups, the weight of the wager, the frustrated cries of the losers—it all dissolved. My world tunneled to the woman in my arms, to the vibration of her laughter against my chest, to the radiant, unguarded happiness on her face as she leaned back to look at me. The sweet, clean scent of her hair filled my senses. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed with excitement. The sight, the feeling, was a trigger.
