Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Curious about what’s different in Gina’s life since I left New York, I nod. “Do you know what bar she’s in?”
He reaches toward the inner pocket of his suit jacket. “I’ll send her a text and find out.”
Shaking my head, I pat the center of his chest. “No need. I’ll surprise her.”
There’s a good chance she’ll leave the bar if she knows I’m headed in her direction, but maybe Lady Luck is smiling down on me tonight, and I’ll convince Gina to have a shot of tequila with me.
“You’re a good man, Daniel.” Dominick wraps a hand around the back of my neck. “That’s why you’re my best man.”
This touchy feely version of my best friend is new to me, but so far, I like it a lot. “If I ever get married, I expect you to be my best man.”
I toss that out there even though the odds of that happening are slim to none.
“I’m looking forward to it.” He smiles. “I need to get back to Arietta. I wanted to stop in and make sure you’re doing all right considering the day and all.”
“I’m good,” I say honestly. “I’ll catch up with Gina for a drink and then call it a night.”
He laughs. “It’s early. You’re single. Why not take advantage of everything this city has to offer?”
“I’ll see where the night takes me.”
“Wherever that is, make sure you meet up with us in the morning for brunch because Arietta wants all of us there together. Eleven o’clock sharp, Daniel.”
“I’ll be there,” I promise. “Nothing could keep me from it.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Gina
After dinner, I went to my hotel suite but decided to go to the casino less than twenty minutes later. I’m not the gambling type, but my cousin, Rocco Jones, is a retired professional poker player.
The tips he taught me years ago came in handy tonight during a few rounds of Texas Hold’em.
I took a seat at the table with five hundred dollars in chips and left an hour later with five times that.
After that, I decided to reward myself with a drink.
Since I entered into an agreement with a well-known whiskey brand before I left New York, I was obligated to snap a selfie with a tumbler filled with their offering at a specific bar in the resort.
As soon as I took my first and only sip, my brother texted me, asking what I was up to.
That’s Dominick’s standard question when he’s checking in on me.
I replied honestly when I told him I was in a bar having a drink. A small part of me hoped that he would offer to join me, but that didn’t happen. I haven’t had much one-on-one time with him recently, and I could use it.
My brother is wise beyond his years, and I’ve been contemplating making a big change in my life for a few months. I want his take on it, but that can wait until after his wedding and honeymoon.
“My pants are made of boyfriend material. Want to cop a feel, beautiful?”
Eww. That voice alone is enough to send me racing out of here. It belongs to a man who hit on me forty-five minutes ago. He’s been making the rounds in here and even ducked out for a time to likely head to another of the many bars in this luxury resort.
“You’re embarrassing yourself. Leave her alone.”
That voice sends a charge through me. I’d recognize it anywhere because it almost always hits me the same way. Desire pulses through me even if that’s not what I want to feel.
I glance over my shoulder to see Daniel standing next to the cheesy pickup line guy.
“I was talking to her, not you.” The stranger shakes his head, keeping his gaze pinned to me. “I think I’m in love, and you’re messing with my game.”
“Your game?” I pipe up before Daniel can get a word in. “You don’t have game. You have weak pickup lines. Seriously, they’re pathetic.”
That draws the guy’s thick black brows up toward his hairline. “What?”
“You heard me,” I say. “Have you ever met a woman who actually liked any of the lines you use? Be honest.”
I catch the smirk on Daniel’s face as the guy’s head shakes. “No.”
“Go back to the drawing board.” I point toward the exit of the bar. “Don’t subject another woman to your bullshit tonight.”
“You don’t hold back.” He laughs.
“I’m doing you a favor.” I sigh. “You’re wasting your time and the time of any woman who is looking for a decent man.”
“Is that what you’re looking for?” Weak pickup line guy asks. “Are you looking for a decent man?”
“No,” I answer quickly. “I’m not looking for a man.”
“Because there’s someone in the picture?” He casts his gaze in Daniel’s direction for his next question. “Is it you?”
“Nope,” I spit out with a laugh, not waiting to hear Daniel’s response. “It’s not him.”