A second piece of paper followed.
Five-card stud. One game.
She waited.
Open the door, Rachel.
“No,” she said even more softly.
A fourth piece of paper.
Please.
Isaac Miller rarely said “please.”
With trembling hands and, issuing a quick prayer that this wasn’t the biggest mistake of her life, she opened the door.
He looked incredible in his power suit, but his hair was a mess. It looked as if someone had taken a leaf blower to it. She wordlessly gestured to his mop.
He rolled his eyes up and patted his head. “I just took the most harrowing cab ride of my life. Offered the guy a hundred bucks if he’d break every traffic law necessary to get me here in record time. I’m pretty sure there are some traumatized pedestrians out there. I should probably offer to cover their therapy costs.”
“Probably,” she whispered on a wavering smile. “Isaac, what are you doing here?”
“I, uh... I imagine I look like hell.”
“Never.” She hated herself for the admission, but it was the truth. Never would she offer him less.
“May I come in?”
“Why?”
“Honestly? I’m new to apologies and I would imagine there’s going to be some groveling—all mine, I assure you—and I don’t want to do it in public.”
She stepped back and let him in.
He closed the door quietly behind him and stood there, looking more than a little lost.
Everything in her wanted to go to him, to comfort him, but she held fast. If they were going to find their way through this, it had to start with him. And he had to mean it.
Clearing his throat, he took off his jacket. “Where should we do this?”
“Uh, do what?”
He shot her another sheepish grin. “Play cards.”
“Cards? You came here to play cards?” she asked, fully aware her mouth was hanging open.
“You promised me a game.”
“I did, but—”
“Casey said you keep your promises.”
“You met Casey? When? Why?” If her head spun any faster, it would pop off and drill a hole in the ceiling.
“It’s a long story.” He looked around, saw the sofa and headed for it. “This’ll do.”
“Isaac, you can’t just walk in and...and...” She threw her hands in the air. “You can’t just play cards because someone promised you a game.”