Page 91 of Burn

While he did that, I made him coffee and got him another sandwich. Then he took Goblin out for a few while I took a shower and changed clothes. Once we were back in the little living room, he dealt out the cards.

“Ante up,” he said with a glance at his watch. “Show me what you got, Gracie.”

Chapter

Thirty-Three

ALPHABET

For all that she attempted to hide her reactions, Gracie had been unhappy about the guys taking off to finish the mission. Course, she could be upset about being in a safe house in Mexico. It didn’t have to be one or another, we’d hardly been living up to the expectations we’d been trying to set.

Fortunately, she turned out to be a damn good poker player. The woman had to have tells, I just needed to learn what they were. About an hour out from “go time,” I suggested a walk then I’d set her to getting everything packed here thatwasn’tmy set up.

Outside, she squinted against the sun. I’d slid sunglasses on but she didn’t have any. “You want mine?” I offered immediately.

“No,” she said, descending the steps ahead of both me and Goblin. “Thank you, though.” Turning, she moved backwards while shielding her eyes with her hand. “You probably shouldn’t be sun blind when you go back in.”

Still… “I’ll have Voodoo bring you back a pair. You can at least have them for the road.”

Her faint, if fleeting, smile didn’t quite dismiss the offer but said she didn’t really believe me either. Who could blame her?My leg ached but that was just the way it went. The walk would be good for all of us.

The fresh air, the sunshine, and the movement were helpful when I was about to be glued to my seat for the next several hours. She didn’t say anything, just walked parallel to me with her hands in her pockets of her jeans. It was odd how much tinier than all of us she was.

“Okay, bad question, but it’s been kind of eating at me,” I said to her as a warning. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off if it’s none of my business.”

Amusement appeared in her smile as she slanted a look toward me. “I can handle that.”

“I assumed.” I told her. Goblin moved on a zig-zagging pattern. He scouted ahead but kept moving back to stay within range of us. Twice he jogged ahead to pee then came right back. “Aren’t you a little short to be a model?”

A snort of laughter escaped her. “That’s been bugging you for a while?”

“Yes,” I admitted, not terrifically proud of it. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re sexy as fuck and gorgeous. But you’re just…”

“Short?” Pure mischief lived in her expression and it robbed me of my breath. It was the most relaxed I’d seen her since meeting her at Doc’s clinic.

I spread my hands. “You are.”

“This is true,” she said, almost too agreeably. “I am short. If all I did was runways… that might be more of an issue. But I do photo spreads, commercials, and the occasional music video.”

“Was it hard to get started since most models are a lot taller?”

She shrugged. “Not that I noticed. There’s always someone else who is going to be something I’m not. Taller. Thinner. Blonder. Darker complexion. Lighter skinned. More toned. Less toned. Better curves.”

I glanced over at the perfect peach shape of her ass. The jeans she was in did nothing to hide it. You had to see her from the side to appreciate the roundness and firmness of it. Straight on, it was missing. Just like her breasts…

“Do you know how many clients have suggested I get a boob job?” The dry comment jerked my gaze back up.

“Don’t,” I ordered immediately. “There’s not a damn thing wrong with your breasts.”

I didn’t try to duck away from her knowing smirk. If anything, I met the dare in her eyes head-on.

“Yes, I notice because I’m a red-blooded male and you’re very beautiful.”

“I’ve also done some nude shoots.” Yep, there was the sting and I almost welcomed it as she gave me a verbal slap.

“I may have found those images,” I admitted, then raked a hand through my hair. “Probably makes me sound like a creeper, doesn’t it?”

She shrugged. “If I didn’t pose for them and you hacked them from my phone or something… Maybe. But I know my body, it doesn’t bother me. I used to worry that it would bug Am…”

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