Page 36 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

“Don’t let people rip you off. Aren’t you on a limited budget?”

He crinkled his nose, sheepish. “I had ten other people talking at me, and it was either pay the three hundred bucks or put my fist through the wall.”

“I guess an X-ray would cost more than three hundred bucks. Been there, done that, do not recommend.”

“I just need to hold out for twelve more days, and then I get a break.”

Oh? “What kind of break?”

“I’m heading home. A scientist has chartered my boat for a marine survey, and he always pays well.”

“Will the Galaxy survive without you?”

“I hope so. For my sanity and my bank account, I had to say yes to the job. Plus I had to buy a new phone the other day, so now my credit card hates me too.”

There was that guilt again. At least in San Gallicano, Cole would be well out of Jimmy’s reach if he was indeed the target. We’d have a clear run at finding the guy without having to worry about Cole’s safety at the same time.

“How long will you be away for?”

“The booking is for three weeks, plus I’ll have to prep the boat beforehand and pack everything away afterward. If the trip goes smoothly, I’ll be back in a month.”

Good. That was good. Ari would have time for initial scouting, and if necessary, we’d be able to tear Vegas apart while Cole was gone. Maybe I’d throw Jimmy down some stairs as a thank you for the cast. Or I could toss him off a building; that would also work.

“The break will do you good. Like a reset.”

His grimace said he wasn’t convinced. “The Galaxy nearly went under in the weeks between Uncle Mike’s passing and the lawyers tracking me down.” Cole pushed away his plate and gave a heavy sigh. “But I can’t carry on the way things are. When I’m there, the staff come to me with questions about every single little thing.”

“A lot of buck-passing going on?”

“From some of them. With others, it’s more a lack of confidence in their own abilities.”

“So it’s sink-or-swim time?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Another sigh. “I’ve been worried that if I go home, I’ll never come back, but at least now I have a reason to get on the plane.”

Okay, that wasn’t such great news. I didn’t want Cole getting attached. I mean, the orgasms were great, but no way was I looking for a relationship or even an extended fling.

“If you’re done with the food, how about we get some sleep?”

“Sleep?”

“I was trying to be polite. How about we go upstairs and fuck?”

He smiled for the first time since we started eating. “Sounds like a plan.”

CHAPTER 13

COLE

“Your phone is buzzing.”

“Huh?”

Phone? What? It was still dark, and it took Cole a moment to get his bearings. Bella elbowed him in the ribs and then shoved the offending article into his hand. The flashing screen told him two things. Firstly, it was a quarter past four in the morning, and secondly, the duty manager at the Galaxy was calling. It was too damn early for this.

“Yeah? It’s Cole,” he added, just in case a staff member had—hopefully—dialled the wrong number.

“There’s been an accident…” The words were rushed, the voice breathless, but Cole recognised Perry Scott’s Texas twang. He’d worked at the Galaxy for the past twelve years, and he was trying as hard as Cole was to keep the place running, even as he struggled to adapt to the loss of Uncle Mike. “In the parking garage. It’s Lucy McCall.”

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