Stroke of Luck

Quinn glanced at his watch. “One way is not to keep her waiting in the casino.”

Austin stood up. “Don’t forget to grab her phone.”

Quinn strolled to the counter and picked up April’s cell phone. As he walked across the room, following Austin to the door, the phone beeped. He glanced down to see a text message display on the screen.

I really am sorry. We need to talk. Call me.

Quinn’s gut clenched. “Fuck.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a text from her ex. He’s trying to get her back.”

19

After sitting through a few games of roulette with Quinn and Austin, April walked with them to the suite where the exclusive poker game was to take place. As soon as she stepped into the room, she saw Sarah and Jon. Austin and Quinn followed her gaze and spotted them, too.

“We can leave if you want,” Austin murmured in her ear.

She straightened her back and held her head high. “No. I made you miss one of these games because of them. Not tonight. I’m not going to run every time I see a friend of Maurice’s.”

Austin and Quinn sat down at the table, and April sat in a chair behind them since she wasn’t playing. Sarah glanced her way, and their gazes locked briefly. Instead of the look of scorn April expected to see, Sarah’s expression was subdued.

Sarah and her husband sat farther down the table, so April chose to ignore them. Everyone anted up, and the game began. After about forty minutes, Austin’s stack of chips had doubled. Quinn had lost several rounds but was still ahead.

A waitress took April’s empty glass and asked if she’d like another. April shook her head, and as soon as the current hand was over, she leaned in to Quinn.

“I’m going to the ladies’ room. I’ll be back in a minute.”

He glanced her way and smiled, then took her hand and pressed it to his mouth. The gentle contact paired with the complete and focused attention he gave her left her knees weak.

“Don’t be too long. I’ll miss you,” he said.

Her heart pounded as she stood up. His attitude toward her had changed radically since that first day. Gone was the distrusting, angry man. He was so relaxed around her now. And wonderfully attentive.

She didn’t allow herself to read anything more into it other than he was enjoying their sexy arrangement.

She stood up and made her way to the door. There were washrooms just off the atrium outside the suite. She walked into the sumptuous room with potted plants, large mirrors, and black sinks embedded in granite countertops, then stepped into one of the stalls with solid wood doors. After she was done, she walked to one of the sinks and washed her hands, then opened her purse to retrieve her lipstick.

As she gazed in the mirror to put it on, Sarah entered and stepped behind her.

“New dress? It looks very nice,” Sarah said.

April frowned as she turned to face the other woman, not in the mood for any nasty games.

“What do you want, Sarah?”

“I want to help, actually.”

“Help? I don’t understand.”

Sarah’s disapproval had been wholly evident, and it made no sense she’d suddenly change her mind about April.

But Sarah’s expression was genuine.

“You’ve been through a terrible experience with the wedding, and … well, Maurice contacted me and told me what really happened.”

April’s eyebrow quirked up. “He did?”