Page 24 of Wild Card (Advantage Play 1)

“Your boyfriend. Is he going to be an issue?” Kingston’s gruff voice speaks slowly like he’s talking to an idiot. The condescending tone instantly ruffles my feathers, but I’m still trying to figure out who he’s talking about when my conversation with Jack comes to mind.

“Oh,” I pause, shaking my head. “That’s not my boyfriend.”

Pressing his hands to his thighs, he pushes off from the couch and swaggers over to me, his entire body practically oozing sex and confidence and every other attractive trait a guy can have. It’s annoying. When he reaches my frozen position, he keeps stepping forward, and I mirror his movements with steps of my own until my back hits the wall behind me.

Caging me in with both hands on each side of my face, he leans forward. “Say it again.”

“I think you heard me just fine,” I argue. “And I think you’re close enough.”

With a deliberate shake of his head, he continues, “Answer me again. I want to see if you’re telling the truth or not.”

“And you need to be an inch away from my face to decide if I’m being honest?”

The right side of his mouth tilts up in amusement. “Something like that.”

“He isn’t my boyfriend,” I repeat, straightening my spine. I won’t let him intimidate me even if he’s doing a damn good job at trying.

“Then, who was he?” His green gaze is like fire as he voices his question.

“Just an acquaintance.”

“Lie,” he murmurs. His gaze slides down to my mouth for a split second before returning to my eyes.

I clench my jaw in frustration before flinching in pain, feeling the soreness from Mr. Gorilla earlier today.

“Answer the question. Then I’ll give you a little present.”

“What kind of present?”

He doesn’t budge. “Answer the question, Ace.”

With a huff, I purse my lips. “His name is Jack. He’s a counter who recently appeared out of nowhere. I’m not sure I’d call him a friend, but I do think he’s trying to look out for me. He noticed I went missing earlier today then popped back up with a bruise the size of Texas taking up half my face and was concerned. Is that a good enough answer?”

Again, Kingston assesses me, inspecting me with laser focus before pushing off the wall and sliding his hand into his pants pocket. “Yeah.” He pulls an emergency ice pack from his slacks and breaks it with his hands, forcing the chemicals to combine and create a cold compress.

With a gentleness I didn’t expect, he presses it against the side of my face. I sigh as soon as it comes into contact with the bruise, resting my cheek against it and simultaneously his hand.

“Better?” he asks, nearly holding my head up as I soak up the cold bliss radiating from the compress.

“Yeah,” I whisper with a smile. “Thank you.”

Peeking up at him, I hear him mumble, “Don’t mention it.”

We stand in silence for a few long seconds, and I’m hesitant to admit the comfort I feel with him being so close. He’s an impenetrable wall, yet I feel like he’s keeping the dangers out instead of keeping me caged in.

I watch with rapt attention as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down in his throat before he steps away and slowly drops his hand from my face, making me hold the cold compress instead.

“I also wanted you to know that you weren’t followed, which means Burlone doesn’t suspect anything. You’re safe.”

Relief swells in my gut as I process his words. I’m safe. With a nod, I lightly press my teeth into my lower lip, trying to muster the courage to voice my appreciation. “Thank you. Again. First, the compress, and now this.” I laugh to break the silence, and he follows along with a low chuckle.

“Don’t mention it. Again,” he adds with a teasing smile.

The silence is almost palpable, and I awkwardly tuck my hair behind my ear before feeling his gaze slide down my body, heating me up from the outside in. It isn’t unusual for me to feel someone checking me out. It kind of comes along with the territory when you’re a young female card counter and spend your days in grimy casinos. But my reaction to it is unusual. It makes me…curious. And with my history, I don’t know how to handle it. Within seconds, I find myself squirming from his intensity, chancing a glance at his clear green eyes that are scorching.

When he knows he’s been caught staring, Kingston clears his throat and tops it off with another sexy smile. “Get some rest, Ace. We’ll talk later. And don’t worry about anyone else breaking in. I’ll leave someone outside to watch the place.” He turns around and grabs his suit jacket that was laid on the arm of my couch as I try to recuperate from his whiplash.

He’s leaving? Okay….

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