Page 3 of The Right Garza
“I looked the exact same when you saw me in New York roughly two years ago.”
I frown. “Did you?”
“And you didn’t ogle me, you ditched me.”
“Did I?”
It’s true, though. He was always showing up and I was always ditching.
He chuckles, and the bartender returns with his ale and tells him it’s on the house.Of course it is.He twists off the cap and takes a swig while watching me, curiosity in his dark gaze. “Surprised to see you on the strip,” he says, “considering you’re banned from every casino in this hemisphere.”
I go to ask how he knows all that but think better of it. I might not have been around the Garzas in a while, but their reputation precedes them. I don’t think there’s much theydon’tknow.
“Pfft.” I wave a dismissive hand and sip my gin. “Those days are over. I’m on the straight and narrow now. As legit as they come.”
He takes another swig of his beer, wholly unconvinced. “Are you done traveling? You plan on going home anytime soon, or is Vegas your home now?”
With feigned nonchalance, I shrug. “Not sure yet.” Then I lift a brow at him. “You’ve been keeping up on my whereabouts, huh?”
“Me and your other 50k plus Instagram followers. Got your whole life on there.” He eyes me up and down. My Balenciaga shoes…the Gucci belt cinching my romper…my LV purse. “Living it up.”
I dip my head, lest he see the truth in my eyes. “What about you? What are you doing in Vegas?”
“Working.”
“Of course you are.” I clear my throat. “Alone? Where’s your womanizing twin?”
He turns his back to the bar and props his elbows back on the counter, the beer bottle hung carelessly between two fingers. “True’s at the Denver branch for a few weeks.” He flicks his wrist to check his watch. “And I’m waiting on someone.”
“Girlfriend?”
His gaze drops to my necklace, lingering for a long moment, then it lifts to my lips, before meeting mine again. He narrows his eyes slightly, then averts them to look ahead at something, and the corners of his mouth tip down noncommittally as he says, “We’ll see.”
I follow his gaze to see a stunning brunette sashaying between the tables and chairs toward us. When she reaches him, he straightens from the bar and snakes an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her cheek. She blushes from his attention and frowns at me at the same time.
Down girl. I’m not hitting on your man.I’ve known him since before he had chest hair and muscles.
“Nice running into you, Hellcat,” Trent says. “Hope to see you back home soon. Will tell the others you said hi.”
“But I don’t,” I protest. “Idon’tsay hi.”
He throws me a mischievous smirk before leaving with his bombshell brunette.
Goddamn Garzas.
And then the old nickname registers.Hellcat. Had he used it in the beginning, I wouldn’t have had to guess which twin it was. Because only Trent Garza called me Hellcat. He was manipulative and bossy with me growing up and I was one to talk back; quick-tempered, peppery. So he dubbed me the nickname.
I touch my fingers to the gold necklace that never leaves my neck and smile.
After a few seconds, I shake it off and check my phone to see if there’s anything from Ellie.
Nothing.
Me:How’s it going?
Ellie:Up 15k.
Me:You were supposed to get out at 10k!
