The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf)

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “Who is he?”

  I said the first name that popped into my head. “Caleb Usher.”

  “He’s nothing but a poker player. He’ll be working the tables for hours not giving you the attention you deserve. I can give you so much more.”

  Yeah, like a dirt coffin. I shivered. I couldn’t pull this off any longer. I was losing control of the conversation, and Dagor was about to become my big daddy. Yuck! I stood up from the table and collected my chips.

  “What if you give me tonight to think it over? Picking a new big daddy is a serious decision in a girl’s life. I’ll be back here at the same time tomorrow to give you my answer.” With the show tomorrow night, I would have to hurry to make it in time.

  His body slid along mine as he stood. “You better pick the right man, baby.”

  His hand wrapped around the back of my head, towing me into his lips. They were cold and hard like the man they belonged to. I didn’t dare push him away and blow my cover. When he finally released me, I gave him a shy smile that pained me to bestow and fled. On my way out, David strolled past me and slipped a note into my hand.

  Meet me at your place.

  How did he know who I was when Greyson and Caleb didn’t have a clue?

  David was relaxed on the couch when I opened the door to my apartment.

  “Well?” He asked. “From what I could see you were in excellent form.” He smirked.

  “How did you know who I was? No one else recognized me.”

  “Your green eyes and the way you walk. Mya taught me well. She used to transform through such drastic changes that I recognized her from the things she couldn’t change. Like the curves of her body, her blue eyes, and her naturally bubbly personality. One time she wore colored contact lenses. I almost tripped on that one.”

  I smiled. “That’s really sweet. Do I walk funny or something?”

  “No, but I’m not telling you any thing more than that.”

  I eyed him. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means you don’t walk funny. I can see why Greyson watches you. So, what’s the story with Dagor?”

  I relayed the conversation I had with Dagor. David listened intently and didn’t speak until I was finished.

  “So,” he said, “we know he somehow helped set up the operation for someone at Greyson’s casino. Most likely he sold them the supplies needed. But we won’t know who his buyer is unless you become his lover.”

  I shuddered at the word “lover”.

  A smile brewed on David’s face. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t want to be his lover?”

  “I nearly died when he kissed me.”

  “So short of selling yourself, we need to get him to meet with his buyer.”

  “How will that be possible? He’ll want me to perform services before he will help me.”

  My phone rang. I plucked it from between my cleavage. The corners of David’s mouth twitched up.

  “What?” I asked. “I don’t have pockets in this stupid dress.” I checked my phone. It was Greyson. I sent the call to voicemail. I didn’t want to talk to him after he had dinner with Catarina. I needed a shower and sleep before I talk to him. I didn’t need a repeat of our last encounter. I also had a voicemail from Caleb. I tossed the phone on the end table.

  “You’re not going to answer?”

  “No, it’s your brother. You can talk to him if you want. I’m tired and need to scrub the Dagor cooties off me. How many of you are there? I don’t think I can take another Miller.”

  “We have another brother named Ian. I wouldn’t worry about him. The last I heard he was trekking in Africa. He’s rarely in the States.”

  “Thank God.”

  He chuckled. “We aren’t that bad.”

  “That’s because you have to live with yourself. You’re accustomed to your flaws.”

  “We have flaws?”

  “Well, I don’t know about Ian, but I’m sure I can include him once I’ve met him. You and Greyson, however, don’t seem to stop for one second and relax. When was the last time you took a vacation? I bet you never took Mya on a honeymoon. You suck everyone into your crazy vortex of mayhem. I’m a poker player for God’s sake, and you’ve got me parading around town finding big daddies.”

  “I meant to take Mya on a honeymoon, but I was called out. I had to go.”

  “She said she missed you today. She nearly broke my heart the way she still believes you’ll come back to her.”

  “I’ll be back with her soon.”

  “You saying that and doing that are two different things.”

  “Maybe you should relieve some of your anger on the punching bag.”

