Page 47 of The Mark (The Players 2)

“Shit!” Ty slapped at his forehead. “No wonder you’re single. I don’t know anyone else who spends as much time surrounded by beautiful women as you, yet escaped without the slightest understanding of thesmartersex.”

“I thought the expression was something about the fairer sex.” Ifrowned.

“Yeah, well, I changed it. They are obviously smarter than we are.” Ty growled again and slammed his phone down on my patio table, the one where Laney and I had eaten less than twelve hours before. “Look at us. Drew is taken care of. We need to fix our lives. And by we, I mostly mean you. I have a loving wife…somewhere,” he grumbled. “If you want any kind of a shot at a future with Laney, then I highly suggest you do more than send a couple of lame-asstexts.”

I considered his words. “You know, Laney’s the kind of woman I could marry. She’s direct, decisive, and honest.” I leaned back on the patio andsighed.

Ty chuckled. “And look how well that has worked out for you. After all, you’re the least decisive person I know. Have you even figured out what you’re going to do with your life now, forget about your grandgesture?”

“No freaking clue.” I folded my hands behind my head. “That’s not entirely true. I have an idea. Don’t be surprised when I ask for a meeting to go over a business proposal.” I winked. “I guess I need to make a few phone calls, and then goshopping.”

“It’s too early in the relationship to go with a big ‘I’m sorry’ diamond.” Hesnickered.

“I know, but it’s never too early to build a life together.” I grinned, sat up, and stepped out of the pool, onto the patio. “I’ll see you later. Thank you for allthehelp.”

“Where are you going?” Ty stiffened andpaled.

“Oh, suddenly, you can’t handle being alone?” I laughed. “I’ll meet you at the hotel. I’m hoping we find our ladiesthere.”

He shrugged. “I guess I’ll go on ahead and let you know.” Then he sighed and strode through the patio doors, and straight out the frontentry.

I showered because doing so helped me clear my head. In my mind, I kept hearing the echo of Laney’s fear, the worry she was going the wrong direction, that if she changed paths now, she’d be even farther behind. As I dried off, I studied my body in the mirror and shifted so my side was visible. Then I raised my arm. Laney hadn’t noticed last night, or if she did, she failed to comment. I’d had the arrow tattoo for about seven years. I’d gone to get it on a whim, so I’d feel completely badass and woo women with said badassery. Only, I found, more often than not, the only one to see it there on my side was me. Maybe I hadn’t considered the placement well when I chose to get inked. In reality, that wasn’t true. My guess was, whether I chose to admit it or not, the tattoo had been meant for me and me alone. I looked at it every day after my shower as a method to focus on the future. Inhaling deeply, I reveled in the calm the gentle daily reminder brought, which only made me feel more confident in my gift choice forLaney.

An hour later, I pulled up at the casino with my present tucked against my heart in the jacket pocket. Before I could even enter the lobby, Ty called. “I’m on my way up, man. I’ll talk to you soon. I’m bound to lose you in the elevatoranyway.”

“Take your time. They’re not here,” Ty mumbled. “Kate still won’t answer her phone. She hasn’t sent so much as a text. What if something happened to her?Tothem?”

I frowned. “Do we even know if they’retogether?”

“No, I guess not.” He sighed. “Just get up here. I’m losing mydamnmind.”

Feeling considerably less optimistic, I wandered through the lobby on my way to the elevator. I rode up with my hands stuffed in my pockets and my head hanging. When the doors opened, I found Ty pacing in the hall, the phone tohisear.

“Kate, my love, you’re scaring the hell out of me. I need to know you’re okay. Please call me, or text. I’m at the office.” He ended the call and raced over to me as I moped off theelevator.

“You know, it’s times like these I wish I enjoyed drinking,” I muttered. “The closest I came was the wine with Laney last night. The rest of the time, I defer becauseofDrew.”

He motioned for me to follow him. Together we entered the conference room. Ty immediately rushed to the window and stared out at the cars traveling the strip. “I’m being crazy. There’s no reason for Kate to be angryatme.”

“None at all. Wish I could say the same.” I sighed, pulled out a chair, collapsed into it, and rested my head on the table. “Just let me sleep until tomorrow, or until Laney returns, whichever comesfirst.”

Ty turned around and leaned against the windows. “So, have you figured out what to say? Whattodo?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.” I turned my chair to face him. “I messed up. Badly. And I need her tounderstandwhy.”

“You mean because Drew had his first drink at your house?” Ty chewed on hischeek.

“Yeah. He changed instantly. My error in judgement has eaten at me ever since.” I rubbed mytemples.

“Okay, but you know Drew let you feel terrible because it made him feel better, right?” His browarched.

“I do now. Then, it was far less obvious.” Ifrowned.

“Since that’s all cleared up, what’s the rest of your plan? What will you say to Laney? What do you want to happen?” He studied me seriously, but I saw him peeking past me to the hall more than once. Obviously, he was watchingforKate.

“This job isn’t Laney,” I murmured. “She wants more. She deserves to be happy. I haven’t been happy in Hollywood for a while,either.”

“No?” Ty seemed taken aback by thisannouncement.

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