Page 172 of Vegas Heat

“Gabby the intern?” Rush asks at the same time Nick says, “Troy’sdaughterGabby?”

I lift a shoulder, pleading the fifth, and both Rush and Nick fold out of the hand by tossing their cards onto the table. It’s Danny’s turn, and he matches my pile of chips. “Call.”

I set my cards down on the table to show my full house to Danny’s muttered curse. He tosses his cards a little angrily onto the table facedown to indicate that he lost, and I rake the chips toward my side of the table.

I pass the deck onto Rush, who starts to shuffle while I organize my chips. I’m winning now, and Danny’s losing, and I chug down another beer. When I set the bottle down, Rush sets the cards down and studies me.

“What?” I ask, glancing over at him.

“Are you banging Troy’s daughter?” he asks.

“It’s not just banging,” I say, a little defensiveness in my tone.

“Oh, it’s sporking and forking and licking and sticking, if you catch my drift.” Danny makes a rude gesture as he slams the sides of his hands against his thighs as he sticks his tongue out.

“Subtle,” I mutter. I sigh. I guess I may as well be honest here. “Look, I met her before I knew she was Troy’s daughter. She left that fact out of the conversation just as I left out the fact that I used to play ball. She didn’t seem to know who I was and I kind of liked just being a guy who worked for a kids’ organization to her. She got to know the real me rather than the me that women tend to think I am, and then I found out she was Troy’s daughter when she was standing in his kitchen the morning after I moved here. I told her I couldn’t be with her, and we were apart a while, but it was all wrong.”

Rush lets out a low whistle.

“Does Troy know?” Nick asks.

I shake my head. “And I need you fuckers to keep this quiet while we figure out how we’re going to tell him.”

“Oh Jesus, please pleasepleaselet me be there when you tell him,” Danny begs as he slams his palms together in prayer.

“That’s a hard no,” I say. “We’re going to do it after the draft sometime. Or maybe after the season starts. There’s too much on the line right now to complicate things with him, and this is all so new anyway. We’re just taking it slow and giving it time.”

“Damn, though. Isn’t she like barely legal?” Rush asks.

My brows dip as I shoot him a little glare. “She’s twenty-fucking-one.”

“Your number,” Danny says. “But more suitable for someone, say, six years younger than you.”

I blow out a breath as my hackles rise, and my glare turns on Danny. “Stay the fuck away from her,” I hiss.

He holds up both hands. “Okay, okay, man. I’m not going after your girl. I see the way she looks at you, anyway. She’d never give me the time of day. But if someone as clueless asmecan see the way she looks at you, you best tell her to cool it in front of her daddy.”

“Good point,” I concede.

He’s probably right.

And that brings up another point. Ifhesees it…who else has?

CHAPTER 29: GABBY

“Your challenge this week is to create an advertising campaign pitch that will fill seats in this stadium. That’s all the direction I can give you. Take your time, be creative, and have your storyboards ready to go by Friday at noon.” Joanie looks around the circular table as she gives her instructions, her eyes landing on me last.

I’m not sure why that makes me just the tiniest bit uncomfortable. It’s the scrutiny, maybe, or the feel of a motherly-type even though she’s a mere thirteen years older than me according to my calculations. But she’s my dad’s girlfriend, so I guess in a way if she marries him, she’ll be like my stepmom.

This is weird. I went from not having a father at all three years ago to suddenly having an entire family. I went from having a narcissistic mother who taught me that the silent treatment is an effective way to deal with an argument and that being anything less than perfect just isn’t good enough to having people who seem to love and accept me with open arms.

But my mother also taught me that love is equivalent to manipulation, and it’s as that thought occurs to me that I suddenly understand why Mackenzie is such a bitch.

Is Joanie favoring me because I’m Troy’s daughter?

Is Joanie going to give me the job regardless of who wins the most challenges because of my bloodline? Is it her way of manipulating my father—by buying into his good side through me?

I hate that the thought even comes to mind, but my mother left me with plenty of scars I’m still trying to live with.

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