Page 17 of The Little Black Book

“See?” he says, grinning like a buffoon. “Deadly serious.”

I nod and pluck the straw from my drink. Tossing it onto the bar, I lift the glass and chug down every last drop.

Holy shit. What the fuck was that?

Chapter6

She’s Just a Friend

Sam

What in the hell was I thinking?

It’s been two days since my failed date and subsequent night out with Zoey, and I’m still questioning my sanity. Sure, I laughed it off in the moment, but I wasn’t exactly unaffected by my impromptu show of seriousness when it comes to the art of seduction.

I’ve only ever thought of Zoey as a friend. Wearefriends. Nothing more. But when I leaned in to prove that idiotic point, I got lost in the moment. I forgot where we were andwhowe were to each other. All I knew was the velvet softness of her skin. Her sweet vanilla scent. That little hitch in her breath that made my blood pound in my veins.

And even though I barely touched her, my cock was hard and throbbing in my pants from the contact. And I’ve spent the last two days trying to tell myself the visceral, eye-opening physical reaction was just that––physical. Nothing more.

“Sam.”

I look up to see Jared striding toward me, and I suddenly remember where I am. At work. Where I’m supposed to be making sure the table gaming is supervised, secure, and running smoothly. And I’ve been so lost in my thoughts, someone could have fleeced us for thousands, and I wouldn’t have even noticed.

“Morning,” I say after swerving around an empty blackjack table to meet him.

“How are things going this morning?” he asks, his dark eyes scanning my domain.

“Much as you’d expect for a Sunday morning,” I say motioning toward the mostly empty section of tables. “It’ll pick up in a couple of hours.”

“Is Bradley here?” he asks, cocking his head to glance behind me. Seeing the man in question, he nods to himself. “Come join me for a cup of coffee.”

Bradley is one of my best guys, and I know he can handle the pit for a half-hour. Especially right now, when things are slow and the seats that are filled are occupied by regulars. Lifting a hand, I wave to get his attention and jerk a thumb over my shoulder to let him know I’m taking a break. He nods confidently, and I spin around to follow Jared to the casino’s coffee shop.

“So, how’s the spy game going?” Jared asks once we’ve received our drinks and are seated at a small table away from the other patrons.

I shrug and shake my head. “The date was a disaster from start to finish. But the good news is, Zoey assured me the woman was a nut job, and it wasn’t my fault.”

“What did she do?” Jared asks, his expression sparking with curiosity.

“She was upset she got there before me, even though I was early. She ordered the biggest, most expensive steak on the menu and ate two bites before discarding it and saying she was full. Then she said she was pissed her grandmother died because it meant she had to leave Maine and come back to the desert. And when I told her I didn’t think we were going to work out, she told me to fuck off and lose her number, causing a whole scene and storming out.”

“Fuck,” Jared breathes, then laughs. “What did Zoey say?”

My mouth curves up into a wide smile as I say, “Bitches be crazy.”

Jared’s gaze narrows slightly, and he cocks his head. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“What?” I ask, taking a sip of my coffee.

“Having Zoey there. Isn’t it weird?”

“Not at all. We’re good friends, and she’s helping me out. That’s all.”

“If you say so,” he says, his tone skeptical.

“What does that mean?”

He shakes his head. “Your face lit up the moment you started talking about Zoey. Are you sure there’s nothing there?”

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