Page 91 of Finding New Dreams

Chloe texted asking where we were, and I let her know. She gave me a thumbs up. What would we tell her if Rose won?

Then…

The dealer flipped the last card and the others showed theirs, Rose last. The other three groaned while Rose beamed.

She twisted around to look at me. “I won,” she breathed.

I blew out a long breath, gripped her arms, and pressed a hard, quick kiss to those ruby lips. “Time to claim your prize, then.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “Let me cash out first.”

I nodded tightly. She swept up her chips, tipped the dealer, then hurried off to the cash-out counter.

My eyes bulged when the clerk handed her two thousand dollars. “Two…thousand? You don’t have to spend all that on one night, Rose. Trust me. I can kick Wyatt out of our room. He can stay with Gina. Everyone wins.”

She laughed, stowing the money in her beaded clutch as we stepped away from the counter. “As much as I’m sure Gina would love that, it’s fine. I already reserved the suite.”

“Miss Rafferty,” I said in mock-reprimand. “Were you really so sure that you would win and that I would say yes?”

“Yes to the first. As for the second, call it a hunch.” She trailed her finger down my shirt buttons. “Did you consider saying no?”

“No.” And that was true. Regardless of the consequences, I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything in my life. “So tell me, how long do we need to stick around before the night really begins?” I growled that last part in her ear, then caressed her earlobe with my teeth.

She pressed against me with a shiver. “S-soon. But we should find everyone.”

We found them by a group of pirate-themed machines. I plastered on a smile and attempted to be my usual charming self, like this was just another showcase or party. But it was pointless. I couldn’t. Not when I knew there was an empty suite waiting for us.

I’d been thinking about Rose for weeks. Since we’d met, really. But my craving for her had grown stronger every day. Still, I’d drawn on depths of patience I hadn’t even known existed in my body. I’d wanted her to come to me. To be sure.

“You doing okay, Flynn?” Owen’s voice rumbled next to me.

I blinked, coming back to reality. “Yeah, why?”

He wiggled his fake cigar at me. “Because you’ve been staring at Rose like you’ve been in the desert for a week and she’s a gallon of ice-cold water.”

I laughed, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yep. That plus the fact that you two have been attached at the hip all weekend. You counting the minutes until you can escape with her?”

“Damn, dude, are you psychic or something? Is that how you make all your money?”

Owen flinched. His knuckles whitened around the cigar. “Just observant. But I’m sure if you hadn’t been lost in daydreams of Rosie, you would’ve also noticed that our other two couples have been mysteriously disappearing at random as well. Coming back with clothing and makeup askew. I seriously doubt Carter put that lipstick on himself.”

Chuckling, I spotted Carter, who did indeed have a smear of lipstick the exact shade of Sarah’s on his bottom lip. “Your point, Sherlock?”

“Make an excuse and go have the night you and Rose have been itching to start. I have a feeling the other couples will follow your lead shortly.” He grinned. “Leaving us poor single folks to really get our gamble on.”

I returned his grin. “Well, we certainly wouldn’t want to cramp your style.”

He nodded toward Chloe, who had her arms wrapped around Hunter while he played a poker machine. I gave Owen’s shoulder a grateful slap and strode over to my sister.

“Hey,” I said quietly, “I think I’m going to turn in for the night. Is that okay with you?”

She looked up, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright. “Of course, Flynn! You feeling okay? Do you need anything? Did you have fun?”

I smiled and gave her forehead a quick kiss. “I’m good, Chloe Bear. I had an amazing time. Goodnight. See ya later, man,” I added to Hunter.

He gave me a quick grin. “Don’t forget to give Wyatt a heads-up.”

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