switched out with the new dealer, shutting down his station and nodding to the players. His crisp black pants and white shirt hugged his lean figure, and as soon as he left the floor, his fingers were loosening the top buttons and rolling up his sleeves. His long strides ate up the casino floor, and Cara stumbled to catch up.
He had just turned around the flashing game of Sex in the City, when she picked up her speed and bashed right into a hard chest.
Uh, oh.
Her eyes widened as he stared down at her with chilly blue eyes. Damn, he was pissed. She probably should’ve yelled his name instead of trying to stalk him, and now he thought she was one of those crazy exes.
“What are you doing, Cara?” he demanded.
She swallowed, threw her head back, and went for it. “Coming to see you. Wanted to check if you’d like to grab dinner.”
His eyebrow shot up. “It’s midnight,” he said mildly. “A little late for dinner, don’t you think?”
“I know after work, no matter how late it was, you always craved a big meal.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.
Cara meant to give her rehearsed speech, but instead found herself babbling. “I don’t want to make a pest out of myself, and I respect your decision not to continue our relationship. But I want to get to know you again. As friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends.” She stumbled over the word and heard her inner voice scream LIAR. She ignored it. “It’s rare to have someone in your life who knew who you really were. God, Rem, I had dinners with your family, and hung with your brothers. I dragged you to art galleys and you forced me to sit through football games. But we were friends before we were lovers. Can’t we just have a meal together and talk? No sex. No intensity. Just… talk?”
Her shoulders tensed as she waited. If this didn’t work, she’d need to compose a plan B, but Cara hoped he’d be curious enough to give her this. She watched the mingle of emotions flicker over his face. Cara stood her ground. Kept her gaze on his. And waited.
“Okay?”
She jerked back. “Really?”
That half smile curved his lips and her heart did a slow flip-flop. “Really. But no trying to seduce me at the table.”
She grinned back. “Deal. Pasta or steak?”
“Pizza. Lots of it.”
“You still like ham and pineapple?”
“Damn straight.”
She shuddered. “I still hate it.”
They laughed and headed over to the fast food section, where a brick oven specialty shop served up personalized pies with a variety of toppings. Rem grabbed a Sam Adams Octoberfest, a Blue Moon for her, two Hawaiian slices, and one plain. They slid into a red vinyl booth with paper plates and drank beer from the bottle. Familiarity settled around them.
“Why’d you say yes?” she asked, taking a sip of the cold, citrusy brew.
He shook his head. “You’re direct. I like that.”
“You deserve that,” she said softly.
Surprise flickered in his eyes. He nodded. “I said yes cause I’m hungry and you’ve been on my mind. I thought sharing a meal would be… nice.”
“I’m happy you’ve been thinking of me. I’ve been replaying that night in my mind over and over these past weeks. But I haven’t been feeling… nice.”
His gaze narrowed. “You agreed no sex.”
She bit her lip in guilt. “You’re right. My bad. Tell me about your brothers. I’ve missed them. Are they all here in Vegas with you?”
Rem probed her face to make sure she really felt guilty, and then bit into his pizza. “Yeah, they came out here one by one until they finally recruited me a few months ago. It’s nice working with them again, though. We’re trying to get Mom and Dad out here for a long vacation.”
“How are your parents?” she asked. She still remembered the warmth and chaos in the household brimming with boys. Rem’s mom ruled with an iron hand, and a lot of food. Sunday dinners were a staple, with football on in the background, crowded at
He had just turned around the flashing game of Sex in the City, when she picked up her speed and bashed right into a hard chest.
Uh, oh.
Her eyes widened as he stared down at her with chilly blue eyes. Damn, he was pissed. She probably should’ve yelled his name instead of trying to stalk him, and now he thought she was one of those crazy exes.
“What are you doing, Cara?” he demanded.
She swallowed, threw her head back, and went for it. “Coming to see you. Wanted to check if you’d like to grab dinner.”
His eyebrow shot up. “It’s midnight,” he said mildly. “A little late for dinner, don’t you think?”
“I know after work, no matter how late it was, you always craved a big meal.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.
Cara meant to give her rehearsed speech, but instead found herself babbling. “I don’t want to make a pest out of myself, and I respect your decision not to continue our relationship. But I want to get to know you again. As friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends.” She stumbled over the word and heard her inner voice scream LIAR. She ignored it. “It’s rare to have someone in your life who knew who you really were. God, Rem, I had dinners with your family, and hung with your brothers. I dragged you to art galleys and you forced me to sit through football games. But we were friends before we were lovers. Can’t we just have a meal together and talk? No sex. No intensity. Just… talk?”
Her shoulders tensed as she waited. If this didn’t work, she’d need to compose a plan B, but Cara hoped he’d be curious enough to give her this. She watched the mingle of emotions flicker over his face. Cara stood her ground. Kept her gaze on his. And waited.
“Okay?”
She jerked back. “Really?”
That half smile curved his lips and her heart did a slow flip-flop. “Really. But no trying to seduce me at the table.”
She grinned back. “Deal. Pasta or steak?”
“Pizza. Lots of it.”
“You still like ham and pineapple?”
“Damn straight.”
She shuddered. “I still hate it.”
They laughed and headed over to the fast food section, where a brick oven specialty shop served up personalized pies with a variety of toppings. Rem grabbed a Sam Adams Octoberfest, a Blue Moon for her, two Hawaiian slices, and one plain. They slid into a red vinyl booth with paper plates and drank beer from the bottle. Familiarity settled around them.
“Why’d you say yes?” she asked, taking a sip of the cold, citrusy brew.
He shook his head. “You’re direct. I like that.”
“You deserve that,” she said softly.
Surprise flickered in his eyes. He nodded. “I said yes cause I’m hungry and you’ve been on my mind. I thought sharing a meal would be… nice.”
“I’m happy you’ve been thinking of me. I’ve been replaying that night in my mind over and over these past weeks. But I haven’t been feeling… nice.”
His gaze narrowed. “You agreed no sex.”
She bit her lip in guilt. “You’re right. My bad. Tell me about your brothers. I’ve missed them. Are they all here in Vegas with you?”
Rem probed her face to make sure she really felt guilty, and then bit into his pizza. “Yeah, they came out here one by one until they finally recruited me a few months ago. It’s nice working with them again, though. We’re trying to get Mom and Dad out here for a long vacation.”
“How are your parents?” she asked. She still remembered the warmth and chaos in the household brimming with boys. Rem’s mom ruled with an iron hand, and a lot of food. Sunday dinners were a staple, with football on in the background, crowded at
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