Page 3 of Trick's Trap

Trick frowned. “At least let me walk you home or call you a car. It’s not safe out here at this hour. Hell, it’s not safe at noon.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, starting to walk away before pausing. “By the way, what is the obvious reason?”

“For me wanting to buy you dinner?” He’d wondered if she’d ask. “That would be the fact you might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Her chin dipped down briefly. She might have blushed, but it was hard to tell under the yellow glare of the streetlight.

“Well…maybe next time.” She hesitated a second before rushing to the chain-link fence. Trick rushed to grab the links on his side as she stood on her tiptoes to reach his mouth.

Her lips were warm and soft, but the sweet pressure was too brief. She backed away, leaving him aching and frustrated.

Impulsively, he tried to grab her coat through the fence but couldn’t hold on. She slipped away and was halfway down the alley before he could blink.

“You could at least tell me your name,” he called.

For a long moment, the only sound was the tap of her high heels, walking away.

Halfway down the block, she turned. “It’s Maria.”

Then she hurried away, disappearing around the corner.

Chapter 2

Trick summoned a lackluster smile for Solomon, the Caislean’s weekend doorman. He went inside, only half-paying attention to his surroundings.

I should have climbed the fence.There had been barbs at the top of it to keep vermin out, but he should have done it anyway.He was kicking himself for going back out through the kitchen. By the time he exited the front door and made it back to the alley, Maria was long gone.

But all wasn’t lost. Trick had connections in the gambling world. Sure, he’d never used them for something like this before, but his curiosity was piqued. He was going to find that girl.

The night manager waved from the front desk. Trick nodded back, doing a cursory sweep of the luxuriously appointed lobby. Normally, he’d join the front desk crew for a status update. He liked knowing how close to capacity they were each night, and whether the staff had run into any problems. This was their flagship property—the first hotel he and his siblings opened. No matter how many others they added to their prominent hotel chain, the Boston Caislean was their baby, the gold standard against which all others were measured.

But his heart wasn’t in it tonight. The only thing he wanted was a hot shower and bed. Maybe a drink.

Better make it a double, he thought, starting involuntarily as he caught sight of the person who’d entered the doors after him.I’m starting to hallucinate. Tonight’s events had clearly scrambled his brain because if he didn’t know better, he’d say the girl scurrying across the lobby was Maria.

Itwasher. They were only a few blocks from the card room.She must have come this way after running an errand. There was an extra little bodega bag along with her tiny purse.

The night security guard, Juan, waylaid her before she made it halfway across the marble floor. She was only a few feet away, facing the main doors as if contemplating making a break for it. He hurried over to the pair.

“I’m sorry, unless you’re a guest of the hotel, you can’t cross through here once the hotel bars and restaurants are closed,” Juan was saying. “Pedestrians have to walk around the building.”

“Oh, I…” Maria’s eyes widened as she saw Trick beaming over the security guard’s shoulder.

“Did you change your mind about dinner or are you here for a rematch?”

Her mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything. He enjoyed the shock on her face a little too much.Christ, she’s beautiful.

Juan coughed, his lips twitching. “A friend of yours, sir?”

Trick nodded, excusing the man with a signal of his hand. Juan gave him a knowing glance and melted into the background, leaving them alone in the middle of the Italian marble floor.

“I take it by your expression you’re surprised to see me?”

“Uh…” Maria peeked at Juan, who was chatting with the night manager now. “I am. I was just taking a shortcut. I didn’t realize it was against the rules.”

He folded his hands behind his back. “That’s not a problem as long as you’re with me.”

Her blush deepened. “I guess they know you here.”

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