  “No. I’m going to take a shower. Just figure out what I need to do tomorrow night. Dagor’s going to want an answer.”

  I stomped to my bedroom, yanked out my pajamas, and stomped to the bathroom. Hopefully David would be gone by the time I was done with my shower.

  I took an extra long time in the shower trying to scrub off the glitter Mya painted all over me. It was nearly impossible. Every time I scrubbed a layer off, it would trail onto a different part of my body and stick again. The hot water eventually ran out and freezing water poured on me. I gave up on the remaining glitter.

  I dressed in my pajamas and shuffled to my bedroom. The lights in the living room and kitchen were turned off. David must have left. As I turned into my bedroom, I spotted David lounging on my bed.

  “Nice pajamas,” he said.

  I inspected my camisole and shorts that had a playing card design. “They’re comfy. What are you doing here?”

  “I need a place to crash.”

  “Why here?”

  “The place I was using is no longer available.”

  “Then go home to your wife.”

  He sighed. “Stop being difficult and come to bed.”

  “I’m not climbing into bed with you. If you stay here, go sleep on the couch.”

  “Your couch is rock hard in places and saggy in others. And I’m too tall. I won’t fit. What if there was a barrier between us on the bed? Would you feel more comfortable?”

  “See, this is another flaw.”

  “Just deal with my flaws and get into bed. I promise I won’t try anything.”

  “Go get Gus.”

  “Why do you need Gus?”

  “He’ll be the barrier between us. I guarantee he won’t budge the whole night.”

  David strolled out of the bedroom, gathered Gus from the couch, and plopped him in the middle of the bed.

  “How far can I strip down without you freaking out?” He asked.

  “This keeps getting worse. Unless you have freaky underwear, you can take off your pants but keep your t-shirt on.”

  “Freaky underwear?”

  “God, I hate my life!” I threw myself into bed next to Gus and squeezed my eyes closed. I didn’t want to see what David was or wasn’t wearing under his pants.

  He turned off the lights and settled on the opposite side of Gus.

  “Goodnight, Nadia.”

  “Get bent.”

  Chapter 15

  I had the sensation some one was watching me. I cracked my eyes open to find it was morning. I stirred and a warm body moved with me. I turned my head slightly and my lips brushed up against warm skin. I jumped, tangling myself into David’s muscular arm. Oh shit, David!

  “David, move your damn arm. What the hell happened to Gus?”

  David was still asleep and snuggled next to me trying to regain the warmth. His arms wrapped around my waist.

  “Your door was unlocked,” Greyson said from the doorway. His eyes were dark. “I was hoping I wasn’t interrupting something, but it seems I have.”

  My eyes shot to Greyson and then to David who still had his arms wrapped around me. Damn, damn, damn! I frantically tried to free myself from David.

  “Can you help me, please?” I asked Greyson.

  He didn’t budge from the doorway.

  “
Greyson, this isn’t what it looks like.”

  “Feel free to tell me what it is. I already know what it looks like.”

  “David slept over, but it was . . . oh, geesh!” Caleb appeared behind Greyson. I cringed.

  Greyson turned to Caleb. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m trying to find out why Nadia stole my car. What are you doing here?”

  “Trying to find out why she’s in bed with my brother.”

  Caleb pushed his way through the door. His eyes burned into me. “Nadia, what the hell is going on?”

  My hand clenched into a fist nailing David in the stomach. It barely affected him. He blinked his eyes open.

  “Is it morning already? I feel like I hardly got any sleep.”

  I groaned, Greyson clenched his jaw tight, and Caleb crossed his arms with a growl.

  “If you don’t wake up and explain what’s going on your brother is going to pummel you. I won’t stop him.”

  David rubbed his eyes. “What are they doing here?”

  “They’re wondering what you’re doing in my bed?”

  “I was sleeping until you punched me. You need to work on the punching bag.”

