Stroke of Luck

“I have an instinct about people and about good ideas,” Austin said. “And I’m rarely wrong. Since I was sure his idea would make us both a ton of money, I backed him. Even learned enough about blockchain programming to roll up my sleeves and get involved. I believe for a good partnership to work, you both need to get your hands dirty.”

“And you did?”

“You mean get dirty?” he asked, a teasing gleam in his dark, periwinkle-blue eyes.

“No, make all the money you’d hoped for.”

He smiled in satisfaction. “And then some.”

He stood and walked up the steps, then returned with a bright blue floatable lounge chair. He put it in the water and scooped her up, then set her on it. She laughed, exhilarated by being swept up in his arms.

“Let’s enjoy the water and this gorgeous sunshine,” he said, then set her adrift.

As the chair floated toward the center of the pool, she noticed that Quinn had stopped swimming and was hanging on one side of the pool, watching her with a frown on his face.

* * *

Quinn walked into the living room with Austin. Their time in the pool had been cut short when Austin had received a text from an old friend who wanted to meet for a drink to discuss some business. He was passing through Vegas on a business trip, so he only had a few hours.

“The idea is sound, and I’m sure it’ll be quite successful,” Quinn said, “but I still prefer not to take on a new project right now. After working so many hours for such a long time—”

“Don’t worry about it,” Austin said. “I already told you, I feel the same way.”

Relief washed through Quinn. They’d discussed this when Austin’s friend had first approached them a few weeks ago about partnering up to start another cryptocurrency, but Quinn wasn’t sure if Austin had reconsidered.

“Since he’s a good friend of yours,” Quinn said, “I’d be happy to give him technical advice along the way.”

Quinn knew Austin would do the same with offering information about the organizational details he’d be facing.

Austin smiled and patted Quinn on the back. “I know I can always count on you, buddy.”

Austin headed to his bedroom to change, and Quinn walked to the bar and poured a drink. His gaze flickered to the window and April floating on the pool lounge chair. The sight of her curved, sexy body, sunlight glistening on the water droplets on her skin, had his groin tightening.

But anger simmered through him. Austin counted on him, but he was letting down his friend where April was concerned. He could plainly see that Austin was being pulled into her coquettish spell, and he’d be damned if he’d let her take advantage of Austin.

Austin, dressed in a suit, walked back into the room.

“How about I text you when I’m done, and we can get on with the evening we’d planned?” he asked.

Austin had been looking forward to a couple of hours in the casino followed by a very exclusive poker game that had been arranged for a handful of the more prestigious guests of the hotel.

“Sure thing.”

Austin walked out the door, and Quinn turned back to the window. April was out of the pool now and drying herself off. Patting the fluffy towel over her breasts, then her taut stomach, and finally down the long expanse of her legs. His cock ached at the sight of her nearly naked body as she draped the towel over her arm and headed to the door.

Fuck, no wonder Austin was falling for her. She had the body of a goddess. On top of that, she had a way of bringing out a man’s protective instincts. It was a killer combination.

She proceeded through the glassed-in area around the pool, then into the living room.

“You certainly were making a play for Austin out there,” Quinn said.

April’s head spun toward him. “I’m not after Austin.”

“Then why were you all over him when I walked in here?”

“He told you. It was all innocent. I slipped.”

“Right into his arms. How convenient.”