Page 86 of Claim Me

“Now you see why I was reminding you we’ve done everything bassackward.”

“What?”

“Something my mother used to say.” I laughed and when I accidentally snorted, he wrinkled his nose.

He seemed more relaxed than any time since I’d met him. “So answer the question.”

“Seriously? Well, I do love dinners out. I won’t lie about that. I would love to go jet skiing. Horseback riding. Those would be fabulous dates. A picnic later. Or a drive-in movie. Imagine a full moon with a sky full of the brightest stars. Popcorn and candy. Lots of chocolate. Maybe a hot dog and you must have an ice cream cone on a hot day.”

The way his face lit up was so incredible. “Well, I’m not certain I can arrange many of those so would you compromise with dinner and maybe a little gambling? A little dancing?”

“Hmmm…”

When he signed the wordplease, I pouted my lip.

“You drive a hard bargain, but I’d love to.”

“Maybe I’m better off going back to the slot machines.” When I tried to walk away, he grabbed me around the waist, even pulling me off my feet. He was so strong, so… amazing when you could get past his crusty exterior.

The funny thing was that everyone else saw him as the jovial playboy, but he’d allowed me to see two different sides I doubted anyone had been allowed to see in a long time.

The dark, brooding character that wore his anxiety on his sleeve.

And the chivalrous man who’d not only walk through a fire, he’d start the flames if it meant protecting someone he cared about.

“Not so fast. It’s not a tough game. You pick red or black or a number and you bet on it. The roulette wheel is a piece of cake. If you follow your instincts.”

His deep, husky voice was easy to hear over the rumble of voices and laughter, people celebrating with friends and family. Losing their life savings.

“It’s not about the technicality of it. It’s about losing money that I don’t have. I live on a pauper’s salary. That’s something you seem to forget.”

He rolled his eyes and pulled out his wallet. “This is a date, remember? The gentleman always pays.”

“What happened to equal rights for women?”

“Fine. You can pay for our next date.”

“Cheeseburgers in paradise?” Whether or not he caught the reference I wasn’t sure because he was pulling out a huge stack of cash. All hundred-dollar bills. Holy shit. I’d never seen that much money stored in a wallet.

“How much do you want to bet?” he asked.

“I have no clue.”

“Fine. We’ll start with a thousand. I’ll be right back.”

“A thousand? I don’t have that kind of money.”

He pressed the tip of his finger against my nose. “What did I tell you?”

“But you’re not a gentleman.”

The fact I could floor him could give me a smile. His laugh was genuine. While I’d seen him scanning the restaurant where we’d eaten a fabulous early dinner and now the casino, he was more jovial than before. “Fine. A cad then.”

“A cad? Who says that?”

“My mother.”

“Oh. I need to meet your mother. I think I’ll like her too.”