by Shana Gray
Although time was something they were running out of.
‘You get used to it. Winning keeps me in the game. Building points makes sponsors happy and means I get to keep moving on. It’s fluid, and I’m always ready to go where the game is.’
Okay, so he sorta told me. He plays off his winnings. She bit her lip, as the seed of unease just sprouted a little stem. Would he ever be able to put down roots or would he continue to travel around the world, always chasing the next game?
They had to sidestep around a crowd of people, so separated, but came back together.
‘Have you had breakfast or anything to eat?’ Bonni asked him.
‘Yes, I had something earlier. I’m going to be tied up here pretty much most of the day.’ He looked at his watch. ‘But I do have a bit of time before they call for the next round.’
‘I have no idea how you can just keep going from one to the next.’
‘This one is organized a little differently. It’s over just three days, and it’s an invitational tournament. Most tournaments run for a week.’
‘So for an invitational tournament, you have to be really good, eh?’
He looked down at her. ‘Yes.’ There was a thrill shining in his eyes, driven by something that was so far from her wheelhouse she wondered if she’d ever be able to understand. ‘Have you eaten?’ Quinn asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘I had a coffee and a biscotti on the walk over.’
‘Well, I could use a coffee. Let’s go grab one over there.’ He took her hand, and he kept her close this time when they had to dodge between people lingering around the ring of tables near the refreshment station. ‘Landon texted me – he’s nursing quite a hangover. Apparently, Celia drank him under the table.’
Bonni laughed. ‘I told you he’d have his hands full. Celia can pack ’em back for a little thing.’
Quinn chuckled, and Bonni shivered with delight when he put his hand on her waist.
‘Let’s sit over there.’ Quinn slid his hand up her back, his fingers strong and totally reminding her of their magic touch. He guided her to a small table in a bustling café. His presence had a powerful effect on her. She absorbed the sensations he roused in her, the thrill of his touch and the delightful seductive quiver that flowed through her body. The sense of security she had around him . . . and . . . something else had her in a state. She eyed him, watching how he fussed with the chair, before motioning for her to sit, and realized it was his attention to her. He cared? Bonni smiled to herself and was glad she’d come to the tournament now. She’d never really been treated like a lady before. Her line of work made it hard to be feminine; she’d always been just one of the guys, both at work and growing up. Bonni had figured the girlie gene had never made its way into her DNA. Yet, here, in the presence of this man, she was feeling everything womanly.
And she liked it.
‘I was surprised you were gone this morning. I didn’t hear you leave.’
She gazed at him and saw that he wasn’t accusing her, he wasn’t judging, yet the look in his eyes was something she hadn’t seen before. Soft, calm and with an almost-yearning in them. The layers were peeling back and Bonni tried to see deeper. Just what did the expression in his gaze mean?
She cleared her throat, suddenly thrown off kilter. ‘I tried to be quiet so I didn’t wake you. I don’t sleep well. When I wake up, it’s hard to get back to sleep. Plus, I knew you had to be up early today for this tournament. I didn’t want to be an unnecessary distraction for you.’
She dropped her gaze and caught her breath, trying to steady her pounding heart. Something that had become oh so common since meeting Quinn.
He put his finger under her chin to tilt her face up, smiled and leaned forward. ‘That was thoughtful of you. But I missed you in my bed.’
Bonni drew in a quick breath; his voice was low, deep and seductive, just loud enough for her to hear. Memories of their shared intimacy reignited her desire for him. He pressed a kiss to her lips, light, sensual, so when he did lift up from her, she sat for a moment with her eyes closed, craving more and totally forgetting they were in the middle of a busy café.
Bonni blinked and focused on him. ‘You are a dangerous man, Quinn Bryant.’ She raised the coffee cup and gulped a mouthful, then lowered it, still holding it between her hands.
‘Dangerous in a good way, I hope.’
She nodded and met his gaze. ‘Yes, in a very good way.’ A blush rushed up her cheeks, and it surprised her.
Quinn laughed and placed his hand over hers. ‘I like that you can still blush.’
