Page 24 of Royal Shark
The moment we’re safely back in the car on the way to her apartment, I ask, “How many times have you been asked out by one of the guys?”
She waves a hand airily. “Don’t worry about it. Harmless flirting. Everyone knows I don’t date a player, or do anything else with them. It’s strictly poker and friendship.”
“And how do they know that?”
She sighs. “Because, if they ask me out, that’s what I tell them.”
“Who asked you out?”
“Just Sergei, and yes, I explained my policy of keeping it professional.”
I clench my jaw, a rare stab of jealousy making me more irritated than I have a right to be. Sara isn’t mine. I force my mind back to my purpose tonight. I don’t think her players are organized crime—they seem like regular guys—but I also don’t think she’s out of danger. I’m concerned about the risk she takes handling the money, both by taking the buy-in home with her and by covering their bets.
I open my mouth to address the money issue, but what comes out is a growl of possessiveness that surprises even me. “Don’t talk to them in a flirty way. They’ll get the wrong idea.”
She exhales sharply. “Jesus, Adrian. What is this? I can talk however I want to. Sweet goes a lot further with these guys. I’m the one who keeps it light and fun.”
“By using their attraction to you?”
She lifts one shoulder. “I can’t help it if guys are attracted to me. That’s their problem. Not mine.”
“So you don’t find any of them attractive?”
She rolls her eyes. “They’re all attractive. It doesn’t matter. I’m there for the game and the tips. I don’t date players.”
I calm down a little. I reassure myself that what I thought was jealousy was actually more protectiveness than anything else. “How much did you collect in tips tonight?” I saw the guys handing her chips and wads of bills as they each took their leave.
Her face lights up. “Sixty K. Some of them were extra happy to have you at the game and also glad to be in on a sure thing with the land development deal. They were feeling extra generous.”
Her suitcase of money is safely in the trunk of the car, but anyone who knew about her game could track her down at her apartment and take it. She lives alone. She’s small, shorter than my sister. My protective instincts are perfectly justified in this case.
“You need a guard,” I say. “I don’t like you handling the money by yourself.”
“I told you I can’t afford that. I’ll look into it as soon as I have enough for Chloe’s tuition. I need to save enough to get her through undergrad; then I can consider spending elsewhere. It’s a calculated risk.”
I keep my voice even. “I’ll cover the cost of a guard.”
“No, I’m not taking your money. It’s fine. I only have the money in hand for a short time and then it goes in my safe.”
“Your safe,” I echo. “And how hard would it be to get you to open that safe if someone broke in?” My mind goes to a dark place, and I don’t like the risk she’s taking at all.
She clamps her mouth shut and looks straight ahead.
I press on. “And what if one of the players became aggressive after the game? Sergei almost had a fight.”
She shakes her head. “I know how to talk to these guys. Besides, I’m the key to their game. They love it. And every one of them is thrilled to be there. I actually had to turn some guys away. I screened them for deep pockets and playing ability ahead of time. It’s an honor to be at a Sara Travers game.”
I still don’t like it, but I’ll wait and see how it plays out tomorrow when she’s collecting and doling out money. She may not be mine now, but she’s still my Sara from golden carefree summers. Nothing can happen to her.
I give her hair a tug. It’s as silky soft as it looks. “An honor to be at a Sara Travers game. Wow, aren’t you something special?”
She grins. “I am. So do you feel better about my game now? Report back to Silvia that all is well.”
“I want to watch collections tomorrow. Then I’ll report back.”
She stiffens. “You can’t come into people’s places with me on collections. They hate to be the loser who has to pay up. I have to keep it like a fun social visit. The last thing they’ll want is another guy witnessing it.”
“I’ll wait in the car. If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll be nearby with Jack.”
