The Girl Who Doesn't Quit (Soulless Book 12)

by Victoria Quinn

  “I can get a cab.”

  “Then how will I get my kiss goodbye?”

  He continued to make me melt more and more. It’d only been a month since the Fourth of July, and it felt like an eight-month relationship still in the honeymoon phase. My heart was hard to soften, especially after Mason, but Atlas turned it into hot butter. “Alright. You can take me.”

  He gave me a kiss before he got out of bed, his tight ass in my view. He grabbed his clothes from the floor before he started to get dressed.

  I moved to the edge of the bed then stuck out of my ass, arching my lower back, looking over my shoulder.

  He stilled when he watched what I did.

  He stared at my ass on display. The look lasted for several seconds before he yanked his shirt back over his head and dropped the jeans he’d just pulled on. His hand gripped the back of my neck and kept me in place before he shoved himself inside me. “Not gonna say no to that ass.”

  “Dad, what the hell?” I shut the door behind me and saw him sitting on the couch in the living room. He was shirtless in his sweatpants, watching the game while my mom sat beside him, using her laptop.

  His eyes remained fixed on me for several seconds as he tried to deduce the problem on his own. When he couldn’t, he asked, “What is it, sweetheart?” He rose to his feet, ripped like he was thirty instead of sixty.

  “I know you don’t understand how these things work, but when I tell you something private, don’t blab it to the person I said it about.”

  He still wore a blank look.

  “You told Atlas everything I said—stuff I said in private.”

  His arms crossed over his chest, and he cupped his chin with his fingertips as he considered how to handle the situation. “You said you liked him, which I’m sure he already knew.”

  “But you told him I really liked him, along with everything else I said.”

  “Again, I didn’t see the harm. Why wouldn’t you want him to know that you like him and admire his qualities?”

  I threw down my arms and looked at Mom. “A little help here?”

  She shut her laptop and joined us. “Babe.” She placed her hand on his arm. “This is a new relationship, and she’s trying to take it slow, play it cool. How would you feel if you’d just started dating someone and heard from their mom how into you they were?”

  “Are you the person I’m dating? Because I wouldn’t care.”

  “Just…never mind.” She rubbed his arm. “Just keep things to yourself, alright?”

  Dad gave a sigh then sat down again.

  “Alright, now that we’ve gotten that straightened out, I’m gonna head out.” I turned back to the door.

  “Whoa, where are you going?” Mom came over to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Stick around. We have leftovers.”

  “I would, but I’ve got to pack.”

  “For what?”

  Dad spoke from the couch. “She’s got a poker tournament in Vegas.”

  “Oh, I forgot.” She patted me on the back and walked me to the door. “Good luck. But I don’t think you’ll need it.”

  Dad left the room to pull on a shirt and grab his keys.

  “Dad, I don’t need a ride home.” I held up my palm and walked out the door, Mom coming with me. “Why does he still do that?”

  “The same reason he remembers your tournament—because he loves you.” Mom walked beside me and headed to the elevator. “So, how are things with Atlas?”

  “Ugh. Terrible.”

  “Really?” she asked skeptically.

  “Really good…that’s why it’s terrible.”

  “You and I must have different definitions of the word.”

  I hit the button and waited for the elevator to rise to our floor. “He just seems too good to be true.”

  “I thought the same thing about your father, but he’s not.”

  “Yeah, but…”

  “But what?”

  “I don’t know, Mom. He’s perfect. But no one is perfect.”

  “I doubt he’s perfect, but he might be perfect for you.” She gave me a hug when the elevator doors opened. “Mason was a bad apple, and now you got the good apple. Don’t overthink it. Go with it. Want my advice?”

  “You know everything, so I guess.”

  “Wear your heart on your sleeve. If he’s the right guy for you, he’s going to like that.”

  He definitely wore his heart on his sleeve for me.

  “Don’t risk losing him because you’re afraid. Don’t let your heartbreak from Mason affect this relationship.”

  “You’re right…like always.” I stepped into the elevator and turned around to give her a wave. “Well, wish me luck.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled as she watched the doors close. “You don’t need luck, honey. Kick their asses like you always do.”

  He drove me to the airport in a black Porsche SUV, my suitcase in the back.

  “Nice ride.”

  “Thanks. We can have sex in the back if you want.” He kept his eyes on the road and navigated the traffic with ease.

  “I’d rather try the shower next. Or maybe your desk.”

  He grinned, his aviator sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. “Now we’re talking.” He took the exit to the airport and followed the lanes to get to my airline.

  “What are your plans this weekend?”

  “Other than the Zoom sex we’re going to have, which I’m really looking forward to? Just work.”

  “I’ll probably work from my laptop during the day.”

  “Not going to hit up the spa or the pool?”

  “Hmm…that does sound better. You’re a terrible boss, you know that?”

  “You handed off your patients to me, so may as well enjoy your vacation.” He pulled over to the curb and parked the car. “Well, here we are. Time for me to watch that beautiful ass walk away.” He pulled off his sunglasses and looked at me.

  It was just for the weekend, but I was actually sad to be apart. We were both busy during the week, so the weekends were all we really had.

