“Yes.” She giggles. “She offered to have youtaken careof.”
“Taken care of as in how?” I know exactly what she means, but I think it will be entertaining to hear herexplain.
“Let’s just say that she could call in a favor.” She lifts a brow. “So you might want to watch yourself, Mr.Broussard.”
I was surprised and mesmerized when Emma Lia told me that her grandmother was a casino dealer and also the one who taught Conrad how to gamble and cheat. That made her a very interesting lady in my book, but that was only a scratch on the surface compared to what I’ve learned about her. “You know, if we were talking about anyone else, I would probably dismiss that statement entirely, but I asked around about your grandmother. I’m not sure if you know this or not, but she has history with theMafia.”
Emma Lia stops eating and looks at me. “What kind of history are we talkingabout?”
If she doesn’t know, it’s because her grandmother doesn’t want her to know. “I’m not certain that the elder Emma Grant would appreciate my telling her granddaughter about herpast.”
“Whatever you tell me will be between us. I won’t sayanything.”
“You can’t ever mention what I share with you to anyone. One doesn’t fuck with the Mafia, bebelle. Not evenme.”
I have dealings with the Mafia but I’m careful to stay on their good side. We have an understanding that works for both of us, which often includes turning a blind eye to their activities within the walls of my casino. But I’m no saint, and I sleep just fine atnight.
“I won’t say a word, Tristan. Iswear.”
“I have some older employees who have been on the casino scene for a while. They remember your grandmother and told me that she was quite the catch back in the day.” I don’t doubt that for a moment considering how gorgeous Emma Lia is. “She was beautiful enough to catch the eye of an Italian crime boss. I was told that they were lovers until he waskilled.”
“Nana has always had a weakness for beautiful Italian men. I’d put my money on that beingtrue.”
“You thinkso?”
She nods. “It wouldn’t surprise me, not even a little. Nana is… something else. Not at all a typicalgrandmother.”
“What about yourgrandfather?”
“They divorced when Dad was a toddler. He went back to Ireland. I’ve never even methim.”
She’s Irish. That’s where she gets that pale, milky skin that I love so much. Skin that is going to display the red marks of my flogger and crop sowell.
Conrad was abandoned by his father. Emma Lia was abandoned by her mother. I see a pattern here, one I’m not unfamiliarwith.
“Tell me about your day,” shesays.
I was chest deep in filth. I hate dealing with gambling addicts. They make life hard for everyone around them. “It was a shitty day, but it got better when I came home and found you in the tub singing your heartout.”
She covers her eyes with her hand. “I can’t sing forshit.”
She sure can’t. “Perhaps not, but your attempt was stellar. What were you listening to when I camein?”
“‘For Everything a Reason’ by CarinaRound.”
“I enjoyed listening to it while we were in the tub. I’d like you to put on some music like itlater.”
“You mean when we makelove?”
Making love.Damn, that a term that’s going to take some getting used to. Not sure I everwill.
Everything about tonight is for her. But if I’m going to be giving her the vanilla that she wants, I might as well negotiate to get something that Iwant.
“Will you wear the silk ivory lingerie piece with ruffles and a bow that ties between the breasts?” If we’re going to do this sugary-sweet thing tonight then she might as well look the part. And that piece of lingerie is perfect for what I have inmind.
“I’ll wear anything you want me towear.”
“Buttplug?”
