Liza was right—shealwayswas—when she said earlier that something was different.
Skye. He liked her. He really liked her. In that terrifying way that would only end poorly because when Brennan really liked someone, it was always someone he couldn’t have for whatever reason.
And just like those two little aching holes in his heart from the previous women he loved and couldn’t have, Brennan knew this wasn’t going anywhere either.
So, he didn’t do anything with that feeling of really liking her and simply tickled her ribs. “How ‘bout Blackjack?”
* * *
“Oh my goodness, I won!”Skye threw her head back and laughed as she clapped her hands.
“Very nice, very nice, Miss Skye,” Jeffrey, the blackjack dealer said, wearing a charmed smile. He nodded at Brennan. “Your lady’s a natural, Mr. Riley.”
The feeling of simple happiness expanded Brennan’s chest for a moment, and he draped his arm over her shoulders again to rub the side of her arm. “She sure is. I’d better watch my P’s and Q’s, huh, sweetheart.”
“I’m onfi-yah!” she hooted, then licked her index finger and pressed it against his side as she made a sizzling noise. “Better watch out. I might burn ya.”
Both Brennan and Jeffrey laughed as Jeffrey scooped up the cards and dealt another hand.
A cocktail waitress paused just behind him. “Mr. Riley,” she said discreetly. “That gentleman next to the ATM is with theestablishment. He’d like to speak to you if you have a moment.”
Theestablishmentwas code for only one thing, and Brennan’s stomach went cold. He turned to glance behind him and saw the large, sweaty Italian nephew of Vito looming in a doorway near a side entrance, cracking his knuckles. Brennan knew exactly what the discussion was going to be about. And he briefly wondered if he was going to leave Harrah’s that night with no teeth left in his skull.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket as he smiled at Jeffrey. “Jeff, would you mind looking after Miss Skye for a moment while I shoot the breeze with one of my colleagues?”
“Not at all, not at all.” He swiped a card out of the dispenser and tossed it in front of Skye. “I’ll take good care of her for you, Mr. Riley.”
Skye glanced up at him with a smile that faded after a microsecond. “What’s wrong?”
Brennan shook his head. “Not a thing. I just have to go say hi to someone.”
A deep V formed between her brows. “Something’s wrong. You have a look.”
“I don’t have a look.” At least, he was pretty sure he didn’t have a look, but apparently Skye was quite perceptive. Or she already knew his face, which was slightly alarming—alarming in a similar manner to that feeling he’d realized he had about her.
She pressed her mouth into a firm, flat line. “You do. And something’s wrong. But it’s none of my business. Right,sweetheart?”
Her tone was pure saccharin, but he’d have to handle it later. Right then, all he could do was attempt to placate her with a long, deep kiss.
After releasing her mouth, Brennan kissed her forehead and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “I’ll be back in two shakes.”
Rubbing his suddenly-clammy palms together, Brennan crossed the casino floor and approached Angelo, who was also rubbing his hands together, albeit in far more sinister manner.
“Angelo,” Brennan said, feigning friendly confidence and holding out his hand. “How are you doing, my friend?”
Angelo gripped Brennan’s hand, nearly crushing it, and gave it a quick shake. “Doing well, Brennan, doing well.”
“How’s your brother doing?” Brennan inquired pleasantly while prying his hand away. “I heard through the grapevine he had a health scare recently.”
“Yeah, yeah, he’s doing better. Had a quadruple bypass and was laid up for a good four weeks or so.” Angelo slapped his ample belly. “He’s been on a juicing kick lately, and he’s tryin’ to get me on board.” Angelo wheezed laughter. “I like my mama’s cannoli too much, so it ain’t takin’.”
Brennan nodded. “Yeah, I hear that. I don’t think I could do it either.”
“Well,” Angelo said, laughing and poking Brennan’s ribs, “don’t look like you got too much to worry about, skinny.”
Brennan laughed with him and adjusted his jacket.
“Anyway, it’s good to see ya, Brennan,” Angelo went on, “but you know I hate having to come over here like this.”