She shook her head and raised her eyebrows. ‘I can’t believe I still have the ability. Honestly, it’s annoying.’
‘No, it’s not annoying, it’s nice.’ Quinn caught her gaze and Bonni fell under his spell. ‘I know what you look like when you fly to pieces.’
Bonni looked around quickly. ‘Quinn, we’re in public, you can’t say that here.’ But she wanted him to continue. This dirty talk wasn’t what she was used to, and she liked the excitement of it.
Quinn leaned back in the chair, which was really too small for his large frame, and his chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. ‘Why are you worried someone will hear?’ He gave her a slow smile, which was her undoing. ‘So, let them be jealous. You’re mine.’
She drew in a gasp and closed her eyes, savoring his words.
He reached for her hand and took it in his. ‘You need to stay in bed with me, then you’ll sleep well.’
‘You might be too much of a distraction for me to be able to sleep.’ Bonni lifted a shoulder and gave him a coquettish smile.
‘I’m quite happy to be your favorite distraction. And your wildest fantasy.’ He lowered his head so that he was gazing at her from beneath his eyebrows. Bonni giggled.
‘Perhaps I need to know some of your fantasies.’ Bonni tipped her head to the side, waiting to see what his response would be.
‘And that, my sexy detective, is just fine with me.’ He gave her a look that made her belly flip over.
‘Remember, though, I’m the one with the cuffs.’ Damn, she didn’t give a shit if she sounded breathless. The idea of having Quinn cuffed to her bed . . . there wasn’t enough oxygen on the planet to refill her lungs after that image.
‘Yes, you are, and I’ll hold you to that.’ He chuckled and checked his watch. ‘We should have dinner later tonight.’
‘My thoughts exactly.’ She hesitated on her next words, but then blurted them out. ‘We don’t have much time left.’
‘No, we don’t. But there is always after Vegas. This doesn’t have to end here.’ He stroked his thumb across the delicate skin of her wrist and fire raced through her blood.
Memories of last night flooded her, and Bonni drew in a soft breath. Quinn had passed his crash course in getting to know Bonni Connolly’s erogenous zones with flying colors.
‘No, it doesn’t. But you do push me outside my comfort zone.’ She didn’t feel the least bit shy admitting this.
‘That’s a good thing, don’t you think?’ He nodded and gave her a heartfelt look.
Bonni met his gaze. ‘Sometimes. But it can also create a craving in me.’
Quinn laughed softly and pulled her wrist so they were inches apart. ‘I have to agree with you there. You are my craving now.’
‘I think I like the sound of that,’ she whispered. ‘So what time should we do dinner later, then? When will you be all mine, after you’re free from all this?’ She didn’t break her gaze from his.
‘It depends how well I do.’ He pressed his lips to her hair.
‘I have confidence in you.’ Bonni clutched his arms.
‘Keep your phone close, I’ll text you. If I’m doing good, it will be later on, between six and seven o’clock. If I do poorly, I’ll be done even earlier.’
‘Okay. Then I’ll bank on seven.’ Bonni gave him a look that she hoped showed her confidence in him.
‘That’s the kind of posi
tivity I need. Throw it out there into the universe and it’ll come back to you, right?’
‘If you believe in that stuff.’ Bonni gave him a sideways glance.
‘I guess I believe in whatever is handy at the time.’
‘That can work in your favor—’
An announcement came across a speaker and Quinn held up his hand, tilting his head to listen. She wasn’t thrilled to be cut off like that and furrowed her brows. Quinn stood and she followed his lead.
‘I couldn’t understand, is it time for you to go?’
‘Yes. I’m sorry. I’m glad you came, even if we only had a short time together.’
‘Me too.’ Bonni’s heart started to beat faster, knowing there were just a precious few minutes left before he went back to his game and she to her day. The anticipation of their dinner later was the only calming influence on her otherwise riotous emotions. She’d never been so unglued by a man before and controlling herself was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
Bonni followed Quinn as he carved his way through the growing crowd. A number of people stopped him to shake his hand and congratulate him on advancing to the next round. He was very gracious and polite, while she seethed with frustration. All she wanted to do was drag him out of here. Get him alone, away from all the people, so they could spend time together. These unfamiliar emotions were making her crazy, and she gripped his hand a little tighter.
