Page 23 of Undeniable
So far, I’d made over a hundred dollars in tips. A nice amount to add to my savings. Plus, I’d recently landed a tutoring job at the university. It didn’t pay as much as working as a server, but every penny helped to keep my panic at bay.
Justine, a leggy brunette and my working cohort, met me at the servers’ station—a rectangular carved-out room dedicated to the bartender and servers. “Any word on your mom’s court date or CPS?”
I’d spilled my guts to her earlier in the week during one of our shifts. As she was a single mom, I wanted her advice. She’d been up against CPS three years ago after she’d shoplifted children's clothes for her then four-year-old son. Sadly, she’d gotten caught, and her son ended up in foster care until she could prove she was on the straight and narrow.
I dragged my palms down my apron. “Would you believe October thirtieth?”
My mom’s blood alcohol test had confirmed what the breathalyzer had already told Officer Morrical. I’d wanted to strangle her, but that wouldn’t change the situation. Besides, my mother was scared out of her mind. Not only was she facing a DWI but also a child endangerment charge.
Justine set down her tray on the bar. “Did she get bail at least?”
“The judge denied it. According to my mom’s court-appointed attorney, this particular judge is a hard-ass on DWIs, especially when children are in the car.” I had been gutted to see my mom break down so hard she couldn’t breathe. “But Kaylee is good. She settled in with Bailey’s parents. And Officer Morrical mentioned that it might be a while before we hear from CPS.”
Justine flashed a motherly look my way. At twenty-nine, she wasn’t old enough to be my mom, but the faint wrinkles around her brown eyes were a clear indication she’d aged because of her experiences.
“It helps that Kaylee has a nice home environment. I’m sure the officer put that in his report to show CPS that it wasn't a high priority to take her from family,” she said.
Since the accident a week ago, I’d been praying every night that fate was on Kaylee’s side. I hadn’t shared the news that some guy by the name of Nick Grafton could be her father. Until he returned from his deployment and took steps to prove he was, Kaylee didn’t need to get her hopes up.
A commotion resonated above the din of voices and the irritating sounds of the slot machines.
Justine and I walked to the edge of where the tile floor of the servers’ station met the carpeted room of the casino.
A wiry man in his late thirties was shouting at the top of his lungs at the pit boss manning a blackjack table. I couldn’t tell if he was drunk or not. Outbursts and fights were the norm, especially on weekends when the place was teeming with patrons, sober and drunk.
“Oh, my,” Justine said with a shake of her head. “I didn’t know Shane Blackwood was out of prison.”
“As in Wade Blackwood’s son?” I mumbled to myself.
The Blackwoods were a big family in Cedar Ridge that owned the casino and land that contained oil wells.
“He got eight years for felony drug possession. Rich daddy’s pull and money couldn’t save his son from serving a prison sentence.”
As I watched security cart off Shane, two tall, familiar guys stuck out like sore thumbs. I did a double take to make sure my eyes were seeing Lucas Allen walk around the casino as though he was looking for someone.
I was sure that someone was me. Bailey had given Lucas my number, and he’d texted me a few times asking about my mom and sister. I’d replied that they were fine and added nothing more. I’d been serious about no strings attached. Even before my mom’s accident.
“He’s worried about you,” Bailey had said.
That was sweet and all, but I wasn’t ready to date. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t want another night with Lucas in bed.
Still, I swept my gaze around for Bailey. Maybe she’d come an hour early to pick me up, and Ryker and Lucas had tagged along. But I didn’t see Bailey anywhere. The casino policy didn’t allow us to have our phones on our person. Otherwise, I would have texted her.
Lucas stood at a roulette table, casual as ever, his T-shirt stretched across his ridiculous muscled chest, his blond crop messy. Suddenly, I began sweating as I recalled our hot night together.
“What’s got your attention, girl?” Justine slid up to my side.
“Who,” I corrected her. “See that blond hunk at the roulette table? That’s Lucas.”
Her jaw dropped. “The Lucas. Post-Josh Lucas? One-night stand Lucas?”
“Apparently not one-night enough. My brain says stay cool. My body says climb him like a jungle gym.”
She snorted. “I say your body has excellent taste.”
I huffed. “It’s just lust. Nothing more.”
Justine grinned. “Keep telling yourself that.”
