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I’m only making it worse, judging from her reaction.
“A girl like me?” she asks, her voice shaking with a little emotion.
My croupier frowns at her, then presses a call button under the table after announcing it’s time to change dealers.
He’s not the only one noticing how much I’m winning, and I get the sudden feeling the welcome mat is about to be ripped out from under me before I even get what I know is mine now.
But I don’t care about that. “Yeah, a girl like you,” I venture a little further, softening my voice so it’s low and smooth.
“A pretty young girl,” I add, noticing her bite into her lower lip from embarrassment at the compliment. I lower my face to keep her eyes on mine, finally getting a little smile that makes my heart explode.
My eyes are boring into hers, broadcasting the silent message that I’m not teasing her or poking fun.
I’m not like them, Krissy. Let me show you.
Sending her body the message that I only want one thing now.
Her.
Okay, maybe her out of that uniform and bouncing on this fucking tent pole in my pants.
But if I didn’t know what I wanted from life this morning, supposedly being the man who ‘has everything,’ the question had been answered for me a hundred times over the second I laid eyes on her.
I just know she’s the one.
And apart from being the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen, I know she’s also the future of my family line.
My queen in the making and her king’s right here waiting.
If she wants it half as much as I want to give it to her, that is.
And I guess the high rollers room in a casino isn’t the best place to get to know her.
But she just got here, and I’m not going anywhere until she comes with me.
My croupier stands to go, and his replacement arrives as if they were waiting behind a curtain. Then a guy who looks nearly as big as I am is followed by the casino owner I had dinner with.
“I’m single,” Krissy whispers in my ear, leaning forward quickly before anyone sees.
I open my mouth to say something, to let her know I am too, but Mr. Levenson’s smug, slightly thicker-sounding voice beats me to it.
“I hear you’re making quite the impression up here, Mr. Silverthorne,” he says, his eyes settling on my large stack of chips and then shifting to the new croupier.
“It’s good to win, Ethan. But remember my house, my rules,” he says, clapping a hand on my shoulder, whispering his last words in my other ear.
“If it’s about the money, I’m sure you’ll win it all back,” I chuckle, deliberately keeping the mood light.
Reminding my fist that’s pumping open and closed under the table not to belt this guy.
Not in front of Krissy.
I don’t want any trouble either, really. Now I know where to stake my real claim.
“I mean, Ethan…,” Levenson says, lowering his voice and sounding more like his true self with each word. “I’ve seen billionaires lose everything at this table. And even they didn’t walk around like they already owned the joint,” he growls, grinding out his message in case I’m hard of hearing.
Sounding and smelling a lot fuller of himself and booze than he did over dinner.
A casino boss who lives up to the stereotype. Who knew?
His hand claps my shoulder again, but harder this time says enough for me.
“Well. I’m sorry if I stepped on any toes,” I half-growl in reply, forcing a smile but turning to make sure he can see my eyes.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” is all I add. I want him gone so I can talk to Krissy some more.
And like magic, as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone.
Only, he makes sure he has the last word now that he’s asserted his imaginary authority over me.
“Enjoy yourself, Ethan. Enjoy!” he laughs over his shoulder. The sound of him and his security team leaving is like music to my ears.
And whatever veiled threat or warning he’s just given me has already been forgotten.
My eyes find Krissy again. She has a meek little smile for me before she looks at her feet, reminding me that this casino's biggest prize isn’t in their vault.
And the best investment I could make isn’t giving anything to that sleazoid, Levenson.
She’s right here in front of me. And dammit, I’m gonna make her mine.
CHAPTER THREE
Krissy
If I’d known it was Ethan Silverthorne I’d be spending the next few hours with, I would’ve been up here quick as a flash.
If I even knew who he was might help too. He could be a king or someone famous I should know about but don’t.
And yeah, I would’ve tried harder to make myself look nicer.
For him, though, not because some supervisor expects it.
Chad makes sure I remember the golden rules of casino life before he lets me go with Ethan.
