Page 9 of Wild Card
“Are you a prostitute now?”
Her face reddened. “Fuck you.”
I smiled sweetly. “Been there, done that. Don’t you know that a product loses its value when it becomes too easily accessible?”
She shoved back from the table. “You’re an asshole!”
Jett laughed as she stormed off, shaking his head. “You’re never getting between those legs again.”
From across the room, Ruby smiled at me. “He’s got better offers, anyway.”
Shit, she was kidding herself if she thought I was going home with her. Even if I didn’t avoid repeats, tonight I was craving something a little more…masculine.
Fox came over to the bar. “I need a drink. Damn it. I’ve got rent due at the tattoo parlor too. Cyrus is gonna kick my ass.”
See? Drinking away his regrets.
I poured two fingers of the Jack I’d seen him favoring earlier. He scrounged up a five-dollar bill from his pocket, but I waved him off. “This one’s on the house.”
“So generous of you to spot me after I lost all my damn money to that asshole calling himself Ace.” He rolled his eyes. “Guy probably shits in a golden toilet.”
I chuckled. “He likes to pretend he’s hot shit, but he loses more money than he ever takes out of here. Why do you think we let him play?”
Fox threw back his drink. “I must really be shit at cards, then.”
“Eh, you had a run of bad luck. It happens.”
He set down his glass. “Really couldn’t afford to. Fuck, I’m an idiot.”
He cast one lingering look at the cash littering the tables, then turned to go.
I grabbed his arm. “Hold up.”
His biceps flexed under my palm, and I let my gaze skate over his lean frame. Fox was pretty hot, his ginger hair and sharp features suiting his name.
My mind conjured up brown eyes simmering with distrust, then an ugly uniform and sheriff’s office badge. Yeah, I was one sick puppy when I had a hot guy in front of me and all I could picture was the deputy who’d just as soon thrown me in jail as fuck me.
Even if he did watch my every move like a man dying for a taste.
“What?” Fox asked, glancing down at my hand.
“I could maybe help you out.” I slid my hand down his arm suggestively. “One favor for another?”
His eyebrows shot up. “What about your better offer across the room?”
“I’m in the mood for something else tonight.”
He stared at me, conflicted. “Didn’t you just tell Faith no IOUs?”
My lips quirked. “Why make the rules if you can’t break them?”
He gave a nervous laugh. “I’m flattered, but, uh… I’m kinda seeing a guy right now.”
“All right, no worries. I’ve got another proposition for you.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, guarded now. “Yeah? What can I possibly offer you?”
“Ink.”
