Page 10 of Forgotten Comeback (Parisi Family #5)
Chapter
Nine
Taylor
I press the call button to Ace’s back door, and Russell appears, ushering me inside. “Hey, Taylor. Glad you could join us.”
“Happy to fill in. What kind of gaming do we have tonight?” I ask.
“You’ll be dealing blackjack. Stash your bag in a locker and follow me.”
I do so, ignoring the locker room bench as I lock up my bag and quickly exit, rejoining Russell.
He presses his hand to a censor to an employee-only door, and I follow him downstairs to the basement.
It’s been transformed into a legit-looking casino, and I’m given the rundown as I step behind my table.
“I’ll conduct inventory before the party begins and once more when we wrap up.
Any chips you receive as gratuity, you keep, and we’ll square up at the end of the night,” Russell explains.
“If you need a bathroom break during play, flag me down, and I’ll watch your table until you return. Any questions?”
I shake my head. “Think I’ve got it.”
“Good deal. I’ll be hanging around if there’s any issue. Just give me a shout.”
“Will do.”
Before getting my table set up, I mosey over to the makeshift bar. Of course, Mia’s chatting it up with Gavin. With the clearing of my throat, I say, “Hey, Mia.”
“Hey.” Mia smiles at me, and I lean over and kiss her, marking my territory.
Pulling back, I say coolly, “Gavin.” I’d rather be drawn and quartered than admit I had a sex dream starring this man.
“Taylor,” he says in an amused tone.
“Bathroom break. I’ll be back in a minute,” Mia tells us.
I wait until she’s gone before jabbing my finger in Gavin’s direction. “Before you even think of hitting on Mia, she’s my girlfriend, so back off.”
“Real-ly?” he drawls. “The same woman who wouldn’t go down on you is now your girlfriend?”
I cross my arms, hating Gavin for being privy to that intimate detail.
Obviously, I don’t want to pressure Mia to do something she isn’t comfortable with.
But I’m hoping her hesitation is because this is all new territory, and she’ll eventually come around.
“Don’t worry about what goes on in my bed. ”
His lips curl into a taunt of a smirk. “I’m guessing not a whole hell of a lot. Your right hand’s gonna get carpal tunnel from all the masturbating you’ll have to do.”
I lift my shoulder unbothered, feeling anything but. “My hand, my relationship.”
Gavin leans over the bar, clasping his hands. Which, annoyingly, are just as pretty as his face. Nice thick fingers with neatly manicured nails. His right knuckles are busted up, and I’m wondering how they got that way. “You realize Mia hit on me while she was out with you that night.”
“Mia and I weren’t together then,” I argue, hating that he has a fucking point.
He smiles smugly, rising to full height. “Whatever you say.”
“Why do you even care?” I snap.
He lifts a muscular shoulder. “It’s like in boxing when your opponent’s telegraphing his moves; I can see your KO from a mile away.”
“At least it won’t be you knocking me on my ass this time.” I spin on my heel and march back to my table.
“Hate to see you go, but still love to watch you walk away, man-eater,” Gavin calls after me.
Gavin
Why do you even care?
Good fucking question.
Forcing my eyes away from the fiery redhead, I set my sights on Mia. Slow and methodical, that’s my approach. A flirty smile here. A lingering touch there.
The evening proceeds with the sexual tension simmering nicely in the background. Feeling eyes on me, I glance over to Taylor, who’s giving me an eat shit look. I give her a kissy-kissy face.
She snaps her attention back to the blackjack table, and I grab Mia’s hand. “Let’s take a break.”
“Yeah,” she eagerly agrees.
I lead her to the storage closet doubling as the break room, closing the door behind us. Patting my pocket, I grab a single cigarette and my lighter, needing to settle myself for some reason.
“Didn’t know you smoked,” Mia comments.
“Allow myself one a day,” I tell her honestly as I light up. Taking a puff, I offer the cigarette to her, but she shakes her head. “Don’t tell my trainer,” I joke. Not that being in peak physical condition matters with me throwing bouts.
“It’ll be our little secret,” she tells me in a flirty tone.
“Like the sound of that.” I wink at her, flicking my cigarette in an ashtray. “Tell me something about you. What’s it like being in a big Italian family?” I tread lightly, taking another puff.
“Annoying.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ve got too many people up in my business.”
“Is that why you’re going through your rebellious phase with Taylor?” I ask, getting off track. See, the woman’s still fucking with my head.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Mia lifts a shoulder. “I’m just having fun.”
“What life’s about,” I muse, even though I can’t remember the last time I had fun. “How long have you been a bartender?”
“Not quite a year. It was either become a bartender or a cosmetologist, and bartending school was cheaper,” she admits.
“Smart move,” I tell her, taking another drag and holding it in my lungs before blowing it out. “These parties are nice to bring in some extra cash, but I wouldn’t mind a better-paying hustle. You know of any family job openings?”
“What do you mean?” Mia plays dumb.
My lips lift in the faintest of smiles. “Mia, you know what I mean.”
“Gavin, you don’t want anything to do with the family.” She makes the sign of the cross.
“Why?” I ask innocently.
“My cousin’s in that life, and he’s a fucking idiot. And that’s all I’m saying.”
Jackpot.
I stamp out my cigarette, glancing toward the door. “We’d better get back.”
“But wait, I thought we were going to, you know,” Mia says suggestively, rubbing her hands up and down my chest.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” My hands cuff her wrists, jerking hers away from me.
She pouts. “So? Like you said, I’m going through my rebellious phase.”
I spin her around, pinning her hands over her head against the door.
“Oh, yes.” She moans when I press my body flush with hers.
Nipping her earlobe, I whisper, “Get me an in with your cousin, and I’ll fuck that rebellious phase right out of you.”
“Okay,” she breathes.
Backing off, I hold open the door as we return to the bar. Taylor’s engrossed in a blackjack game, clueless her little bitch of a girlfriend doesn’t have a loyal bone in her body.
Sorry to man-eater, but in my world, it’s dog-eat-dog.