Larissa's POV
Carson held my brother's stare without flinching. "I want to make her happy. Build something meaningful together. The same things any man desires when he finds someone special."
Joe's jaw tightened. "Doesn't it create issues that she's your employee?"
"Initially, yes," Carson conceded smoothly. "We've navigated around it though. She reports to the marketing director now, not me."
"How perfectly arranged," Joe said under his breath.
"Indeed it is," Carson responded with unruffled calm. "Full house, gentlemen." He spread his cards across the table, making Harlan curse softly.
"Three straight wins," Harlan grumbled. "You must be cheating somehow."
"No need for that," Carson replied, collecting his pretzel winnings. "You telegraph every move."
We had been playing for over an hour when the waiting room door swung open. A nurse stepped inside, causing all movement to halt. Cards froze in mid-deal.
