Page 16 of Royal Shark
I swallow hard. Does he meanI’mmore important? It almost feels like he cares about me, but how could he after all these years? “Silvia’s being a pain in the ass about it, isn’t she?”
He lifts one shoulder. “You know Silvia.”
I used to. I kind of still do. She’s still the same old Silvia—sweet and warm. The girl next door, except she’s a princess. That never came between us, either, because she never made a big deal out of being a princess. She always seemed a little embarrassed by her guard and her maid, Marie, who doubled as a nanny and had been with her and Adrian since they were born.
“What’s the buy-in?” he asks.
“Table’s full. I’ve got my ten players.”
“Humor me and answer the question. There’s a steak dinner in it for you.”
I consider if I want to answer. I’m sure he has the money to join the game. I could always work him in as an alternate. I’m just not sure I want him there. Everyone knows each other, and there’s a good rapport going. Sergei is expecting me to come through with Vic, the hedge fund manager, though I still haven’t heard back from him. Actually, Adrian might be even better than Vic—a celebrity with deep pockets—and if he plays poorly on purpose, they’ll be thrilled to beat him. But then I’m basically asking him to make a giant donation to the cause just to appease his sister’s unfounded worries.
“Tell Silvia not to worry, okay?” I say and pick up the menu.
“How much?” he demands in a growl that jolts me into dropping the menu as excitement shoots through me.
That growly commanding voice does it for me. It’s sexy as fuck, but it’s also coming from someone I know is a good person. My personal kryptonite—alpha and tender, an extremely rare combination I’ve only read about in romance novels, which I willneveradmit to reading secretly on my phone. I have a tough New Yorker rep to protect.
I lick my lips. “Fifty K.”
He blows out a breath. “You’re telling me you’ve got a half mil on the table before the first cards are dealt?”
“Shh.”
He leans close, his voice low. “Do you take a percent?”
“No.” A rake, taking a percent, would make it illegal. Everything is completely kosher—I pay my taxes as an event planner, which I am. No rake, no drugs, just vodka and men looking for the adrenaline rush of the game.
His sharp eyes study me, and it feels like he’s searching my soul for the truth about me. Truth? I don’t let anyone see inside. It’s all I can do not to fidget in my seat.
Finally, he says, “Tips must be great.”
“Better than waitressing.” And my office manager job combined, I add silently.
“Then why are you living in a studio apartment?”
“It’s convenient.”
“Where do you play?”
I pick up the menu and study it, hoping he’ll take the hint. I don’t want to answer any more questions. He doesn’t take the hintat all. I can practically feel his eyes boring into the menu between us, and there’s a palpable tension vibrating in the air. Alpha doesn’t just mean sexy time, it meansallthe time. Clearly he’s got the demanding, assertive, and protector parts down pat, but I don’t need someone watching over me.
“Are you the only woman there?” he asks.
I keep studying the menu.
He snatches the menu from my hands. “Stop hiding behind the menu and answer me.”
My stomach flutters. Fuck. I donotwant to be turned on by Adrian Rourke. He’s the one person who could easily get under my skin, and I can’t risk the pain of letting him in close. He’ll leave. Everyone leaves.
I avoid his eyes and take a deep breath, reaching for calm. He’s tied to Villroy, and he’s leaving on Thursday. I can handle this. He’s just an old friend looking out for me because that’s what he does. He has a hero complex. Oh, I feel so much better now. That’s what this is. I called him a hero once, and now he thinks he has to play hero for me.
I meet his eyes. “Sometimes a few of the guys bring their latest girlfriend, so I’m not always the only woman. I have a dealer I can depend on. I’m just the organizer.”
“Organize me in,” he orders.
Alpha. Hero. Why do I like that so much? I take care of myself.
