Page 41 of Native Hawk
He was right. But Drew wasn’t going to let him know that. And he dearly hoped the madam wasn’t counting his money, because it was definitely shy of twenty dollars.
“Boys, boys.” Miss Hattie dropped the coins into her reticule, sidled up to the bald man, and looped her arm around his elbow. “There’s no need to fight. We got plenty o’ girls. Tell you what, my good man. I’ve got a couple o’ sweet ladies up there who’ll do you real good. You can have ’embothfor twenty dollars.”
“Both?” The man frowned. “At the same time?”
The madam cocked her head. “Unless you don’t think you can handle ’em both.”
The man’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, I can handle ’em all right.”
Miss Hattie called up to the balcony. “Anne! Emily! Let the nice man see your pretty selves.”
Two ladies leaned over the balustrade, showing off their assets.
The bald man nodded and left his stash on the table. “Take it,” he said to the madam. Then he bounded up the stairs.
The other two poker players picked up their slim winnings and bid Drew good night.
“Here.” Miss Hattie poured a glass of whiskey and handed it to him. “Sit down.”
Drew sat down.
The madam sat next to him and murmured, “Now we both know that wasn’t twenty dollars.”
“I’m good for it, I promise. I’ll—”
She interrupted him with a laugh. “Honey, the way I see it, I’ve already turned a tidy profit from your little extravagant purchase last night. Men came from all over to take a gander at a twenty-dollar hooker. And most of ’em stayed to get half-price entertainment. So I’m not gonna make a fuss if you’re a few dollars short.”
Drew nodded. The madam was indeed a shrewd businesswoman. Not only had she gotten the bald man’s twenty dollars. She’d gotten all of Drew’s cash.
He thought she’d probably make a good poker player.
Thankfully, he was a good poker player, too. He was bluffing. That wasn’t all of his money. He had a small stash at the bottom of his satchel. But he didn’t like to touch it unless it was an emergency.
“Now there’s still the matter o’ Catalina,” Miss Hattie continued. She poured herself a finger of whiskey and tossed it back, then gave her head a shake. “Call me crazy, but I won’t make my girls do anything they don’t want to. Catalina, she’s special. This ain’t her regular line o’ work. And I got to be frank with you, if she says no, you got to respect that.”
“O’ course.” He lowered his eyes to his whiskey. “I know you prob’ly think I’m a no-count gambler, but my mama taught me a thing or two about women. If Catalina doesn’t want me to touch her, I won’t.”
“As long as we’re clear.”
“Yep.”
“One other thing,” she said, putting her hand atop his forearm. “It could get real pricey for you, payin’ to keep all the other gents away from her. If you’ve got that much of a soft spot for the little lady, you might think about makin’ an honest woman out of her.”
“Whoa, hold on now. I think you’ve got the wrong idea.” Marriage and Drew Hawk were as compatible as oil and vinegar. “I’m a rover. A man like me can’t be tied down. Besides, I’ve only known the lady for a day.”
“And yet there’s already somethin’ goin’ on between you two,” Miss Hattie said. “I’ve been around long enough to tell.”
He smirked, thinking about the unsatisfied itch below his gun belt. “There’snothin’going on between us, believe me.”
“Maybe not yet,” the madam said, picking up the bottle of whiskey and standing to leave. “But I think she’s taken a shine to you.”
He frowned. Lots of women took a shine to him. It usually passed. Once they found out he was a drifter, they let go of him faster than a hot skillet.
The madam waltzed off, and Drew found himself gazing up at Cat’s closed door. Of course, the main reason he said he’d bid on her was because it was late and he needed a place to sleep for the night. At least, that’s what he told himself.
Still, he had to admit that the notion of spending another night with the lusty Italian beauty was definitely appealing.
“He did?” Catalina asked, drying the last dish in the kitchen. She tried not to let her expression betray the sudden leap of her heart.