  “This is not the time for joking around.”

  “I’m not. That was a weak punch.”

  “I’ll be more than happy to help her,” Greyson said between clenched teeth.

  “Greyson, nothing happened.” David smirked. “If you made sure she was in your bed, you wouldn’t have to worry about me.”

  “She’s not getting into any beds until she tells me why she stole my car,” Caleb butted in. “And she owes me a weekend.”

  “You stole his car?” David asked, clearly amused.

  “You hustled her,” Greyson said to Caleb. “She will not be honoring the wager.”

  “Caleb, I borrowed your car. I meant to bring it back. It was a long night and I forgot.”

  “A long night?” He asked. “I should have known it was you who bumped into me. Your green eyes caught my attention right away.” His eyes flicked to Greyson. “And she will honor the wager she lost twice.”

  “That wasn’t a fair game and you know it.”

  “She agreed to the game and lost. It wouldn’t matter what game we played. I always win.”

  My eyes bounced between the two men. David settled back into the pillow but kept his arm wrapped around me thoroughly enjoying the scene in front of him.

  “Let me grab your keys. Then you can leave,” I said to Caleb.

  “Who said I’m leaving?”

  “All of you are leaving,” I said.

  “None of us are leaving until we figure this out,” Greyson said.

  I pried David’s arm off me and pushed past Greyson and Caleb. “Let me get the keys first.” I hurried out of the room, snatched the keys and my purse from the table, and flew out the door and down the steps.

  Remy jumped out of the limo when he detected me fleeing from the building barefoot and in my pajamas.

  “What the hell is happening?” He shouted as I jumped in Caleb’s Porsche, flooring it all the way to Mya’s house.

  It was still early. I didn’t know if Mya would be awake or not. But I wasn’t going home for a long time. They could fight it out like the Three Stooges for all I cared.

  I squealed into Mya’s driveway, slammed on the breaks, and scampered to her front door. I didn’t want her neighbors to see me in my pajamas.

  Mya answered the door in her robe. “Nadia, what are you doing here?”

  “I’m sorry to come unannounced. I need a place to hang out for a little while.”

  “Oh, sure. Come in. Do you want some coffee? I was just making a pot.”

  “That would be wonderful.”

  I followed her into her house. A professional interior decorator had gone to considerable lengths to make Mya’s home into a picture-perfect front cover of an interior design magazine. There were warm tones, cathedral ceilings, fashionable yet comfortable furnishings that faced an impressive fireplace in an open concept I could only dream about.

  “Mya, your house is so beautiful.”

  “Thank you. It was David’s wedding gift to me. It’s a little big for just me, but I would never sell it.”

  “Good. I would hate for you to sell it. It’s perfect.”

  “Why are you still in your pajamas?”

  “I had to leave my apartment in a hurry.”

  Her eyes widened. “What happened?”

  “Uh . . . well . . . a huge mouse.”

  “Ewww!”

  “I know. That’s what I thought.”

  “Don’t you have a cat?”

  “Yes, but unless the mouse pries open Gus’s mouth and hops in, he’s safe.” Unfortunately, it was the truth. Gus would never run after food unless he was on a diet.

  “Do you need clothes?”

  “Yes. Can I borrow some?”

  Mya’s eyes twinkled. “Let me show you my closet.” She poured two giant mugs of coffee and led me to her upstairs closet.

  I stopped in my tracks when she opened the door. “This is your closet?”

  “Yes. What’s wrong with it?”

  “There isn’t anything wrong. It’s an entire bedroom.”

  “David had it made for our first anniversary. He said he couldn’t fit any clothes in his closet because I was hogging all the space.”

  “David spoiled you, didn’t he?”

  She smiled. “Yes, but he loved doing it. I never asked for any of this.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t.”

  “Let me pick out an outfit. I had so much fun doing it yesterday.”