Quinn turned to her. She looked up at him and, to her horror, she felt the hot swell of threatening tears. What is the matter with me? He brushed her hair from her cheek. ‘Shh, it’s okay, Bonni.’
‘I’m sorry, I-I’m . . .’ She shook her head, incredulous at her despair. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me.’
‘I know. I feel it too. But they’re waiting for me.’ Quinn whispered in her ear. ‘How about a kiss for luck?’
She nodded, unable to form any words.
He pulled her behind one of the room’s pillars and gathered her in his arms.
‘I’m glad you came. And now, with this kiss, I’m guaranteed to win.’
Bonni’s mood was immediately lifted by the upbeat tone his voice held. She turned her face to his. ‘Talk about pressure. But I can handle it. C’mere.’
His lips took hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to him. She damn well gave him more than just a kiss for luck. She wanted him to feel her, to remember how their bodies meshed so sweetly. Leave him with the memory of her body next to his, her lips on his, so that he would be burning for her, just as she was for him, with the anticipation for later.
In that perfect moment, she was happy, but the kiss was much too short and, reluctantly, they parted.
‘Tonight. Text me.’
‘It’s a deal.’
Bonni watched him leave, and saw how quickly he immersed himself back into the games. He was assigned a table and took his place. While a number of the other players wore hoodies, Quinn looked much more polished in his polo. She smiled when he put on his baseball cap, glad that he didn’t hide inside a hoodie. He had style and, even in this casual setting, he looked debonair. He cracked his knuckles and placed his palms down on the table. Almost like a pre-game ritual.
The emotion that filled Bonni was quite unfamiliar. Leaving him now, and knowing she’d have to do it again tomorrow, and, if things did move beyond Vegas, that he’d be leaving her whenever he went to a poker game, wherever that might be in the world . . . It was like water on the seed of unease.
Yes, he was a special man, and it surprised the hell out of her that she was thinking beyond Vegas where her relationship with Quinn was concerned. But how could they ever make a relationship outside of Vegas work with their two vastly different careers? Their worlds were very different. Perhaps the chasm between was just too great. The only way to know for sure was for them to have a conversation and lay their cards on the table.
Bonni’s phone buzzed in her bag. She knew it would be one of the girls and she was eager to see what they were planning for the rest of the day.
Ceez: Where r u gurrrl? Wanna get the day started.
Bons: Just finished watching Quinn play. He’s moving on to the next round. Did you confirm the Canyon tour?
Ceez: Yaaas! #vegasbaby Weather is fine.
Bons: When do we leave?
Ceez: You got 20 minutes to get ur ass back here
Bons: Fab! On my way. #funtimes
Ceez: Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon #helitour #whompwhomp
Bonni looked up at Quinn. He was intensely focused on his game. She was glad she’d come to see him. Every little stolen moment together was all they had. She refused to think about the looming inevitability. Excited to see Quinn later, she was now just as eager to spend time with her girls.
She stood and watched him for a few moments. He looked up and Bonni’s heart swelled. She blew him a kiss and gave a little wave, mouthing the word ‘later’. He didn’t smile, keeping his poker face, but he nodded his head, which was good enough for her. She turned and walked swiftly back to the Gladiators. Pushing her concerns aside, if she didn’t know better, she would have thought she was walking on air. Bonni hadn’t felt this happy in a long, long time and knowing that she was seeing her man later was the icing on the cake.
Chapter 18
Bonni got a kick out of seeing Celia with her face planted against the window of the helicopter. She was like a child, full of enthusiasm and soaking up every little bit of the experience.
‘Oh my God, I’d heard seeing the Grand Canyon from the air was the best way.’ Celia’s voice was muffled, since she was still facing the window.
