by Mysti Parker
The wail of sirens drawing near signaled the NYPD’s arrival.
Dick stopped howling long enough to try to creep away. Ace pointed his gun at him. He froze. “No you don’t. Sit down by your girlfriend. Maybe you’ll get lucky and be granted conjugal visits. Then again, with a name like Dick Handler, you shouldn't have any problem with that.”
Dick slumped to the floor beside Ariela, his jaw trembling. He drew in his knees, dropped his forehead on them and bawled.
Sailor rushed over to Ace and hugged him tight. “I’m so glad you’re okay. You were amazing.”
“So was I worth the money?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ll even give you a bonus.”
“Just a quiet night with you, me and that bottle of wine is bonus enough for me.” He kept his gun on Dick until he heard the cops running up the back steps. Then he put it down on the island and held her close, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head softly. Tears burned the back of his eyes as he thought about how much he could have lost.
****
Two weeks later…
The Hole’s one-year anniversary kicked off with a round of drinks on the house. The crowd cheered. But no glass broke, no fights broke out. These folks were classy. They were there to relax and have a good time, not to make trouble for Sailor. They were exactly the kind of crowd she’d meant to attract since she opened this place. Ace stood by the door, taking over for the new bouncer – an actual, experienced and serious guy named Mike, who was on his dinner break. Poor Mike hadn’t gotten to toss any drunks out on their asses since he started, much to his disappointment. He’d heard about The Hole’s prior reputation and had looked forward to some action. But the pay was enough to keep him around, despite the boredom, now that business was booming and the stupid lawsuits had been dropped. Ariela and her idiot boyfriend were in jail awaiting sentencing, which Ace guessed would be substantial. Plenty of time for Dick Handler to make some good ‘friends’ in prison.
Life was good.
Pieter played a subdued version of Eye of the Tiger, accompanied by Erik, one of his fellow Amsterdam-born musicians, a drummer with blond dreads and a long blond beard. Pippi the bartender was on her game, pouring drinks like a liquor maestro. Gabby smiled more than Ace had ever seen her smile before.
He caught her between orders as she passed by. “Hey, how’s Uncle Mitch?”
“He’s doing great. His nurse is fantastic. She plays rummy with him and brought him a whole set of Three Stooges DVDs they watch together while I’m gone.”
“That’s awesome.”
“So, when are you and Sailor going to hook up?”
Ace looked over at the person in question. She was behind the bar chatting it up with some Broadway actors who’d just come in after a great opening night of Kinky Boots. She noticed him, smiled and winked. He grinned and turned back to Gabby.
She put her hand on her hip, mouth agape as she looked between her boss and Ace. “Oh my God, seriously? How do I miss this stuff?”
Ace laughed. “You’re young, and you have a life. I think you have an order up.” He nodded toward the bar, where Pippi had just set up a row of Cosmopolitans. She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled at Gabby.
“Okay! Coming!” She turned back to Ace and gave him a quick hug. “I sure hope you’ll stay. The place wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“We’ll see.”
Sailor brought the actors the food they’d ordered from the kitchen and came over to Ace. She looked good enough to eat in her designer biker-inspired outfit with black skinny jeans, a black leather jacket, red t-shirt and black lacy fingerless gloves. She wore red high heels and matching lipstick, her platinum blonde hair pulled high into its usual ponytail.
She kissed his cheek, then laughed. “Oops, got a little lipstick there.”
“I’ll let you leave it on other parts of me later tonight.”
“Promise?” She looked him up and down with a hungry look in her eyes. “You look amazing. That blazer, the slacks, the shoes – people might think you’re from Fifth Avenue instead of Kentucky.”
“And then they’ll hear my accent, and the jig is up.”
“True. Anyway, I have something for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
He chuckled but obliged his lady’s wishes. “I hope it’s something lacy. For you, not me.” She placed something light in his hands.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
He looked at the two pieces of paper in his hands. “Two plane tickets to Vegas?”
She pressed up against him, whispering in his ear, “Don’t you ever just want to let go and do what feels right?”
“Yeah, I guess, but what…” Then he realized what she meant and grinned from ear to ear. “Oh hell yeah, baby, we’re heading to Vegas!”
“Maybe we’ll hit a few casinos after the wedding.”
“I’m terrible at gambling.”
“Who cares? I’ve got my Ace in the Hole.”
He grabbed her. She gave a little yelp and a laugh as he dipped her. He smiled down at his future wife’s gorgeous face and kissed her luscious red lips. “You’re right. I’m the luckiest damn man on Earth.”
THE END
Don’t miss any of the City Meets Country series! Get them all on Kindle today or read free in Kindle Unlimited!
From historical to fantasy, from super sweet to scandalously spicy, Mysti Parker has Romance for Every Reader's Taste.
Other Books by Mysti Parker
City Meets Country Series (with co-author MJ Post)
Drive Me Crazy
High on You
Sealed With a Kiss
Ace in the Hole
Contemporary Novella (with co-author MJ Post
Chances Are
The Beach Pointe Romantic Comedy Series
Mann Cakes
Jesse's List
All Jacked Up (June 2018)
The Tallenmere Fantasy Romance Series
A Ranger's Tale
Serenya's Song
Hearts in Exile
No Place Like Home
Historical
A Time for Everything
The Magic Massage Erotic Series
Sophie & the Cowboy
Sophie & the Socialite
Sophie & the Professor
The Roche Hotel Romantic Comedy Series
The Roche Hotel: Season One
The Roche Hotel: Season Two
The Roche Hotel: Season Three
Connect with the authors:
Click HERE to Join Mysti Parker's reader group for free books, great deals, giveaways and more!
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MystiParker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanceforEveryReader/
Website: http://www.mystiparker.com
MJ's Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MJ-Post-Author-302156203319243/
About the authors:
MJ Post is the pseudonym of a writer, teacher, and comic book fan who works in Brooklyn, NY. Watch for MJ’s first romance novel in 2018!
Mysti Parker is an award-winning author and shameless chocoholic. She writes romance for every reader's taste from super sweet to scandalously spicy. When she's not writing the next best-story-ever or tackling the endless mountain of laundry, she works as a freelance copywriter and editor. Mysti resides in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, three children and too many pets.