Merry with a Gambler (Love Beach Holiday Collection)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Boots

Coming out of the restroom after we finish lunch I see Stack on the phone. He motions for me to get my helmet on and steps away to finish his call.

Wrapping my arms around his waist I enjoy the ride. It’s been a great day. No, the best day of my life.

I’ve never had a jacket that wasn’t from the charity store or someone’s trash. Never one as nice as the one he bought me. The smell alone is rich and warm.

I’ve also never been to such a fancy sit-down restaurant. I’ve never had someone give me their whole attention. He’s held my hand or had his arm over my shoulder the whole time. He’s with me. He’s acted interested in me and not like he was killing time.

It’s selfish and rude, but the fact that he spent money on me, his money, not mine, made me feel special. My ‘roommate boyfriend’ would invite me out then never have the money and I’d end up paying for myself and often him as well.

No one has ever been so attentive and caring. Stack has spent the whole day making me feel special.

When I directed him to the neighborhoods where I lived with my parents, I felt his protectiveness vibrating from his whole body. We didn’t find them and the few people who remembered me said they hadn’t seen them around in quite a while.

Pulling into a spot at the boardwalk, we get a coffee before sitting on a bench. He studies our surroundings before turning to me.

“Pax and I talked. What we do, I do, can be dangerous. You living with me could put you at risk. Normally it’s not an issue. We rarely take assignments where we live. But, well this one is kind of an extension of what brought Pax to town.”

He reaches out and smooths a wayward hair behind my ear. “I’m careful, I don’t think our living arrangement is or will put you in danger. But maybe you should go stay with Pax and Nyla for a while, just in case.”

I jerk to my feet. Story of my life. Never enough. I should have known it was too good to be true.

“You’ve changed your mind. You aren’t interested in me. This was the brush off. Wine her, dine her, dump her. I should have known.”

He stands, too. “No. That’s the problem, Boots. I care. Too much. I won’t put you at risk. I think you’re safe, but Pax is worried. He feels we’re missing something. I-Tee has been scouring the security tapes from the bar. He found a back shot of a guy that he thinks was your dad. But it was like he knew where the cameras were located and took the seat he did to be shielded.

“He may have found another shot of him at the bar before the break in at your place. That would imply he’s been following you. But it’s grainy and he can’t be one hundred percent sure. Pax and the team added more cameras today at the Sipper but…”

Placing his broad palms on my arms he skims them up, over my shoulders and neck before cupping my face. “Nothing can happen to you. I can’t?—”

His lips crash down on mine. Possessive, controlling, consuming.

Sliding my hands under his jacket I lean into the heat of his chest. Yes, this is exactly where I want to be. His kiss, the passion of his possession, the thrusts, nibbles and swirls of his tongue, his claiming is everything I’ve dreamed of. Longed for. To be wanted.

He pulls back enough to meet my gaze. “Mine,” he rasps. “I’m a selfish bastard. I don’t share what belongs to me. No one else touches you. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Neither do I.”

“I’ll back off a little. Take more precautions. Keep a little more distance in public. But if I’m not working, I’ll be near. I’ll have more security put on the condo, so you’ll be safe if I’m not home. Once this job is done, I’ll never take one close to home again. I won’t risk putting you in danger.”

Home? Does that mean he’s planning to stay here in Loves Beach?

“What if it’s me putting you in danger? What if it’s my father?”

He looks out over the water. “You said your parents were small time. What we’re looking for is big. I suspect we’re talking two different things. My case and your parents trying to use you again. But we’ll be taking everything into consideration.

“I’m calling you a ride to take you to work. Less chances of us being seen as a couple at the bar where your father knows you work. But I won’t be far behind. I’ll see you at the Sandy Sipper, but we need to be careful until this assignment is over. Pax is your go to if anything comes up. He’ll be taking you home and has the code and will do a walk through before leaving you. I’ll be working this evening but will stop in for a night cap if I can.”

I nod. He makes the call for the car, then gives me one more heart-stopping kiss before walking away. On the ride I notice him ride past and later fall behind the car I’m in and realize he’s letting me know I’m not alone.

True to his word he comes into the Sandy Sipper about half hour after I get there and sits at a table in the corner appearing to be lost in his phone and the sports playing on the overhead TV. Nyla waits his table and has me working the bar with Pax.

I feel alive knowing he’s there and his absence when he leaves dampens my spirits. Fear slowly creeps in and a shiver runs down my spine. Exactly how dangerous is what he does?

Hours later the after-dinner crowd is slowly moving in and filling the bar. For a break I’m working the tables.

“Here’s your drink, Sir. Is there anything else I can get you?” This guy has been in a few times a week over the last three weeks. Classy dresser, the diamond on his pinky finger glistens in the light when he reaches for the drink to take a sip. He’s also a damn good tipper.

The first night he came in he sat at my section of the bar. He ordered a Manhattan, then a Negroni and made a point of complimenting me on my preparations. Then he tried to throw me with a Harvey Wallbanger.

Thank you, Pax, for teaching me what a Harvey Wallbanger even was. Pax is like a drink encyclopedia and every time something old comes up he walks me through it so I’ll know the next time. Nyla says he does the same thing to her. “He’s like a drill sergeant,” she laughs.

Each time Big Tipper comes in he seems to choose my area and asks me to make his drinks personally. Tonight, he started with his top shelf whiskey neat, followed by a Gin Rickey. After taking a sip of his Golden Cadillac, he smiles at me. “Boots, you always impress me.”

He glances around the deck where I’m working. “I like what the new owner has done with this place. I’m sure it’s exciting to be around a younger crowd, the downside is they probably aren’t the best tippers. How many days off do you get?”

What an odd question. “Excuse me?”

He shakes his head. “That came out wrong. Let me explain. I manage a private club and could use another part time bartender or at least someone to fill-in once in a while. I just wondered if you have all the shifts you want here? Or if you’d like to pick up some parttime work. Truthfully, we’re very selective in who we hire.”

“You’ve been testing me. That’s why you’ve ordered so many different drinks from me.”

He gives me a perfect smile. “Busted. You’d be perfect for our club. The patrons tend to be a little older, but they know how to treat quality bartenders. Saturday and Sunday are the light parade, and you could make some serious cash. You don’t have to answer now. Think about it, I’ll be back, and we can talk more.”

Taking another swallow of his drink, he stands and drops a handful of twenties on the table. When I count the cash, he’s left two hundred for an eighty-dollar tab. Those kinds of tips would go a long way to getting me the start-up money for my flower shop.

I glance around the bar. I love it here. Nyla and Pax are the best. We’ve talked and they want me to go after my dream and they will give me every shift I want at the bar until I’m too busy to work both jobs. In the beginning I’d do special orders and have some arrangements premade for impulse buys. I’ve already got a portfolio of designs I’ve done for customers to look at.

Studying the cash I’m holding, my hand trembles. Is this really going to happen? Am I really this close to my dream?