Page 31 of Royal Flush

“You’re serious.”

“Very.”

“We used to talk about a little kinky stuff, but you went to an island devoted to it? I am… floored.”

One sip of the Blood Mary turned into two more. I’d forgotten just how good they were. “I assure you that I didn’t go there for the kink. The gambling on the other hand…”

She opened her eyes wide. “Ah, okay. Being a little card shark again?”

Shrugging, I glanced out the window. I had missed being in DC, but not with my parents here. “I figured it might be the last foray into assuming the bad girl mode. I just needed time to myself.”

“I understand completely.”

There was no doubt she was scrutinizing me, making a list of all the questions she wanted to ask. She had a way of doing so that I used to hate but no longer. Mostly.

“What?” I asked when she drummed her fingers on the table.

“There’s more to this story. Isn’t there?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because you’re blushing and that’s not you.”

I laughed and shook my head. “You could always read me so well. I assure you that I went there to make some money, feel like my name wasn’t attached to one scandal after another, and have a few drinks.”

“But…”

“But the owner caught me cheating at cards.”

“Oh, shit,” Ashton gasped under her breath. “What did he do?”

Made me his sex slave. I certainly couldn’t just throw it out there. “Make me a deal I couldn’t refuse.”

“A deal. What kind of deal?” As the waitress walked closer, I took a deep breath. Admitting I’d been careless with my card skills was tough enough but letting her know I’d surrendered to a powerful man a dozen times was… Well, the truth.

Another truth was how much I’d enjoyed doing so.

“Have you girls decided?” she asked.

“Yes, two big, sloppy burgers with American cheese and bacon. Real bacon. And fries with cheese sauce and ketchup. Lots of fries.”

Ashton laughed. “I hope that was an order for both of us.”

“Of course, silly.”

“Comin’ right up,” the girl said after staring at us.

Eating this way would eventually catch up to me but not right now. On this lovely afternoon, I was enjoying my soon to be full independence.

I rubbed both hands over my head, rolling one finger around the ponytail. I used to do that in class, which drove Ashton crazy.

“Come on. Out with it. What kind of deal did he make? Cleaning rooms as penance? Being a waitress?”

“Not that simple.”

“Then what? You’re killing me with the suspense here.”

As I’d done before, I leaned closer, lifting the glass to hide behind it. Something else that wasn’t like me. Very little embarrassed me.

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