“What are you spending those winnings on, boy?” Thomas nudges Beck from his seat next to him. He seems to have taken Beck under his wing tonight.
“I have a few ideas, sir, but I’ll be giving you your stake back first.” He slurs as he starts to count his chips, frowning when they collapse from the lopsided tower in front of him.
“Please call me Thomas, and you’ll do no such thing.” Beck goes to argue but Thomas holds his hand up. “You save that for something very special.”
“Thank you, si— Thomas. I will.” Beck seems to have drifted off somewhere pretty somber and I can’t have that.
“Right, I think it’s time we moved on. Gentlemen, I hope you’ve warmed up those vocal cords.” I clear my throat and look toward Hunter, and his slightly glazed drunken eyes go wide as he stares across the table at me.
“No, Leo,” he grits out.
“Yes, Stone.” I lose my balance slightly as I jump up from my stool. Maybe I should take it a little easier, but this scotch is going down far too well. “Tonight you’re going to be the Dolly to my Kenny.” I make my way down to where he’s sitting, a smug smile on his lips.
“You think I’m singing a duet with you?” He scoffs.
Grasping my chest and falling to my knees, I beg, “But Hunter…” I begin to belt out the first line of Dolly and Kenny’s famous duet.
Right on cue, the room erupts into a chorus of “Islands in the Stream” just as if I’d planned it. Even Deacon has loosened up and is singing, his arm wrapped around Noah’s shoulders. And I spot Deacon’s security give a half grin at his boss’s behavior. He has been hiding in the background, watching and blending in, but it’s an added reminder of just who Deacon is and how different his daily life is compared to ours. There is no wonder he hardly smiles anymore.
“Jesus.” Hunter looks at us all and bursts out laughing as the staff in the room all join in and even some of the other guests sing along.
Standing and pulling him up with me, I continue to sing until he gives in. “Come on, Dolly, I’m gonna show you the time of your life.”
“Hey, that’s mine and Marcus’s duet.” Kai is hanging off Marcus as we leave both of them definitely not walking in a straight line.
“But I’m Johnny this time,” Marcus slurs next to him.
“I’ll always be your Baby, Diaz.”
Chapter 7
Ria
From:[email protected]
Subject: West Wing Hotels
Good afternoon, Ria:
Out of professional courtesy, I’m letting you know that I have a meeting with Cole West next week to discuss his portfolio. Apparently, you also have a meeting. Shame you couldn’t meet with him before you jetted off to Vegas. But you know in this line of work we have to be quick off the mark. I guess that’s why I was always going to be better at the top than you.
Have fun in Vegas and don’t lead my girl astray. I know what you and Grace are like and Trixie is respectable and has an image to uphold.
Regards, Ezra
I can’t let Ezra get inside my head again. I’ve healed and don’t want to fall back into that place of self-doubt, where I forever question myself. I’m where I’m meant to be, and I have nothing to prove to him but everything to myself when I scoop Cole West as a client. And that comment about Trixie makes my blood boil. She is her own woman. I thought it might be awkward with her, but honestly, it’s so easy. She’s different when Ezra isn’t around. She’s so much fun, and the things that come out of her mouth give Lily a run for her money. It makes me worry about her relationship with him because she obviously isn’t being herself. He’s crushing who she is. It makes my heart clench for her but also makes me relieved that I never fully became that woman. He never gave me the chance. I’m hoping Trixie manages to stand up to him or distance herself from him and find herself again, before she’s too fractured to truly heal.
Downing my fifth glass of champagne of the evening, I look at all the beautiful women who surround me in the bar. They are from all walks of life, all incredible in their own right, and a huge sense of love hits me. I have the best network. Small, compact, and loyal. Olivia and my mom are giggling together as they continue to sip on their champagne, and of course turn down countless attempts from men of all ages. I’m certain the last one who came over to flirt with them was a lot younger than I am, probably barely twenty-one. Mom catches me watching and she tilts her head in question. She apologizes to Olivia and comes over to sit next to me.
“You look a little off, sweetie. Everything okay?” she says softly.
“Yeah, just thinking about how lucky I am to have these people in my life.”
“You are. I was worried about you moving to London to start again, but knowing you have these women?” She giggles as she watches Lily and Jade dancing without a care in the world before she turns back to me. “Having them in your corner helps me sleep better at night.” She waits patiently for me to say something, but my voice is lodged in my throat. “That’s not all that you’re thinking about, is it?”
How do moms know when you’re not telling the truth?