  His hand went to my thigh, and he gave me a squeeze.

  I turned off my filter and spoke my mind. “I’ll miss you.”

  He didn’t grin in arrogance like he normally did. His eyes slowly lost their smile, turning serious as if he continued to absorb the echo of my words. He leaned forward and cupped my face, giving me a hot kiss that made me forget we were at the airport. “I’ll miss you too.”

  Fuck, I was a goner.

  18

  Daisy

  Vegas never changed.

  The second you stepped into the lobby, the constant hum of moving chips was in the background. Beautiful women in tight little dresses and sky-high heels strutted by, even if it was nine in the morning. It wasn’t rare to bump into a celebrity in the bathroom.

  But it wasn’t as much fun when I was alone.

  I checked in to my room, slept, then spent the next day by the pool, getting some sun while I had a couple drinks. My paperwork was next to me, so I would look it over then sit there and think. Most of my job was spent sitting still and thinking. A very small fraction of my time was spent actually doing something.

  When evening arrived, I got ready, wearing a short dress like the other girls in the casino just to throw off my opponents. When I passed by, I got stares and whistles, and my only response was a flip of my hair.

  I checked in with my buy-in then got a drink from the bar. Cameras were everywhere, pointed at the table where the game would begin. Some of my opponents were there, all men.

  I stood at the bar and felt my phone vibrate in my clutch.

  I pulled it out and saw the message on the screen.

  Baby, you look hot in that dress.

  The grin hit me hard, opening my mouth wide.

  And that smile is hot too.

  I looked up at the camera that had me in the background and rolled my eyes.

  Still hot.

&nbs
p; One of the guys came over to me and told me to take a seat.

  Atlas must have seen that too because his message popped up. Get ’em.

  I returned my phone to my clutch then approached the table. Some of the guys were already gathered there. Most of them didn’t have drinks, but one or two did. I took a seat and waited for the match to start.

  The chair across from me was vacant.

  Until a familiar face took a seat.

  In a leather jacket with a white tee underneath, he looked handsome and dangerous at the same time. His blond hair was exactly the same as I remembered, and his eyes showed the same confidence I used to like.

  I hadn’t realized he would be my opponent. We hadn’t crossed paths since I’d hung up on him, so I assumed he purposely avoided me. Smart choice, since I took his money last time we played. I had the best poker face in the world—literally—so I gave him an indifferent look.

  His eyes locked on to mine, and he definitely wasn’t surprised to see me.

  A lot of emotions rushed through me underneath the surface because he’d hurt me so damn bad. He didn’t just break my heart, but he humiliated me too. I’d never forget the look on my father’s face when I took my seat beside Dex, and Mason wasn’t there. I’d gotten pulled into his charming ways, actually believed he was serious when he just wanted me on his hook until he was finished with me.

  It was the stupidest thing I’d ever done.

  But I acted like he was another opponent I didn’t give a shit about.

  We played round after round, the pot growing bigger, players raising one another, bluffing, calling one another’s bluffs.

  Poker was a game of bullshit.

  As hard as Mason tried to hide his thoughts, I knew his tells.

  I knew every little thing about him.

  So, I knew when his hands were good. When they were bad. When he was slightly flustered.

  Two of the other guys folded, so it was just Mason and some guy from Michigan.

  Michigan looked at his cards for a moment before he pushed in his chips.

  With his hand cupped over his cards, Mason lifted them to take a peek. His eyes shifted for just a moment before he looked at me.

  I kept my smile back because I knew I had him.

  He had no idea if I was bluffing or not.

  He made the choice and folded.

  I threw in more chips then looked at Michigan.

  He folded too.

  Idiots.

  I didn’t just count cards to know when I would get the hand to win. I always enjoyed bluffing because it was professional lying. And if I failed to do that, then people would always know when I had a good hand and when I didn’t.

  I laid my cards flat on the table.

  A two. A queen. A nine. An ace. And a four.

  Basically, a pile of shit.

  Michigan released an annoyed sigh that was loud over the clinking chips in the casino.

  Mason just stared at me.

  I reached to the center of the table, and with my eyes fixed on his, dragged my millions toward me—and took his money.

  He broke my heart. But at least I broke his wallet.

  I cashed out then strutted through the casino, drink in hand, feeling victorious for reasons that had nothing to do with the money I’d just won. I was on cloud nine, getting the last laugh.

  I went into my room and tossed my clutch on the bed before I removed my heels. The check was stuffed into the front of my dress in case someone tried to rob me on the way back to my room, so I dropped it on the bed. I also had some cash, so I pulled that out of my wallet and threw it on the bed.

  My phone vibrated.

  The bright screen lit up the dark room. You better call me.

  I changed into a black bodysuit that pushed my small tits together and gave me some cleavage. I put on black stockings even though he probably wouldn’t see much of those. Sometimes lingerie was just for me.

  I sat against the headboard with my legs apart, my computer between my calves, the screen tilted back to look up at me. Cash was everywhere, on the pillows next to me, on the sheets. I texted him the link to join me, and as I waited, my fingertips slid underneath the material between my legs and I got started.

