“I swear he seems familiar.” Bastian rapped his fingers on the island. “I’ve seen him somewhere.”
He couldn’t have known the guy well or he’d remember. I doubted that Bastian would forget anything.
With a shake of his head, he pulled me off the stool. “I think you need a break.”
“Bastian—”
“No arguments.” He towed me to the front door. “I need a break too.”
CHAPTER 30
BASTIAN
“Bowling?” Lark let out a laugh.
I liked seeing some of the tension melt off her. I’d brought her to the casino’s bowling alley. The crack of balls hitting pins rang through the place. There were several groups at one end of the lanes. We had a more private lane at the other end.
“You’ll have fun,” I promised her.
And for at least an hour or so, she wouldn’t think about death or the man who’d killed her parents.
“Um, okay.” She looked up, peering at the pins. “I’ve never bowled before.”
I stilled. Fucking Ed. He’d taken in a young girl and never let her have any fun. Had he ever let her be a kid?
No. He’d probably started her training as soon as he could. He hadn’t known any different.
“It’s the perfect time to learn.” I picked up a bowling ball. “Okay, get a feel for this.”
She took the ball, testing the weight. “It’s heavy.”
I grabbed a lighter one. “Here. Put your fingers in the holes.”
She lined up, eyeing the pins again. She glanced over at the other bowlers. “It doesn’t seem too hard.”
“There’s an art to it.”
She cocked a brow. “Really? An art to throwing a heavy ball?”
I smiled. I loved that look on her face. “Yes.” I maneuvered her into position with my hands on her hips. “It’s best that I show you the correct stance and technique.” I caressed her ass.
She laughed. It was a beautiful sound and things inside me tightened. I reached around, cupped her cheek, and kissed her. She made a needy sound and went up on her toes.
Thunk.
I broke the kiss and saw that she’d dropped the bowling ball, thankfully not on our toes.
“Oops,” she said.
“Come on, little bird. Let’s see who’ll win.”
I handed her the ball back, then input our names onto the small computer screen. They appeared on the larger screen above the lane. Reaper and Nightingale.
Her gaze narrowed. “I’m not going to let you win.”
“Good.” I knew she wouldn’t. She was too competitive and she’d make me work for it.
Especially when it came to winning her carefully guarded heart.
