Page 24 of Trick's Trap

She gasped, her silvery-blue eyes dilating as recognition washed over her face. Reaching out reflexively, she shuddered and swayed.

Concerned, he put out a hand to steady her. The second he touched the soft skin of her upper arm, he relaxed. An odd mix of giddy contentment flowed through him. She reacted, too, sagging into him as if she needed the support of his arm.

“Why don’t we sit down?” He gestured to the alcove, where a private poker table was cordoned off with a black velvet rope.

She glanced around as if assessing the room for threats, but Tahlia allowed herself to be led to the booth behind the ropes. He ignored the many pairs of eyes that followed them as they took their seats.

The crowd was avidly curious to learn who had earned a seat at the prime table. Little did they know this entire setup was all about her.

Trick waved over a waiter. He said something in a low voice, sending the man rushing off to the kitchen.

He turned back to Tahlia, taking in all the changes in her since they’d last met. She was so much thinner. Her cheeks were sunken, and there were dark circles under her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

And was that a bruise on her hand?

“Is Maia okay?” she asked. “Youdoknow her, right?” Tahlia’s husky voice quavered.

He reached out and took her unbruised hand. Her fingers were ice cold. Chafing it with both of his, he nodded. “I do. And she’s fine. She’s worried about you, of course. I was, too, when I realized you were the friend she’s been searching for all this time.”

Tahlia’s mouth opened and closed. She seemed at a loss for words. Wiping her eyes, she blinked rapidly. “I’m glad she’s okay. Tell her I’m sorry for worrying her…it couldn’t be helped.”

“You can tell her yourself,” he told her, but his words made her tense up.

“I can’t,” she sniffed.

He leaned in. “Yes, you can. I have friends who can help you. Some of them are here tonight. All we want to do is help.”

Tahlia stared at him, a little crease between her fine brows. “Who are you?”

“I’m Patrick, remember?”

She laughed and swallowed. The amount of strain she was under must have been enormous because her world-class poker face was nowhere in sight. Her emotions were raw, right on the surface for him to see.

“Yes, but how do you know Maia?”

“Oh.” He sat up. “I’m a friend of her husband Calen. He and my brother went to school together. Maia might have mentioned me by my nickname, Trick.”

Those amazing eyes widened. “Trick, Patrick, that’s you. I…uh, I’ve met your sister. You own a hotel, or rather a lot of hotels.” She snorted lightly and coughed, seemingly embarrassed.

It confused the hell out of him. Her reaction read more like dismay.

Trick squeezed her hand again. “I am part owner of the Caislean chain, along with my brother and sister. And you are a brilliant mathematician just a few dissertation chapters shy of getting her Ph.D. from Harvard.”

Her blush was instantaneous. “I’m notGood Will Hunting. I just like math.”

Delighted with her response, he let go and motioned to the waiter, who was hovering a few feet away. The man set down a large vanilla milkshake in front Tahlia.

“Maia said they were your favorite,” Trick explained with a little shrug. He nodded at the sealed deck on the table. “You can’t wipe the floor with me again on an empty stomach.”

“Thank you.” She drew the glass closer, her full lips wrapping around the red straw.

Okay, bad idea.Trick could feel his IQ taking a nosedive.

He forced himself to open the deck of cards. When it was safe, he turned back to her, shuffling automatically. He didn’t even want to blink, almost as if he were afraid she’d disappear before his eyes.

The fluted glass was almost empty before Tahlia spoke again. “That’s a nice technique,” she said.

“Not nearly as good as yours,” he replied, adding a flourish he’d spent weeks perfecting as a teenager.

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