The money won today was needed so she could get her own place. She had to get out of being under her dad’s authority but in order to do that, gambling was the quickest way to get the money. With soaring standards for things, she wasn’t apologizing for her high maintenance existence. She’d bite her own tongue off before asking anyone for money. Roux was doing this on her own, her way.
Normal jobs bored her.
She hated being around people who looked down their nose at her because of the way she dressed and abrasive way of speaking. Roux didn’t possess the patience to explain in a polite way for them to mind their own fucking business and get out of her face.
Because of that, she was light on choices.
Gambling brought her closer to what she wanted.
It also, as it happened, brought her closer to him today. So, her luck had run out, apparently.
The atmosphere crackled around them until the fresh Colorado air felt too thick in her lungs when he moved closer. He was tall, she was no dainty doll but when he towered over her, letting his head fall over his neck, he made her feel tiny.
Hands in his pockets, she could see the tenseness radiating out of him. The ropes and ropes of the leanest muscles defined beneath the thin cloth of his shirt.
What he had to be tense over she didn’t know. She was the one who got fucked over all the time by him. He got off and then left her behind.
Never in her life had need exploded inside her like it did the day she met Tad.
From that day on it changed the air around them.
Even now, when he was looking at her accusatory with his low lids, she felt it stirring, urging them together.
She needed to stay grounded and to put at the front of her mind how wrong they were and why it couldn’t work.
“I’m so done with you.” She had to say the words to believe them while ignoring the beginning of a throb from within her pussy.
He grabbed her arm, swung her around and plastered her to the wall, getting in her face so close she saw the flecks of gray in his irises and the slant of his brows. “You’ll never be done with me.”
He’s right, but her tight lips refused him confirmation.
He didn’t seem to care as he pressed the shape of his mouth against her cheek and growled, “wherever you go, I’d find you, Roux. Do you know why? Because you’re always seeking me out too.” The words were malicious. A hot threat and they spiked her pulse as she listed forward, her hands braced on his chest. “You are never done with me.”
Because she was known for her trigger mouth and impulsiveness—add in she was petty as fuck when she wanted to be, especially when she was hurt, she fired her bullets. “What’s it to you if I’m an addict, Tad? My life is of no concern to you.”
Something like pain distorted his face and regret twisted her up. She had the urge to fix it, but smashed her lips closed.
For a big guy, it always stole her breath how in control he was of his movements.
Tad was naturally handsome. She was mad how she noticed his every move when he came closer, giving her the masculine scent of his skin as he dropped his head. “You’re right, Roux. I hear it’s someone else’s concern now. Enjoy your engagement.”
Bombs dropping in war torn countries didn’t make as much destruction as that little sentence did. Roux was left slack jawed as he walked off. Surprised,hurtand hating that she didn’t hate him, not even a little bit.
He’d always been the kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to get his point across. His voice made you pay attention no matter how low in tone it was.
Damn him.
She needed to get drunk, she decided.
Wash him away in vodka and tequila.
For that she needed her friend, so she’d make a call, get lousy drunk, fall asleep on Poppy’s couch, and then start this whole week again.
Pretend she never saw Tad at all.
First though, she had a lot of money to hide in her bedroom safe.
Priorities were imperative for a Tucker.