  Since it was her closet, I agreed. But I regretted it later when she selected a tiny pink t-shirt that read, “Some knockers aren’t for doors”. She completed the outfit with tiny white shorts and white sandals.

  I wiggled into the outfit. She clapped her hands with enthusiasm.

  “Do you want to hang out today?” She asked.

  “Sure. What do you have in mind?” I mentally reprimanded myself for not going to work at the tables. Bills were piling up faster than I could pay them, and my car still needed to be fixed. But I didn’t want to be at a poker table dressed in this outfit. I might as well make the most of the day and have a little fun.

  “Let’s go eat breakfast first. It will be scorching outside by the time we’re done. We can take a dip in the pool after.”

  “You have a pool?”

  She smiled and nodded.

  “Don’t tell me . . . David bought it for your birthday.”

  Her eyes widened. “How did you know?”

  “Lucky guess.”

  After eating an enormous greasy breakfast, I laid on a floating bed in the pool. Mya loaned me a bathing suit that, once again, was lacking in fabric. After the breakfast, I was feeling less than attractive in the skimpy suit.

  I slid a pair of her oversized designer sunglasses on and smiled as I drifted in the pool. There were no cares to bother me here. Mya was talking, but she tended to have conversations with herself that didn’t need any interjections. Her voice was so constant and continual it was almost a lullaby. I drifted to sleep.

  I heard the gentle splash of water.

  “Nadia?” A deep voice whispered into my ear.

  A wave of water splashed, flipping the floaty out from under me. I plunged into the cold water. Its icy chill shocked me awake. I sputtered to the surface.

  “Are you awake now?” Greyson asked. “It seems like I have to keep waking you up with water.”

  I wiped the water from my eyes and glared at him. He was in the pool with me. I casually snuck a peek downward to see if he had a swimsuit on or was naked. Swimsuit, damn! I recommenced my glare.

  “Maybe you could let me sleep instead of waking me up. Where did you get the swimming suit?”

  “It’s David’s. I borrowed it from his closet.”

  I scanned for Mya but didn’t see her. “Where’s Mya?”

  “I told he
r I needed her help with an errand. She left with Remy. They’ll be gone for hours.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You didn’t have an errand, did you?”

  “Not really. I tracked you down after you escaped. Nice job by the way. Even David was impressed at your fight or flight skills . . . mainly the flight part.”

  “If you’re here to yell at me, go ahead and get it over with.”

  “Why would I yell at you?”

  “I don’t know. You and Caleb looked like you wanted blood.”

  “What if I told you we were civilized?”

  I arched my eyebrow.

  “Alright, we weren’t civilized. But then Frankie barged in armed with a curling iron. He hopped all over asking where we hid your body.”

  I chuckled but sobered as I peeked into his eyes. “You know nothing happened between David and me, right?”

  “I’m still having a hard time. If you had seen the way you were snuggling together, you’d come to the same conclusion.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “To get answers from you. I wanted to look into your eyes and see the truth.”

  “Greyson . . . I . . .”

  His hand touched my face and his thumb ran across my bottom lip. “Not that I have any right to ask, but did you have sex with him?” His eyes were locked with mine.

  “Greyson, you never have to worry about me having sex with David. I wouldn’t do that to you, and I certainly wouldn’t betray Mya.”

  His lips crushed into mine. I was momentarily surprised but then he wrapped me into his arms to keep me close. The buoyancy lifted me. He lifted my legs and wrapped them around him.

  “Greyson,” I said into his lips. “Does this mean you believe me?”

  “I believed you the moment you woke up and saw David’s arms around you. Your eyes were as wide as an owl. I just needed a little reassurance.”

  I pushed back slightly to study him. “Reassurance?”

  “Maybe not reassurance. Maybe just more time with you. If I truly believed you had sex with David, I wouldn’t have bothered to find you. I was happy when I discovered you here. It just proves you wouldn’t do anything to betray Mya. If you did, this would be the last place you’d go.”