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“You’ll need a bigger bankroll. Who you going to call when you are in the red? The Italians?”
“I was under the impression that you were the Italians.”
There was a smile in Lance’s voice, but I still stiffened. In this town, success didn’t come to the innocent, and there were few men as successful as Dario Capece.
The devil smiled. “Everyone in this town is, in some way or manner, Italian. But I don’t want you having to get into business with them. If you need a short-term loan, call me. I’ll cut you a fair deal.”
Lance held out his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Capece.”
I sensed the end of the excitement and moved to the door, my hand on the knob when his next words stopped me short.
“The woman who escorted me in. Tell me about her.”
I turned.
“You looking for new cocktail waitresses, Mr. Capece?”
I heard the edge of protection in Lance’s voice and silently warned him to be careful.
“I run casinos. I’m always looking for cocktail waitresses.”
“I can’t speak for Bell, but I think she’s pretty happy here.”
“You look worried, Mr. Blake.”
I turned to watch the monitor. On it, Lance’s arms were crossed over his chest, his imposing stance diminished by Capece’s powerful build.
“I’m concerned any time a stranger asks about someone I care for.”
“It’s just curiosity. I’m a man. She’s a beautiful woman. You understand.”
Lance shifted. “As I said, she’s happy here.”
“Noted.”
I watched the monitors as the two men shook hands.
“Call me if you ever need funds, or anything else.”
“Thank you.”
They turned, making their way back to the front room, and I looked away from the monitors, Rick’s gaze dead on mine, stopping me in my exit. “What?” I asked.
Rick spoke slowly, as if I might have trouble understanding him. “Dario Capece is bad news.”
“Yeah. Got it.” I tilted my head toward the gaming floor. “So are pretty much every one of those assholes out there. Don’t worry about me.”
“I saw you two. Whatever moment that was?” He flicked his index finger back and forth, between me and an imaginary Dario. “You’re a tiny minnow in this town, B. Sexy and smart as hell ... but still a minnow. And he’s—”
I interrupted him before he got fully into the lecture. “I KNOW. He’s a whale. Or a shark. Or a killer whale, or whatever freaking ocean reference you’re about to make. I get it. Focus on your own shit, because he came in here after your business, not my ass.”
I yanked the door open and didn’t miss the twitch that broke his stern expression into a smile.
* * *
“I got you peanuts.”
Meredith held out the bag, and I grabbed it, moving my feet and giving her room to pass. She juggled two beers and almost spilled both of them by the time she settled into the seat next to me. “God, it’s hot.”
I stole the second beer and lifted it to my lips, nodding in agreement. “Miserably.”
There was the crack of a bat, and we shifted out of the way as everyone around us rose to their feet, then moaned in disappointment and settled back down.
“Foul. I knew the minute I heard it,” Meredith said.
“Sure.”
“I’m serious. You can hear when they hit the right spot.”
I smirked, my mind taking the words in a dirty light, and she rolled her eyes.
“Stop.”
“You’re the one playing porn in our house all hours of the day. How are we supposed to keep our minds clean with all that?”
She sniffed. “I’m almost done with the project. Then, I swear, I’m done with glory holes and gangbangs for life.”
The soccer mom ahead of us turned, glared, and covered the ears of her teenage son, as if he’d never heard those words before. Meredith stifled a laugh, and I elbowed her with a smile. The kiss cam came on the scoreboard, and the crowd started to cheer.
“So ... tell me about this man.” She leaned in, raising her voice to be heard over the crowd.
I sighed, tipping back the beer and looking out at the stands. “You know. Another guy.”
Meredith scoffed. “Another guy? I don’t know anything about casino stuff, and even I know Dario Capece.”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned him. He checked me out. He was hot.” I pulled open the peanuts and shook a few out, offering the bag to her. “And he’s married.”
She nodded in the annoying way that typically precluded idiocy. “Uh-huh. Forbidden love.”
“Forbidden love? You’re so dramatic. Love and I aren’t even in the same hemisphere right now.”
“Not even with the sexy professor?” She put her beer in the cup holder and settled back in the plastic seat.
“Especially not with Ian.”
“Yeah … A hot, smart guy with a job and a delicious Irish accent. I agree. Worthless. I can’t believe you’re even wasting your orgasms on him.”
I hid behind my beer as the mom ahead of us turned around again. I swear, we weren’t even talking loudly. And her son had to be fifteen. Too old to have his ears covered. Meredith was right. On paper, Ian was pretty damn awesome. Naked, his stock was even better. But other than having fun with him, there were no feelings involved, no fluttery emotions, or breathless anticipation of our next meeting. “I’m pretty sure our thing is going to end with the semester.”
