Page 49 of What Happens In Vegas
Chapter 19
‘Hey, man, that was a pretty damn good game. I watched it from the sportsbook.’ Landon clapped Quinn on the back and sat on the stool next to him.
‘Yeah, whatever. It’s a win.’ Quinn felt so twisted up inside about Bonni it was hard to be enthusiastic about his victory.
‘It got you in the finals tomorrow, though.’ The bartender walked over. ‘I’ll have a Corona, and so will he.’ Landontilted his head toward his brother.
Quinn held up his beer. ‘Already got one.’
‘Have another.’
‘Give me a shot of Jack first.’
Landon looked at him, and Quinn sent him a challenging look back. Landon raised his hands in supplication. ‘All right. Drink away.’
The bartender put a shot glass in front of Quinn, filled it with Jack and then slid two bottles of Corona with lime in the top on thebar.
‘What’s up your ass?’ Landon asked him.
‘Nothing.What’s up yours?’ Quinn shot the Jack down in one gulp then grimaced.
‘You should’ve just had the beer.’ Landon shook his head, pushed the lime down the neck of the bottle and took a long pull. ‘JD will only get you in trouble.’
‘Now I’ll have the beer. I just needed a jolt of jet fuel.’ Quinn pulled his phone out from his pocket and checkedit again, then put it down on the counter.
‘Did you see her this morning?’
Quinn nodded. ‘Yeah, she turned up at the tournament.’
‘Sounds a little clingy for a one-night stand. What do you really know about this woman anyway?
Quinn shrugged his shoulders. ‘She’s beautiful, fantastic in bed. A loyal friend and a devoted daughter. And she’s a cop in Canada.’
‘A cop? I would’ve never guessedit.’
‘That’s exactly what I said.’ Quinn lifted the bottle and tipped it, letting the cold liquid slide down his throat. Images flashed through his mind of their night, the way he pushed her up against the windows, naked and exposed. How he’d sunk his cock into her and nearly lost his mind. Sharing their lives in the intimacy of his room. Getting to know her, learning that her beautiful exteriorwas matched by her beautiful soul. He sighed.
Landon regarded him thoughtfully, the air feeling heavy despite being broken by the noise from the nearby casino. ‘Dude, I think you’ve fallen for her.’
‘Don’t be stupid. Love at first sight isn’t a thing, and I’ve known her for all of two days.’ No way could he admit to his brother that the thought had crossed his mind as well.
‘Look, you makeyour living reading people, instantly sizing them up. When you finally meet “the one”, why wouldn’t youknow right away? You know I’m right. I can see it in your eyes.’ Landon’s phone buzzed, but he ignored it.
Quinn took a few gulps of beer and thought about it. ‘All it was ever meant to be was fun. Nothing more.’
‘Maybe that’s what you told yourself, but c’mon. You wouldn’t be sitting heredrowning your sorrows in beer if Bonni didn’t mean something to you.’
Quinn sighed and shook his head. ‘I can’t believe we’re talking about this. If Dad could see us now, he’d call us a pair of pussies.’
‘Forget about Dad’s antiquated notions of masculinity. I’m your brother. If you can’t tell me, who can you tell?’
Quinn gave a sideways look at Landon. ‘Fine. I’m starting to think . . . Imean, maybe I’m wondering if . . . there could be more. After Vegas. Even though she’s a cop, and I can tell she’s not entirely comfortable with gambling.’
Landon straightened and tapped a finger on the bar. ‘You can always consider the alternative.’
‘And that is?’ Quinn was sceptical, not really sure he wanted to hear the answer.
‘You can always come back into the fold. Become part of BryantEnterprises. You know there’s a place for you, when you’re ready. Your ability to read people and adapt to situations on the fly would be of great use to the company.’
