Read Online Heartless Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris - Free Book Online Page B

the government.
It was tiny, cramped.”
                 She
hesitated for a few moments, and he wondered if she would continue. Then she
cleared her throat.
                 “There
were some things that happened, things that Mama wasn’t expecting, but we
finally got the house rebuilt enough to live in. Then I went to Vegas,” she
said, shrugging. “It seemed like the thing to do at the time. I was seeing
someone, and he lost his job. He said we could make a lot more in Vegas,
because tourism was strong, and I definitely needed extra money to help out at
home. Tourism had dried up in New Orleans, you see …” She took a breath, turned
to look at him, almost as if she were daring him to say anything negative about
her choices. “I waitressed for a while, but when one of the casinos announced
they needed dealer trainees, I applied. The money was supposed to be better,
and I wanted to send more home.”
                 She
shrugged again, as if it meant nothing—and yet he was certain it meant
everything. “I worked for someone else for a while, but Bobby offered me more
money. So I took it.”
                 Jack’s
grip tightened on the wheel instinctively. He understood the drive to help
family only too well. The need, the desperation, the necessity. They were more
alike than she knew.
                 “So
what happened to the boyfriend?”
                 Her
fingers clenched in her lap. “We parted ways.” She turned to him, fixed him
with the full force of her wounded stare. He didn’t think she could possibly be
aware of all she revealed in that look. “He stole my money and ran off with an
exotic dancer.”
                 Jack
wanted to grind his teeth. But he said, “Then he wasn’t very bright, was he?”
                 She
gave a little laugh. “You’re too nice. But you don’t really know me. Maybe the
dancer was a better choice. Maybe I’m horrible or something.”
                 It
was his turn to laugh. “Not a chance, Cara.”
                 “How
do you know?” she challenged.
                 He
glanced at her before concentrating on the road again. “Because you didn’t
leave me at Bobby’s mercy. Because you sacrificed your job for me.”
                 “I
didn’t do it for you,” she interjected. “At least, not the job part.”
                 “No,
you couldn’t cheat because it’s not who you are. But I still feel responsible.
Bobby’s guy probably would have won without me there. He was the best player,
besides me.”
                 “It
doesn’t matter,” she said. “What happened happened. There’s no sense crying
over it now.”
                 She
was strong, this woman. He admired that about her.
                 “How
did you end up in Nice, anyway?”
                 She
leaned back on the seat, her head lolling to one side. “Bobby took only his
best employees, and he promised us all a huge bonus. It seemed like a good idea
at the time. I’ve never been to Europe before,” she added in a soft voice.
                 “And
is it everything you thought it would be?”
                 “I
really don’t know.” She sighed, a soft sound that whispered over his senses and
made him wonder if she would sigh like that in bed. “I’ve been working nonstop
for the opening, so I never had a chance to explore. Bobby rented an apartment
block to house us in and sent a van every day to pick us up. All I saw of Nice
was from a car window.”
                 “Didn’t
you ever have a day off?”
                 “No.
I’ve only been in France for two weeks, and we worked every day.”
                 “Then
maybe you need to do a little sightseeing.” The wedding was in two days, so he
had plenty of time to get there. Besides, if he were in Paris, there would