Page 31 of Nothing to Beat

Their easy rapport would have more of an impact, if she wasn’t painfully aware of how impulsive decisions could backfire.Normally, that would be okay, kind of, like when she and Breck broke their invisible, though spoken, boundaries.That was more okay than where they were heading.Why wasn’t she better at thinking things through?

“My father will know I’m in town.”

Better to warn them of what may await than be faced with the Great Gambatto without warning.Who was she kidding?Her father wouldn’t show up himself, even now, while bottoming out, he’d believe it beneath him.Didn’t mean she wouldn’t be summoned.

“You think he’ll track you down?”

“My security guys will handle it,” Roxie said, pouring bright liquid into martini glasses.“They’re professionals.They can handle anything.”

“Handle my father?Do you know he comes with goons and guns?”

And absolute entitlement drizzled in arrogant superiority.

The question was rhetorical.

Tripp snickered.“A shootout, a showdown, boy, am I glad I came.”

“No one asked you to come, Priest,” Roxie said, coming over to hand her a glass.“You’re a curtain-twitcher.”

“Never miss a chance to twitch.”

“No, you don’t.Certain parts of you anyway.Oh, and I meant to say, there’s a shower back there, if you want to wash Natie off,” Roxie said.“Was it Natie?Her cousin?Her sister?Best friend?All of the above?I lost track last night.”

“He told me he showered after sex,” she said, enjoying how Tripp cracked open an eye just as Roxie waved the glass in front of him.

“I’m sure he did,” Roxie said.Sitting up, Tripp took the glass.“But they tend to cry and cling when he tells them he’s leaving town.Lots of tears and boogers.”

“Can’t help that I’m irresistible.She’ll wait,” Tripp said, sipping the drink, then scowling at it.“What is this?”

“Virgin.”

After the explanation, Roxie spun on the spot to sashay back to the bar, serving admirable class with that sass.

“Been a while since I had one of those,” Tripp said, swallowing some more.“Tastes good.”

“Oh, please, you could line them up.”

“Don’t have to, Z does that for me every birthday.”

“So that’s what the auditions were for…” Roxie teased.“If we’re going to make a Breckenridge baby, Seq has to keep that system tiptop.So.Virgin.”

“Gotta make my mother proud of me,” Tripp muttered.

Usually, she was all about the banter.Nothing better than hanging out with positive people, enjoying each other, fun, frolics—did they forget where the plane intended to land?

“I must be drunk on something to be heading back home,” she said, wishing for liquor… or maybe a tranquilizer.“I can’t believe Zairn would set Trish up so close to our father.Do you know the breadth of his contacts?I’m surprised he hasn’t found her already.”

“Oh, we’re not going to see Trish.I don’t know where she is.No idea.”Roxie sank into her seat with a flourish.“Not a clue and I don’t plan to ask.”

“But I thought…”

“You want answers?Answers are what you’ll get.I know who can give them.Honest and true.No danger or jeopardy required.”

“Who?”

Smiling again, Roxie’s shoulders pushed back into the lush leather.“Trust me.I’ve got this.”

“Someone in Chicago?”