Page 38 of Risky Bet

“It’s implied. Now I obviously can’t stay at the villa with you and interrupt your sexy fun times, but I do expect to have dinner with you and your hottie at some point during my visit and you have to help me play blackjack one night too.”

Rylee chuckled. “Just tell me which casino and I’ll be there. As for dinner, things are complicated and I can’t talk about everything just yet, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Carla growled. “Did you chase him away? You have to stop chasing men away.”

Normally that would piss Rylee off, but she knew her friend spoke from a place of love.

“Actually, he hasn’t gone anywhere. It just really is complicated, and I might have signed an NDA and you might need to sign one too before I can talk to you.”

Carla was quiet for a minute but said, “OK. Well, I’m going to book something at the Bellagio.”

“Don’t do that. Book at the Pink Sapphire. I’ll make Memphis pay for it.” She winced. It probably wasn’t the best idea to say his name.

“Memphis? I like that name. It suits you.”

Rylee smiled. “Maybe. But things are a mess right now, and I have no idea if it’s going to work. Just get here and we’ll talk, OK?”

Carla didn’t sound happy, but she said goodnight and Rylee set the phone on her nightstand.

As she drifted to sleep, it was to thoughts of Memphis, and she knew he would haunt her dreams tonight and every night if they didn’t figure out how to fix this.

♥♦♣♠

Memphis woke to banging on his door.What the hell?It seemed unlikely the police would return for another search less than twelve hours later.

He jerked open the door without putting on clothes.

A very dressed Rylee greeted him. Her fist froze in midair as she stared at his morning wood.

“Um. Hi. Sorry. I didn’t think you would still be asleep.”

He folded his arms and waited for her to speak.

“I remembered something about my first day in Vegas. Can you please put some clothes on?”

He cracked a smile and dragged a hand through his hair.

Turning, he ambled to the dresser, making sure she caught a glimpse of his muscular backside. He was proud of his ass. It occurred to him that he didn’t show it off nearly enough.

He tugged on a pair of lounge pants and a black t-shirt and motioned her inside.

“What did you remember?” he asked.

“Andrew said something while you were away from the table when I commented on your surly mood. It didn’t strike me as odd until you told me last night that he might be involved in your current predicament. Did he bring Miller Holdings to the negotiating table?”

Memphis shook his head and sat on the edge of his bed. “No. To my knowledge, they approached us out of the blue, which is part of why I was so skeptical.”

Rylee nodded. “OK. So, when we were playing, and you stepped away for a phone call, he commented on your mood and that he was sad you couldn’t even enjoy his bachelor weekend. Then Evan said we all knew the mess you were in was bullshit. After that, Andrew said he felt bad for bringing Miller in and starting this mess, and when Evan said he thought Miller came to you, Andrew got pretty shifty and seemed uncomfortable. Even told Evan not to mention it to Kimberly.”

“God Damn it.” Memphis stood and paced in front of his bed while Rylee leaned against his door and watched him.

“I really appreciate your help with my family,” she murmured after a few minutes of silence.

“I appreciate you hearing me out last night. I know this is hard on you, Rylee, but I’m grateful you’re here. I’m grateful Hunter hired you and I got to meet you. I’m just sorry it’s under such awkward circumstances and that I’ve fucked this up so badly.”

He wanted her to come to him, touch him, kiss him again, but he knew it would take some time to earn back her trust.

“So, is that helpful?” she asked, sidestepping his confession of his feelings.

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