Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
It’s a slow morning. Only some stray tourists and a few hardcore gamblers still riding a high from the night before.
I let my hands do the work as my mind drifts away, lingering on the night before.
It happened so fast. One second, we’re talking about my accident, and the next he’s fondling my chest.
I should’ve pulled away, but it felt good.
Despite everything, the man’s gorgeous as hell. His voice, his lips, his hands. All he had to do was touch me, and it sent me into a freaking tailspin.
But letting him feel me up while I get myself off is one thing—
It’s another to sleep with him for real.
Which is exactly what this whole nightly thing is leading up to.
Tonight he says he’ll get a taste and I have a feeling I know what that means. I’m excited to explore more with him—but terrified for what’s going to happen when I finally admit that I’m a virgin.
Will he hate me? Turn away in disgust? A guy like Adler Costa, he’s plenty experienced, and I bet he expects his partner to match him.
I’m not sure I can.
Worse than anything, it scares me that I want to try.
For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely attracted to someone, enough that I’m willing to put my insecurities aside.
I act like my scars don’t bother me. I pretend like my limp isn’t a big deal.
But it’s all an act.
My body will never be what is was before the accident.
Back then, I was athletic. I ran five miles every day. I played sports in school, worked out in the gym, looked good in everything I wore.
Sure, I never had big boobs, but I’ve always had a toned stomach and a decent butt.
Now though, no matter how hard I try, I’ll never run again. I can barely walk a mile, and forget doing squats in the gym.
My scars will never go away.
I’ll never be what I was before the accident, and it hurts knowing that.
So when Adler says I’m beautiful, I don’t believe him, because I know what I could be if only I weren’t so broken.
My thoughts are a mess when a few of my clients walk away and I’m left with nothing to do. That doesn’t help—dealing distracts me, at least a little bit. I’m itching for some action when a new contender pulls out the chair directly across from me and sits.
She’s wearing a big hat and dark sunglasses. Her pantsuit is immaculate—light blue with white lace trim. She has on white lace gloves, which she slowly takes off, finger by finger. Her back is perfectly straight, and when she removes the sunglasses and meets my eye, I feel like a little kid sitting in the principal’s office.
Mrs. Costa is in her late sixties, but she doesn’t look a day over fifty. Blue eyes like her son, the same dark hair, the same pointed chin and straight nose. She’s harsher than her son—Adler was softened by his father—but she has a regal bearing.
She doesn’t smile.
“I’d like to play,” she says, placing a stack of twenties in front of me.
“Uh,” I say, hesitating for only a second before taking the cash. I give her back the money in chips. “Sure, uh, I’ll deal.”
“That’s what you’re here for, darling.” Her lips press together as I play through the first hand.
Mrs. Costa hits on a fifteen, ends with a twenty, and beats my eighteen. I pay her out, she makes another bet, we play again.
I’m sweating. I look around, hoping someone might notice my distress. Square and Tattoo are watching, but both look bored. Roxy’s not working yet—her shift starts at three.
“You married my son,” Mrs. Costa says after winning five hands in a row.
I nearly choke as I deal the sixth. “Uh, hello, Mrs. Costa, right, my name is Casey Kiernan, and—”
“I know who you are, dear. We’ve spoken before. Hit me, please.”
I give he another card. “Right, right, I know that. I just mean, uh, I should introduce myself, right? Since, uh, you know about the marriage, and—”
“Casey, please speak more confidently. You’re an attractive young woman and you’re good at what you do. It is demeaning to everyone around you if you act as though you’re something you are not.”
I stare at her, dumbfounded. It takes a few seconds to realize I won the hand.
I collect the chips and deal another. We play several more in silence as I gather myself. I win a few back, though she’s still up.
“I’m sorry that we didn’t speak sooner, Mrs. Costa,” I say. “I should’ve made sure Adler introduced us formally right away.”
She nods at that. “You’re right, but I don’t blame you. I know how my son can be.”
She wins the hand, I deal again.
“Did he go into detail about our relationship?” I ask, not sure how much she knows.