AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My chest tightens at the sight of her. Not only because her appearance is unexpected, but because she’s a vision in satin and lace. Christ, the way her body is poured into that red dress; it can’t be real. I don’t want it to be—she’s just walked in and already half the men in the room are looking up at her.
“Rory. Did you invite Penelope?”
“Yes, but her name’s Penny. And Wren and Tayce.”
Ah, yes. I didn’t even see them behind her, and neither is the type of girl you miss.
“Why?”
“Uh, because she’s my friend?”
I pretend I don’t see Gabe smirk into his whiskey glass.
My eyes track Penelope’s movements as she carves a path through the crowd, Wren and Tayce by her side. Sensing I’m watching her, she looks up at me and falters, as if she’s as surprised to see me as much as I am her. As if I don’t own thirty-three percent of the ground those ridiculous heels are sauntering over.
I slide my hand under the table and curl it around a poker chip. I’m trying—failing—to ignore the swell in my groin. The unease in my blood. Every part of my body is at odds with another, because tonight, she doesn’t look like a delinquent that starts fires in casinos.
She looks like the Queen of Hearts. I look away.
“Looking as beautiful as ever ladies,” I say to Tayce and Wren. I stand to pull out their seats on either side of me, while Penny sits beside Rory. Wren flashes me a nervous smile and glances at Gabe. Tayce plants a kiss on my cheek.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Rafe.”
“Apart from the top of your waiting list.”
Tayce laughs. “God himself couldn’t get to the top of my waiting list.”
Feigning an eye roll, I sit down beside her. I don’t just keep Tayce sweet because she’s the best tattoo artist on the planet, although it’s definitely part of the reason. But she’s also laid back, witty, and I always enjoy her company, whether she’s sitting in one of my chairs or I’m sitting in hers.
As I rest my arm over the back of her seat, she leans over and slips off my collar pin and unbuttons the first few buttons of my shirt.
“You know; I think you’re meant to take me out for dinner first.”
She ignores me in favor of peering down my open collar. “How’s the serpent healing?”
“Beautifully.”
Feeling a stare heat my cheek, I slide my eyes over to Penelope. Rory is whispering in her ear, but she’s not listening. She’s too busy glaring at Tayce’s hand on my chest. A spark of satisfaction ignites inside my rib cage, because clearly she makes me want to be as petty as a fourteen-year-old school girl.
I shift my attention back to Tayce. Pin her with a charming smile. “Tayce, have you seen Tor?”
She rolls her eyes. “No, the idiot didn’t turn up for his appointment last week.”
Unease stirs inside me. Tor would walk over burning coal in order to make an appointment with Tayce.
“Blackjack!”
Rory’s excited squeal cuts over the table and catches me by surprise. Frowning, my eyes fall to the cards in front of her, and sure enough, they total twenty-one.
“I must be living in an alternative universe,” I say dryly, raising my drink to her. “At least you can cross beating me at Blackjack off your bucket list.”
Her gaze sparkles. “Let’s play again.”
“Feeling lucky?”
She grins. “You have no idea.”
My eyes slide over to the four-leaf clover around Penelope’s neck. Clearly her misplaced optimism is rubbing off on my sister-in-law.
