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“I want you to still deliver cocktails for the rest of this week's games. I'll discuss your desire to play…with the game operator to get you off for next week's games.”
“Desire to play…get me off?”I repeat.
“Yes, Robyn, from work.”
“Oh, yes, of course.”I feel like an idiot for asking. Too many fantasies about this irresistible man lately have me asking crazy questions.
“There's a condition?—”
“Oh?”
“I'd like you to meet me every night after the games for a drink—starting tonight. I'd like to learn more about the stunning Robyn Ayyagari.”
I quickly think about getting back to my siblings. I feel guilty about leaving them so late with my elderly neighbor, Mrs. McGee, but she's a champ with little Anika, even through the cancer. The other kids are always in bed or in their rooms when I get home at night. I'm sure she wouldn't mind an extra hour with them if she knows I'm working to provide.
He's watching me, probably seeing the wheels spinning in my head.
Yes,” my answer comes out breathy.“I will meet you.”
He leans in, our fronts brushing. My nipples pebble in response to his hard chest and abdomen."Looks like we have a deal, Miss Ayyagari," he whispers close to my ear. I feel the heat of his breath. I turn my head slightly, and our lips are inches apart. I need to feel the brush of his lips, and he grants it. The kiss is fire, passion and heat rolled into one. I melt into him, and he's there, supporting me against him. But just as quickly, he lets me go.
“We have to get back to the tables. We'll pick this back up tonight?”
“I look forward to it.”
He nods and steps away, leaving me breathless, lips swollen, wanting so much more.
Chapter Six
Knox- present day
Ilift my eyes from the drink in my hand, the casino lights reflecting off the blackjack table. Genesis is staring at me, wide-eyed, taking in the story I just spilled about how I met Robyn—her current boss. Maybe it's a bit much, but it's our truth, the story of how I've grown to care so damn much for her. If laying it all out is what it takes for this Mr. January article, then that's what I'll do. My mother might not be thrilled, but she brought this on herself, and she knows it.
Clearing my throat, I take a sip of my drink and a moment to gather my thoughts. Genesis has her laptop out on the blackjack table, typing away. I hadn't even noticed, lost in a trance that usually comes when I'm talking about the last 15 years of my adult life.
The dealer has discreetly left, leaving just Genesis and me at the empty table. It's just the two of us, and I'm ready to spill more.
"You catch all of that?"I ask, meeting Genesis' gaze.
"Yeah, got it. Keep going if you're cool with it. I want to hear more about what happened as you got to know Robyn and when she played in the game."Genesis' curiosity is clear, and I feel a twinge of hurt as I dive back into the memories that span over a decade.
"As time passed, I saw her as more than just the‘cocktail waitress.’She has this humor and intelligence that hooked me. Late-night talks, laughs, shared moments—made me realize there was more to Robyn than her casino gig. The game shook things up, though. Her success caught me off guard; she was good, maybetoogood, but my focus was on her, on us. Yet, those shadows lingered between us—unspoken truths threatening what we could have. Something felt off then, and something feels off now…even today. I want her back, Genesis. I want her to see the real me, not just the casino owner or that naive guy back then. I'm a guy who genuinely gives a damn about her. But the road back tousseems tangled with secrets, and I'm not sure if I can untangle it."The weight of the past 15 years hits me, leaving me with a sense of longing and regret.
Genesis reaches out, grabs my hand, and gives it a reassuring squeeze."I've got your back, Knox. But you gotta work with me on the rest of this story. She won't tell it; you saw how she looked whenever your mom suggested you be Mr. January. I'll see what I can do, and if needed, I'll get Reese and Talon involved. We all want to see both of you happy, that's all."
I'm confident my brothers and Genesis will pitch in to sort things out between Robyn and me. Even though time has passed, it's still a tricky situation, and we can't be together like we want. At least not right now.
I take a deep breath and dive back into my story."So, after a week of getting to know her—or rather, her getting to know the version of me I'm willing to reveal—I'm finding myself more drawn to Robyn with each passing minute. She's dismantling walls I didn't even know I built around my heart, personality and the man I aspire to be. Can you believe it, Genesis?"I lean back, a smirk playing on my lips.
Genesis nods, her fingers typing away on her laptop keyboard."Got it, Knox. Stoic and guarded, succumbing to the intense attraction simmering beneath the surface… intriguing."
I continue,"Drawn to her vulnerability and strength, late-night conversations became our thing, peeling away layers and revealing the depth of our personalities. Robyn's got this mix of humor and intelligence that hooked me. And, in return, she sees the genuine kindness beneath my facade."
A subtle smile tugs at Genesis's lips as she continues typing."Keep going, Knox. This is good stuff."
“I'm all wrapped up in her, mesmerized by how she shyly reacts to my compliments. Her lips and body? Juicy, as she eases against mine…like she is made to fit. When I'm with her, it's like a momentary escape from the damn demons in my life—the whole hidden identity thing, the constant pull of gambling, and the never-ending scrutiny from my family expecting me to be ‘Mr. Perfect.’It's, you know, a kind of solace and joy, a break from all that crap.”
Genesis looks up from her laptop, taking in the details."Complicated, huh?"
