Page 6 of Play to Win

He purses his lips attractively, looking around at the people milling about the entrance, some coming, some leaving, others like us just hanging out.Laughter bursts from a group of people over near the fountain.“In some ways I will.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“Three years.It’s a crazy place, but it grows on you.How about you?”

“Born and raised here.”

“No shit.”He slides me a look.“Are there actually people who were born and raised here?”

I hold my arms out to my sides.“Yep.”

“I guess you like it then, since you’re still here.”

“Not so much right now.”I bend my head to look at my phone again.“Sometimes this place sucks.”

“Uh-oh.Somethingiswrong.”

I shake my head, rising.“Nope, it’s all good.I need to get back to work.”

He stands too.“I better get back before they think I passed out somewhere.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s done that.”

He laughs and rubs his face.“I’m drunk, but not that drunk.”

We cross the luxurious lobby, past slot machines ringing and dinging, and step into the elevator that goes to the top floor.“Everything is over the top in Vegas,” Théo comments.

“Yep.”

He eyes me with what appears to be concern.Apparently I’m not doing a very good job of hiding my feelings.I need to do better.

Except my evening isn’t going to get any easier.

At Ed and Lincoln’s table, Ed gives me a smile that makes my skin crawl.“So, lovely Lacey.Sit and have a drink with us.”

I smile politely.“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.It’s against the rules.”

“How can that be?Tsk.”He looks around.“Who’s in charge here?”

My smile slips, but I try to keep my expression pleasant.“Enrico is the manager on duty tonight.”

“Send him over.”

My stomach tenses.The last thing I need is to get into trouble here.

Normally, I’d ask what the problem is and try to fix it, but I already know what the problem is.Swallowing a sigh, I say, “Of course.”And I go to hunt down Enrico.

Enrico’s one of the better managers here, so when I tell him that they want me to have a drink with them and I refused, he rolls his eyes.“Do they think they’re at the Pink Pussy Club?”he mutters.“I’ll talk to them.”

“Thanks.”

I’m busy for a few minutes with the hockey gang, making eye contact with Théo as I pick up empties and see if they need anything else, but out of the corner of my eye I see Enrico talk to the men.My jaw drops to my chest when Enrico approaches me and says quietly, “Just sit with them for a few minutes.I told them you can’t drink on the job, but you can chat for a few minutes.”

I level him with a hard stare.“What?”

He shrugs.

“Oh for ...”I tip my head back briefly.I don’t know how they got him to agree to that.Probably a wad of cash.

---