Stroke of Luck
“No gambling tonight?” April asked.
“No, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple of hours. I wanted to reserve the rest of the evening to spend with the two of you.”
April lifted the spear of fruit from the top of her drink and pulled off a chunk of pineapple. As she chewed, the spear fell from her fingers and landed on her skirt. She glanced down and swept the fruit from her lap into a napkin.
“Oh, no. The maraschino cherry juice will stain.” She stood up. “Excuse me.”
They watched as she hurried in the direction of the ladies’ room.
Austin turned to Quinn. “I take it things went well.”
Quinn nodded, his gaze lingering in the direction April had disappeared.
“They went spectacularly well.”
“That’s great. Unless that means I’m spending the rest of our trip in the guest room.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that, because I didn’t want to ask.”
Austin’s jaw dropped. “Really?”
Quinn chuckled. “No. I’m kidding. But you should see your face. Do you really think I’d shut you out like that?”
“Well, if I was in love with the woman—which you are—and especially if I was married to her—which you are—then, yeah, I’d probably shut you out.”
“First, you’re married to her, too. Second, we don’t need to start bandying about the love word. We have a month together.”
“Are you still denying you love the woman?”
“I’m just saying we need to take it slow.”
“Despite the fact you married her within twenty-four hours of meeting again?”
“Especially because of that,” Quinn insisted. “She just got out of a really bad relationship, and we’ve just connected again. She can’t really trust my feelings for her. She knows what I believed about her before. If I jump in now with talk of love, she’s not going to believe it and she might bolt. Or more likely, in the position she’s in, she’ll stay, but feel trapped. I want to make this as easy on her as possible.”
“So we proceed as if nothing’s changed?”
“That’s right.”
> Austin was happy for Quinn, who seemed to have finally come to terms with his feelings for the lovely April. It also made Austin a little sad. He’d have the next month with her, and probably fall deeper under her spell, only to have to give her up at the end.
* * *
April stood at the door of the suite, her fingers curled around Austin’s bent elbow as Quinn unlocked the door. The magician had been talented and funny, amazing them with spectacular illusions.
Quinn opened the door, and they followed him inside. Then Austin turned and drew her into his arms and stole a kiss. Then he deepened it. She reacted to his masculine heat and melted against him, gliding her tongue along his, but when he drew back, guilt surged through her. Her gaze darted to Quinn. After this afternoon’s tender lovemaking, would Quinn assume the threesome was off?
But he smiled, then stepped behind her and nuzzled her neck. Austin kissed her again, and her body ached being between these two powerful men.
Quinn took her hand and led her across the living room toward the bedroom, Austin right behind them.
* * *
April sat up in bed and glanced from Quinn to Austin in the morning light. Quinn was turned away from her, and Austin was stretched out on his back on the other side of her. She tried to slip out from under the covers without waking them, but as soon as she freed her legs, Austin’s arm slid around her and pulled her close.
God, she’d never get used to waking up between these two hot, hard men.
“Morning,” Austin rumbled from his chest. “Where you going?”