“Why? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin now?”
Her eyes roll. “I’m not a princess.”
“Yeah, well, that works out because I’m no prince.” I step closer; this hit of her is addictive. “Come on, it’s only midnight. And it’s New Year’s. You came out tonight to celebrate, right? Let’s do it.”
She glances around, shifting on her feet. And even if the guys are gone, she’s still nervous about something. “I guess I did.”
“I’ll tell you what, let fate decide.” I eye the slot machine nearby. “One quarter. I lose, I walk away. I win, you give me another kiss.”
“Slot machines are notoriously rigged against the player.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Are you a gambling man?”
“I’ve been known to take a risk on occasion.” I smile.
If she knew the kind of shit I get myself into, she’d run. But she doesn’t, so intrigue sparks in her eyes.
“I don’t even know your name.” She crosses her arms now, pushing her perfect tits even higher.
“Hayes,” I tell her when her eyes fall to the patch on my chest.
No one calls me by my legal name. I don’t know why I even said it. I’ve gone by Soul as long as I’ve been patched into the club. But when she repeats it, all is right in the world.
“Hayes,” she says like she’s mulling it over. “I’m Emery.”
“No last name?” I don’t know why I even care. I don’t follow up with the girls I fuck. I’m a one-and-done kind of guy. And sure, that makes me an asshole, but it’s better for them in the long run.
“You didn’t give me yours,” Emery challenges.
That bit of fire is something I can’t get enough of.
“Fair enough,” I concede, knowing Ghost can probably pull everything I need to know about this girl later. “So, you in?”
“Just a kiss?”
“Just a kiss.” I nod.
Fuck if I don’t want more, but I’ll take what I can get.
“Okay.” Her eyes narrow. “One quarter.”
I grin, pulling one from my pocket.
We stop at the slot machine, and I hold the quarter between us.
She almost looks nervous as I stick it into the machine. My odds are one in a million, but she’s still standing here, so I figure they’re working in my favor. Pushing the button, the cards on the screen begin to spin. It feels like forever until they slow to a stop, one at a time.
“And here I thought you were lucky.” Emery laughs when I lose the hand just like she predicted.
I shrug. “You were worth the shot.”
“I’ll tell you what…” She reaches into her purse, pulling out two more quarters and smiling big as she looks up at me. “Best two out of three.”
2
Emery
