Page 55 of Lady Luck

“Sometimes I swear you are denser than Dad’s pancakes,” he groaned, exasperation showing in every inch of his posture. “Speaking of, you came here for, like… a week-long trip to check on Dad.”

“Yes,” I agreed.

“That was five weeks ago,” he deadpanned before raising his index finger in the air. “You’re letting our aunt and uncle live in your condo.” He lifted another finger, as if reciting a list. “You rented a houseboat that’s closer to Fortuna than to us or the restaurant.”

“It was available.”

He dropped his hand and cocked his head to the side, the gold glint from his visor distracting. “Oh okay, so you just happened to decide to stay here long enough to find a rental the day after your big night together?”

I half smiled. “If you want to see it that way.”

He threw his hands in the air, exasperated. “I literally cannot with you.”

I kept my innocent mask in place for a moment longer before letting loose an obnoxious smirk. I couldn’t say there wasn’t some satisfaction in how taken aback Liem was by it, though it didn’t take him too long to piece it together.

“You’re fucking with me.”

I dipped my chin. “Yes.”

He nodded to himself repeatedly, doing a good impression of a bobblehead. One who couldn’t decide if it was supposed to be happy or not. “You’ve already made a decision. A classic Vinh-type decision.”

I smiled tightly but couldn’t resist messing with him a little more. “I find the climate here suits me.”

“Oh my God. You are being so insufferable.” He turned away from me, hands on his hips.

“What’s it like on the other side?” I queried.

That made him spin right back around. “Who are you? You know what, it’s just an adjustment. I’ve decided I like it. See? I can make decisions too.”

Amused, I let the silence stretch between us, waiting for him to work through his feelings as he paced a tiny square in the kitchen. He really was the reason I had more patience than most.

He eventually stopped, turned toward me, and revealed an expression more hesitant, more vulnerable than expected. “Vinh?”

“Yes?”

“I—it’s just….” He hesitated, measuring his words. “I have a feeling it’s going to take her a while to see what’s going on here. And longer to trust it.”

My eyes flicked toward the deck and the woman who had no idea the kind of loyalty she inspired in others or how quickly.

I pulled him in for a hug, overwhelmed with gratitude to have such a solid friend in my brother. “Thanks, little brother. I’ll keep what you said in mind. However—” I released him, keeping my hands on his shoulders and holding his gaze. “—I need you to do one thing for me.”

“What’s that?”

“Get lost.”

I sat at the booth and caught up on some e-mails, thinking over what Liem had said and only getting up periodically to glance out the window to make sure the clouds were still protecting Bree from the sun.

It felt nice—right, even—to have her in my space, away from the bustle of the casino.

Once I noticed her stirring, I shut my laptop and walked back onto the deck. She blinked up at me when I reached her side and granted me the most glorious smile before stretching her arms above her head. The clouds chose that moment to part, sending a streak of late-morning sunshine across her face, causing her to squint and lift a hand to shield her eyes.

“Good morning, sunshine,” I said softly, matching my volume to the peace of the deck’s atmosphere.

Something flashed across her face, but before I could interpret it, she rasped, “Just ‘Bree,’ please. Always.”

I crouched down to her level and raised my arm to just above hers, the palm of my hand facing out to block more of the sun. Our thumbs lightly brushed, and I would have smiled at the goosebumps that raced up her arm if I hadn’t felt matching ones coursing over my body.

I waited patiently for her to chance a look at me, and as soon as I had her steel-gray gaze, I responded. “Yes, Bree.”

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