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Once I wrapped that up, I got a text from Dominick telling me that our group dinner reservation was canceled, and I was on my own to find a meal since he was planning a romantic evening with his fiancée.
I opted for room service. It wasn’t bad, and the bonus was that it gave me time to check in with a few clients who had reached out to me today.
I take a tentative step toward Gina, half expecting her to run in the opposite direction, but her feet stay firmly planted where she is.
I might consider that a positive sign if her younger sister wasn’t sitting at a slot machine next to her.
My gaze volleys between the two women. Bella is grinning broadly as she glances up at her sister. Her smile is welcoming, and you know instantly that if you give her the chance, she’ll become a good friend.
Gina is different. When she smiles, the world stops around her for a second, or maybe it fades into the background. Either way, I’ve never met anyone with as much effortless grace as she possesses.
She’s not as open as Bella or most of the other Calvettis. Gina’s been burned by friends and foes alike and by men. I’ve heard enough stories from her brother to know that.
“Daniel!” Bella darts to her feet with open arms. “I won!”
I go in for the hug because I’ll never turn one down.
“How much?” I ask, keeping my gaze pinned to Gina’s face.
She’s doing everything she possibly can to avoid glancing in my direction. I wouldn’t call the mission successful since I catch her eyes darting toward me every five seconds.
“Ten bucks,” Bella states proudly. “I had to spend thirty to do it, but who’s counting?”
“The casino,” Gina remarks dryly. “They’re making a mint every minute.”
“They are,” I agree, even though I know she was talking to her sister.
Bella steps back to look me over. “You’re dressed to the nines. Are you going to the club with Gina?”
Gina lets out a barely audible sigh. “He’s not.”
“I am.” I nod, unsure of what club Gina’s heading to, but I’m all for tagging along.
“He’s not,” Gina repeats, shaking her head.
“You two are adorable,” Bella drawls. “You sound like Barrett and me when we first met. I know you’ve known each other forever, but my instinct tells me something is happening between…”
“No!” Gina yells the word loud enough to draw glances from the people seated at the slot machines near us. “Your instinct is wrong. There is absolutely nothing going on between the two of us.”
“Calm down.” Bella laughs. “What’s that saying about me thinking that the lady is protesting too much?”
“You’re quoting Shakespeare wrong.” Gina taps her sister’s shoulder. “Besides, I’m not protesting. I’m pointing out the truth.”
“Sure.” Bella looks unconvinced. “I thought I didn’t want Barrett until I realized I really wanted him, so don’t protest so much, lady.”
I listen intently, wondering if Bella is sensing something about her sister’s feelings that I’m oblivious to. If I had to rate how much Gina wants me on a scale of one to ten, I’d land at a negative fifteen.
Looking back, I think it was a full-on ten the day she showed up at my apartment when I was twenty-five. At the time, I assumed she was there to talk to Dominick. It wasn’t until the next day I realized he had told her he’d be hiking with his cousin upstate that weekend.
Gina showed up to see me. If I had clued in, I would have asked the woman I was with to leave so I could focus on Gina, but I missed that chance.
Gina glances over her shoulder. “I’m meeting someone, so I have to go.”
“At Veil West?” Bella asks the question that I’m curious about.
Veil West is one of the clubs inside this resort. A client of mine owns it, so it was already on my list of places to be tonight. If Gina plans to spend the evening there, I’ll buy her a shot or two to repay her for last night.
“I need to go.” Gina sidesteps answering it with ease. “Don’t dig too deep of a hole for yourself, Bella. You won, so it’s time to stop.”