‘This is simply breathtaking.’ Fredi was also craning her neck to take everything in, and was busy snapping pictures with her phone. Bonni knew that, at the next quiet moment, Fredi would be sketching up a storm. She had such a creative mind, anything could be inspiration.
Ava was sitting in the front beside the pilot and had a bird’s-eye view of their flight path. Ava wasn’t the best with heights, but she had flatly refused to be left behind. Her fingers twisted on her seatbelt as the pilot distracted her with historical facts. Bonni had chosen the middle back seat between Celia and Fredi so they could have the better window views.
She already had so many fantastic memories with her besties, and now, here she was creating more. They’d flown over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and were now zipping along toward the Canyon. Damn if it hadn’t choked her up a little bit.
‘I’m glad we booked this tour. Great idea, Celia,’ Bonni said into the microphone of the headset she wore. Her friends, and the pilot, all wore a matching set.
Celia turned to hug Bonni, making her even more emotional, so that tears threatened. ‘Anything for my girls. We had some pretty damn fine scenery last night at the Thunder Down Under show, but these vistas are gorgeous. I just have to bring the kids here one day. I can’t wait to show them pictures when I get back.’
‘You totally should. California’s practically in walking distance.’ Bonni tried to keep an upbeat tone to her voice, but the reminder of the rapidly approaching end of their trip saddened her.
Celia was busy taking pictures out of the window and then Instagramming them. ‘Hey, Bon-Bon, Fredi, smile!’ Celia held her phone up and they all leaned in to each other as best they could so she could snap a selfie. ‘Ava, turn around.’
Ava gripped her seatbelt tighter. ‘I’m good, thanks.’ In an obvious attempt to distract Celia, Ava asked, ‘Bonni, what is Quinn doing today?’
‘He’s still in the tournament. He texted me a selfie at the last break, but I haven’t gotten anything in a while, so he must be playing.’ Bonni’s phone was wedged into her back pocket, but she knew she would feel it vibrate if Quinn texted or called.
Celia focused on her phone, tagging and sending her pictures. ‘Eh, it’s a good thing he’s just a fling. It would never work out with you guys long-term.’
Bonni felt a little shocked and let down. ‘Why . . . wh
y would you say that, Celia?’
Still preoccupied with her phone, Celia said, ‘Well, c’mon, he’s this high-society dude who flits from game to game, and you have a job. In Canada. And there’s your dad and everything. What are you going to do, just trust that he’s not cheating on you while he’s off playing in exotic locations and sit around waiting for him to visit you? You’re too smart for that. So take him for a ride then put him back in the stable. That’s what I do now.’
Wind blew through the small window on the door Celia sat beside, lifting her long curls off her neck and shoulders. Bonni saw a bruise on her neck and her eyes opened wide before she narrowed them to scrutinize the mark. Celia had a hickey! A quick glance at Fredi and Ava showed they hadn’t noticed. Bonni sat back in the seat and wondered where she’d got the love bite from. Then she drew in a soft breath. Landon! Bonni had noticed their connection last night, and damn! Celia had had sex with Landon. Or at least made out with him. But why hadn’t the other two picked up on it? Best keep this to herself for now.
‘Come on,’ Ava interrupted. ‘A long-distance relationship could work. You just have to try harder.’ Trust Ava to try to put a positive spin on things.
‘Aves, why would Bonni possibly waste herself on – ow! Fredi, why did you hit me?’ It was impossible for Bonni to miss Fredi smacking Celia on the arm, but she just stared into space. Celia’s words only fed into Bonni’s concerns. It upset her, and she knew she probably wasn’t hiding it very well.
There was a rustling sound, and then Bonni felt Celia take her hand. She looked at her friend, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
‘Oh, Bonni, I’m sorry. Quinn’s a good guy, and he’s certainly not acting like a dude who’s only out for a good time. Maybe Ava’s right. Maybe you guys can make things work long distance. Maybe he’ll even want to settle down soon. He’s not getting any younger, after all.’ As reassurances went, Celia failed miserably and Bonni could tell her friend didn’t believe a word of it, but she felt lucky to have a bestie who’d support her even when she thought Bonni was being an idiot.