Page 86 of Love Gamble

“Yes, yes she does,” I reply, amused. “So, what else do you do when you’re not working?”

“To be honest, nothing much. I have my own house, and it’s just me who lives there. My family lives in another state,” she explains, sighing. “If I’m not at Devil’s Play, I’m just out hanging with Rupert.”

“Rupert?” I ask, thinking Diamond is going to be let down if she has a boyfriend.

“My pug,” she clarifies. “And I used to love that, just living a quiet life in my own space. But recently I’ve just gotten over spending all my time alone, and I think I want to put myself out there and be a little more social. Not to mention I’m not getting any younger.”

“Well, you came to the right place. We’d love to hang out with you more, and there are a few single men here but no single women, so the odds are in your favor. You can literally take your pick,” I say, chewing on an ice cube from my cocktail. “But I think I know who you like.”

“Who?” she asks, green eyes going wide. “Is this about Damon? I only hit on him once and it was before I knew you two were together. He shut me down right away, I promise.”

Huh?

“Uh, I was going to say Diamond. I didn’t know anything about you hitting on Damon,” I say, looking over at the man in question, who is happily chatting with Leif, completely unaware that he’s pissed me right off by not telling me this happened.

“I’m sorry, Corey. I would have never hit on him had I known he was taken. I’m not that kind of woman. And it was the first time I’ve ever hit on any of the men, so it was definitely not a good experience,” she says, touching my arm so I look at her.

“No, it’s okay,” I say, forcing a smile. “I appreciate you telling me, but I wish that he had instead.”

“He probably didn’t want to ruin our friendship since it only just started,” she says, defending him, which annoys me even further.

“Yeah, I know. Anyway, never mind, nothing happened and it’s in the past.”

And I do feel like Echo is a trustworthy woman, and I believe what she’s saying. I’ve always heard that she stayed away from the bikers and kept the relationship very professional, so the fact that she chose Damon out of all the men in the club has me wondering if she really did like him.

“And you’re right about Diamond,” she says, looking over at him. “I don’t know...there’s something about him. We chatted a little that night you all came out. What do you know about him?”

Bella answers for me because I’m still lost in my thoughts.

“He used to be a stripper,” she blurts out, then lowers her voice. “And we think a pretty damn good one.”

I have to wonder how this is going to go down.

“Really?” Echo replies, studying him. “I mean, he definitely has the body for it. I don’t think I’m cut out to date a sexy stripper, though. I run a burlesque house, I see how much attention these dancers get.”

“Who said anything about dating?” Bella whispers, and we all laugh. Mine is a little fake, because I’m still angry.

Except then Diamond comes over and sits down with us. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Echo says, sitting back and crossing her legs. “Are you having a good night?”

“I am now,” he replies, leaning closer to her to say something.

Bella and I slowly take our leave, and I walk right over to Damon, who playfully kisses my face and puts his arm over me.

“Damon, why didn’t you tell me Echo hit on you? I mean, she didn’t know we were together, so I wouldn’t have held it against her, but why didn’t you tell me?” I whisper.

His playful demeanor disappears, and he pulls me aside. “It was nothing—”

“What do you mean? She wanted you, that is something to me—”

“I didn’t want to tell you because you had just become friends, and I didn’t want you to get angry like you are right now. It would have made it awkward between you both,” he says, cupping my face. “There’s nothing between us. She was lonely, and I was there. It wasn’t anything more than that.”

“It’s fine. This is what I get for choosing the hottest one in the group.” I scowl, putting my hands on my hips.

He kisses my stubborn mouth. “I’m yours, nothing happened. I’m sorry, I should have told you, and I will forever tell you about any other woman that tries to get me into their bed.”

“You better,” I whisper to him in a deadly tone. “Or I won’t tell you about every man that tries to get into mine.”

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