“Not in a way that’s friendly.”
“See what you mean,” Dolly mutters, frowning while she watches them. “I’ll make sure Lou’s not left on her own.” Her eyes flit to me again, then to Cypress. “So much for keeping thingscontained. You probably ought to make sure he’s not leftalone either.”
I don’t need to ask why.
“Thought you were supposed to have rules in here,” I say, even more irritated than I was before that barelyfiveminutes have passed since we walked in the door and I’ve already got a problem to contend with.
“We do,” she replies, tone icy. “As well as consequences for if they’re broken.”
I jerk my head in the direction of the men again. “They know that?”
She looks toward the table once more, her eyes fixing on Cypress, and if I were a betting man, I’d wager right there that she doesn’t even need me to point out his tell to her. “I suspect they’re going to find out.”
“Room for one more?”
I glance up at the sound of Aiden’s voice, tearing my focus away from the cards in my hand and the opponents at the table in favor of seeing him standing beside me with an expression that makes it quite clear he is not actually asking.
“This table is…” starts the distinguished businessman next to me before he also has a chance to look up and weigh the options looming over him. “As a matter of fact, I was just about to call it a night.” He gives the rest of the table a nervous and apologetic smile while frantically gathering up his remaining money. “Here, you take my seat.”
“Wise,” Aiden mutters, pivoting to let the poor man scamper away before he drops into the newly vacant chair and fixes me with an intense stare. One that he still doesn’t realize has the opposite effect on me than it had on the last man.
He’s so handsome that it feels unfair. It really does. For him to look like he does and be who he is and be so damn close to meand yet seem to want absolutely nothing to do with me beyond what he feels is required. Actually,fairdoesn’t really seem to cover it…
“Aiden,” I mutter under my breath as the game resumes around us. “Didn’t realize you played poker.”
“I don’t,” he mutters back, dropping his voice lower as he tilts his head away from the table and toward me to hide his words. “And I have a feeling that’s not what you’re doing either.”
I glance at him. “Oh?”
“Whatever it is that youaredoing…don’t,” he continues. “We don’t need any more complications than what we already have.”
“What makes you think—”
“She’ll be all right. I already talked to Dolly about it. She’s going to make sure she’s not left alone.”
This time, I don’t think I manage to hide my surprise at all, which explains why Tom feels compelled to cut in. “Everything good?”
“Fine,” Aiden answers, not taking his eyes off me, and even though I know it’s my turn, the rest of the table waiting on me to either raise the stakes or fold, I can’t seem to look away either. “Everything is fine.”
Is it?I want to believe that as I look back at the man across from me. At his friend. And I know Dolly will be true to her word to protect her people, but what about the next ones? What about the next souls who cross their paths, not knowing what’s coming? What if there’s no one to protect them?
There wasn’t for us. For me.
“You speakin’ for him now?” Tom counters, giving his friend a grin before gesturing between Aiden and me. “Didn’t realize he needed a handler.”
“You’re going to need one to carry you out of here if you don’t watch your mouth,” Aiden snaps, turning in their direction now. “You realize that?”
Tom’s eyes narrow, his jaw clenching as he studies Aiden’s face to determine if he’s serious, only to find something else. “Hell,” he says at last, then laughs. “I know you.”
“You don’t,” Aiden replies, his tone another warning, because I suspect as well as he does that this man does notknowhim from the wanted posters.
“I do,” Tom continues, saying to his friend, “You know who that is? That famous gunslinger. The one in Arizona.”
Aiden’s expression tells me he’s ready to reach across the table, though I would guess it’s nothing compared to my own as I tell the man, “Careful.”
“Why?” Tom laughs again as his friend grins. “From what I heard, he lost his nerve a while ago.” He returns his attention to Aiden. “Isn’t that right?”
Rather than answer, Aiden stands slowly then lets his hand hover near his revolver, waiting until the first flicker of uncertainty crosses Tom’s face, the first whisper of fear.