  His face came into view a moment later, wearing a t-shirt in his living room. “Baby, you kicked—” He shut his mouth when he saw that I was already going, getting started without him. He watched me for a moment, his eyes turning intense, his skin flushing. His hands pulled his shirt over his head to reveal his perfectly carved body, and he pushed down his sweatpants so his fat cock came out.

  I rubbed myself harder—because he was so damn hot.

  He squirted the lube into his palm and got started. “Jesus…you’re so fucking sexy.”

  I lay in the cabana by the pool, my phone in my hands.

  His message lit up my screen. Didn’t really get a chance to talk last night.

  Are you complaining?

  Nope. That was hotter than any woman I’ve actually been with.

  With my sunglasses on the bridge of my nose, I smiled.

  Maybe we should do that every night…

  I’d rather have you.

  You should see the smile on my face. You’d hate it.

  No, I loved it. I always loved it. I’ll take your word for it.

  That bluff at the end…didn’t see it coming.

  I try to stay unpredictable.

  I assumed you went for the good cards and won that way.

  No. I like to bluff. It’s fun.

  Someone took the lounger beside me, and they sat at the edge, looking straight at me. It was probably a guy who’d come by to make a pass, so I looked up to politely decline the offer. But through my sunglasses, I saw someone I recognized.

  Mason.

  He was in a tee and jeans.

  He’d caught me off guard, but I kept a straight face. “An odd choice for a swimsuit.”

  A slow grin moved on to his face. “Forgot sunscreen.”

  “Well, they offer it for free waaaaaay over there.” I pointed to the counter across the pool. “Have a good one.”

  He stayed.

  Not that I expected him to leave. He was there for a reason, whatever that reason was. “You want your money back? Sorry, no refunds.”

  “Came to congratulate you.”

  “Well, that’s just one word, so this conversation should be over by now.”

  His smile widened. “Still the same old spitfire, huh?”

  “More like an inferno.”

  “You’re the best bluffer I’ve ever seen.”

  A slow grin crept on to my face as I pulled the sunglasses off my face so he could see my eyes. “Not better than you.”

  His smile disappeared. “I’m sorry about all of that—”

  “Whoa, slow down.” I raised my hand. “You came to congratulate me, not apologize. So, get up and leave.”

  “You still hate me—”

  “Hate you? Oh honey, don’t flatter yourself. I couldn’t care less about you.”

  He stilled at my words, absorbing the toxic venom I’d just thrown in his face.

  My phone vibrated with a message.

  I looked down and read it. Wanna get dirty again tonight?

  I didn’t look back at Mason. “Well, it was good catching up. See you around.”

  He still didn’t move.

  You looked really fine in that little black ensemble. Brought something else to show me?

  I started to text back. I think you’re going to—

  “Can we talk?”

  I turned back to Mason. “Why are you still here?”

  “Because I’m trying to talk to you.”

  “Why?” I asked suspiciously. “What do you want from me, Mason? You want me to forgive you? Okay, I forgive you. Done.”

  His eyes remained a little angry, like he wasn’t getting what he wanted. “The reason I came to this tournament is because I knew you were playing. I’ve been doing some thinking—
”

  “Let me stop you right there.” I couldn’t believe, after over a year of silence, he’d gotten his head on straight and had come here to whisk me off my feet. So romantic. “I’ve got a man. A man who doesn’t play games. A man who doesn’t bluff. I’m trying to talk to him right now, but you keep interrupting me. Now leave so I can talk to him about all the phone sex we’re going to have tonight.”

  Mason finally looked away, his jaw tightening like that was a blow he hadn’t anticipated.

  I waved him off with my hand. “Bye, bye, bye.”

  He lay in bed with his laptop on his chest, his skin flushed red, his forehead a little sweaty.

  My eyes were closed, and I lay there, still in my lingerie, as satisfied as if he’d been there in the flesh. “Money…orgasm…I got everything I need.”

  His arm was propped behind his head, and he watched me, his eyes intense even though the fun was over. His eyes shifted back and forth slightly as he looked at me, a crumpled mess on the sheets.

  “What?”

  “You’re beautiful.”

  It was the first time he’d said that to me. All I could do was stare back because his sincerity was unmistakable. He could spend his evening with any woman he wanted, but he chose to stare at me through a screen like I was right beside him. “I’m excited to come home.”

  “Because you miss your bed? Or because you miss me?”

  “I miss you in my bed.”

  A slow smile moved over his lips. “Smooth.”

  “How are my patients?”

  “Good. I haven’t broken any ground for their diagnoses. Been too busy with everything else.”

  “Something’s gotta give. You can’t do everything at once.”

  He stared back.

  “My brothers do a lot of different stuff, but they have personal assistants.”

  “You mean they have wives.” He grinned. “You wanna be my assistant, baby?”

  “God, I’d be the worst assistant ever.”

  “Because you’d distract me all day.”

  “No. I just don’t like being told what to do.”

  “I’ve noticed,” he said with a slight chuckle. “Which is distracting…because it’s hot.”