Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters 1)

He shot her an amused gaze. “I’d hate to see how competitive you’d be if you actually rolled the dice at the craps tables.”

She shuddered at the thought. “Oh no. I can see those cigar-smoking men eating me alive.”

“Honey, they’d love you.” Hell, he was afraid he already did.

Love her. Stunned by the impact of the thought, he reeled back, leaning against the heavy metal machine. Loving Ari wasn’t part of the equation. Not if he wanted to walk out of this assignment whole.

“Quinn?”

It wasn’t the concern in Ari’s voice but the reminder that he was still on assignment that jolted him back to reality. Quinn latched onto the idea of work. Hell, it was as convenient an excuse as any to not deal with his emotions, and he pushed thoughts of his feelings for Ari aside, to be dissected later when he was alone.

“I got distracted. Let me prove to you that you can handle the tables.” He tugged on her elbow, urging her to make the move, and to help him shift his attention, too.

She glanced down. Four quarters remained in the machine’s tray. “Just let me have one more try here first.”

She inserted all four pieces into the machine at once—the first such daring move she’d made all night—then pulled the handle. Without glancing back, she rose and started to walk away from the machine, obviously certain she’d tossed away a dollar.

The bells, lights, and whistles caught Quinn off guard and he turned. Her machine was glowing with flashing lights and a loud siren as accompaniment.

He blinked, stunned. “You won!”

“Who won?” she asked.

She pivoted toward him and he grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around in midair. “You did!”

She let out a shriek. “How much did I win?” she asked, oblivious to the fact that she was starting to draw a crowd.

“I’d say about five thousand dollars. You’re a lucky lady.”

Damon’s voice killed Quinn’s pleasure and he turned to face the other man. “It’s nothing in comparison to the night’s take,” Quinn said, wanting the boss to leave.

“Actually it means nothing without the right person to share it with.” Ari came up beside him and placed her hand around his waist, squeezing tight. “Quinn’s been showing me a good time,” she explained to Damon, gazing up at Quinn with adoring eyes.

But tension radiated from her in waves and he sensed the fact that she was acting. For his benefit, she was following directions and being cozy and nice around Damon even if she wanted to throttle the man.

“He’s a loyal employee,” Damon said. “I hope you enjoy your winnings.”

“I wish my sister was here to share them,” she added pointedly.

Quinn winced. “I was thinking of taking this celebration up to my room,” Quinn said to Ari, opting for a subject change before she could get any deeper into conversation with the man who’d ordered her sister killed.

“I’ll have a bottle of our finest champagne sent right up,” Damon said. “On the house.”

“You really are as kind as my mother said.” Ari fluttered her lashes for effect. “Thank you. But I was thinking of going home after this.” She squeezed Quinn’s waist.

“Sounds like a good plan.” He wasn’t about to argue with her, even if he didn’t know what she had in mind.

Damon nodded. “Then I’ll make sure a chilled bottle is ready to go with you . . . as well as your winnings. You can pick everything up at the window.”

Around them, security guards gathered to escort her to the cashier’s window.

Damon turned to Quinn. “Remember we’re meeting before I leave to go over the weekend plans?”

Quinn nodded and Damon took off without looking back.

Quinn let out a slow exhale. Every day was another day closer to getting this nightmare over with and being able to go home.

Only one unanswered question remained, Quinn thought, pulling Ari close. What the hell would remain of his life once the end came?

“Why don’t you want to go upstairs?” he asked, forcing himself to push reality aside in favor of Ari, his ultimate fantasy.

“You gave me a special night and I don’t just mean winning,” she said, gesturing to the slot machine behind them. Genuine appreciation glowed in her cheeks and sparkled in her eyes. “I want to do the same thing for you, and I want to do it away from here.”

She leaned so close her cheek nestled perfectly against his. He inhaled, taking in her perfume and her heat. “I can understand you wanting to get away from reminders of Damon.”

“It’s not for me.” Her hands stole around his waist and she pulled him close. “It’s for you. I want you to have a night away from this place and its tensions. I want you to have a night where you can completely be yourself.” She hugged him tight, her cheek still resting against his.