But Lila won’t talk to me. Not by phone and not when I plant myself in her path.
Sorry, Agent Hayes, but unless you’re arresting me or have a warrant, I’ve got nothing more to say to you.
She’s repeated that same sentence to me five times over the course of the last week since she lied through our questioning in her manager’s office. As much as I’d love to see her in my handcuffs—one way or another—I can’t arrest her. Yet.
My attempts to find out what she’s hiding have yielded jack shit. If I’m going to break her, I need to up the ante—no pun intended. The infuriating woman has left me no other choice.
I release my death grip on the coin, shudder out a heavy breath, and cross the black tiles. With my heart threatening to burst out of my chest, I stride over to her table. Using the back of my hand, I wipe my brow.
Lila’s upper lip twitches when I claim the open chair at her table. “That seat’s for players only. I don’t see any chips or cash.” She tips her head at the sign displaying the table minimums.
The older man, who always seems to be at her table, playfully chides her. “Give him a chance, doll.” He cushions his words with a flirty wink.
Doll?
Well, shit. I don’t like him calling her that.
Lila grins back at him, fluttering her lashes.
I damn sure don’t like that either.
I’ve been hanging out in her eyeline each night for a week, hoping to make her crack. Right out in the open where she can see me. In all that time, she hasn’t once flashed me a grin like that.
Like she did all those years ago. When she looked at me like she wanted me as much as I wanted her. Feels like forever ago.
The longer I sit here, the calmer I feel. No more sweating. No heart palpitations either.
Perhaps it’s because all my focus is on breaking Lila Kent.
“Well?” she presses, widening her sparkling eyes at me. “This table has a ten-dollar minimum. Are you playing or leaving?”
At least she’s not at one of the high-dollar tables. Not that I can’t afford it, but the higher the stakes, the harder it is to walk away.
And Ineedto walk away once I’ve gotten what I want from her.
As that thought sails through my mind, I’m hit with a vision of me getting what I want from her in a totally different way. My junk twitches as an X-rated parade of my most deprived fantasies dances through my mind. In full color. With a coordinating soundtrack.
Dammit. Not again.
What is it about this woman that makes me into a lust-driven caveman? As soon as I’m within five feet of her, all I can think about is fucking her. It’s as if I’ve totally forgotten how duplicitous she is.
Not only is she my kid sister’s best friend, but she’s also a suspect. Well, a person of interest in a crime. Probably.
And she represents everything I hate—an overly friendly female who uses her wiles to lure you into her web. Then she goes for the kill like a black widow.
No thanks.
Been there. Done that.
Not that it helped cure my hunger for her. If anything, the tastes I’ve had in the past have made it worse. Because I know what I’m missing.
Shaking off the intrusive lust, I don’t answer her question or pull out my wallet. Instead, I merely hold her eye contact. It’s like I’m in a trance.
She does more of that obnoxiously cute lip twitching. Sweet little Lila is fighting a snarl while I decide if I can handle a game or two. And the only reason I’m considering it is so I can pump her for information in a place where she can’t continue hiding from me. She can’t blow me off if I pony up to her table, can she? And IknowI can break her if she lets me get close enough.
Her nostrils flare. “Do I need to call security...sir?”
Oh, look at her trying to be intimidating. That’s as ludicrous as a Care Bear wielding a knife.
