Night After Night (9 page)

“Noah, don’t,” she rasped, her voice thick with regrets. “Please,
don’t.
”

Her words, her demand, snapped him out of his fantasy world and brought him right back to the present with a jolt. Disgusted with himself, he pushed away from her and jammed his hands on his hips. “Don’t what, Jess? Don’t want you? Seems like that’s out of my control, despite every reason I have to hate you.”

She visibly recoiled from the sting of his words, and all those emotional walls he’d just torn down with a kiss, she shored right back up again.

Which pissed him off even more. “I’m not like you. I can’t just shut off my feelings and forget everything we shared like it never happened.”

“Dammit,” she said, her voice rough with frustration and her eyes suddenly shimmering with moisture. “You have no right to do this to me.”

“Don’t I?” he countered, shoving his hands deep into his pants pockets when a part of him wanted to kiss her again. “You’re the one who walked away without so much as a good-bye. The least you can do is tell me why you left. Give me at least that much respect.” He wanted,
needed,
that closure to a past he couldn’t forget.

She swallowed hard and her hand flitted to her stomach, pressing against her sparkly dress. “I left because I had to. I left because I had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” he refuted, “and the one you made, for whatever reason you made it, was damn selfish.”

“I know,” she whispered, and glanced away while brushing a tear from her cheek with her fingers. “And I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know.”

It wasn’t the cavalier, uncaring answer he’d been expecting and the animosity inside of him slowly ebbed away. “Dammit, Jess, what happened?”

She shook her head, her remorse nearly palpable. As was the sadness in her gaze. “It’s been nine years, Noah. Just let it go.
Please.
”

He wished that were possible, but he just couldn’t do as she asked. “I’ve tried to let it go, let
you
go, but I can’t,” he said, revealing much more than he’d intended. “I spent the past nine years wondering what I did wrong. What I might have said to make you end things so abruptly. And I just can’t figure it out.”

She stepped away from him, back into the middle of the room where it was open and safe and there was no chance of him touching her again. “It wasn’t you, Noah.”

He followed her with his gaze but let her have the space she seemed to need. “Was it someone else?” he asked, his gut clenching as it always did when he considered that scenario.

“No, there’s no one else,” she said with a shake of her head.

Whether intentional or not, her reply encompassed past and present tense, letting him know that it hadn’t been a guy to break them up and currently there was no man in her life, either. Why that relieved Noah he wasn’t about to analyze.

Right now, at this moment, Noah knew that she wasn’t going to open up and give him the answers he needed. She was back to being guarded, and pushing her any more tonight would do no good. But that didn’t mean he was willing to let her walk right back out of his life a second time, without giving him the closure he deserved.

“Can I see you again?” he asked, knowing it was a long shot that she’d agree. Especially after everything that had just transpired in this room with her tonight.

She gave him a small smile. “I really don’t think that would be a good idea.”

Her reply didn’t surprise him. Instead of pushing her and risking her completely shutting him out, he decided to give her the space she seemed to need before he contacted her again.

And the next time he did, he’d do so in a way that she wouldn’t be able to refuse him.

Sean couldn’t do it anymore. He was in way over his head with Zoe, beyond anything he’d ever thought possible. After Wednesday evening at her place and again tonight out in the cabana, he’d crossed professional lines—and, he feared, emotional ones, too.

Getting close to Zoe should have been about nothing more than doing a job for The Reliance Group, but the guilt of deceiving her was starting to weigh heavily on his mind, and that was something that had
never
been an issue for him in his prior life.

He’d never allowed his conscience to get the best of him. He’d always managed to keep his eye on the prize and his feelings out of the equation. Outwardly he might have been charming, amicable, and everyone’s best friend, but deep inside he’d been cool, indifferent, and focused, just as his father had taught him.

Nothing had ever interfered with that drive and determination that pushed him toward getting what he ultimately wanted. Even if it meant lying, cheating, and deceiving his target to achieve his goal. It was all a part of how the game was played. And with each con, remaining emotionally detached had become easier to do…until the day he’d seen physical proof of what one of the hoaxes he’d been a part of had cost another person.

Sean had only been the “seal-the-deal” guy on the con, the middleman to an old friend who’d set up a wealthy and bored house wife as their mark. The other guy had romanced the woman to gain her interest in making a quick turnaround profit on a bogus investment, and Sean had only stepped in to back up his friend on the deal and collect the cash.

It was only after Sean and his friend had been arrested for fraud in connection with that last scam that Sean had discovered the extent of the damage he’d caused. When he was on trial, he and the jury had been presented with a photograph of the woman he’d exploited. In the picture, her face was swollen and bruised, courtesy of a massive beating by her prick of a husband when he’d discovered she’d lost their savings after being stupid enough to fall for Sean’s scheme.

Sean hadn’t been the one to physically hurt the woman, but he felt just as responsible. He’d been overwhelmed with shame, and he’d known then that something had to change.

That
he
had to change.

When he’d been sentenced for his part in the con, he’d taken the punishment as his due, though the time he served in prison had probably been more lenient than he’d deserved considering all the past scams he’d gotten away with.

When Caleb had hired him as a bartender for the Onyx, even knowing his history, Sean accepted the chance to start fresh, to put the past behind him and create a new, respectable life for himself—even though he still harbored a ton of guilt for what he’d done.

And now he didn’t want to add Zoe to his long list of regrets.

Working for Caleb, Sean had never found himself in a quandary quite like this, where his relationship with a mark started presenting a direct conflict of interest with the job he was hired to do.

As he walked back into the hotel lobby from the pool area with Zoe on his arm, the turmoil inside of him burned like acid in his stomach. He needed to talk to Caleb and be up-front and honest with the man about what was happening between him and Zoe. Despite still needing to find her father, Sean refused to continue to lead her on emotionally while keeping her in the dark about his true intentions.

“You know what?” Zoe asked, the excitement in her voice pulling him from his troubled thoughts. “I’m feeling lucky tonight. How about you?”

He managed to chuckle as they strolled through the casino area, which was packed with Friday night gamblers. “I’m with you, aren’t I? A guy doesn’t get any luckier than that.”

“You’re such a sweet talker,” she said, smiling up at him, her complexion still glowing from their outdoor tryst and the orgasm he’d given her. “I haven’t played roulette in forever, and it’s calling to me. Can you spot me a twenty?”

“Sure.” He followed her to the game, pulled a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet, and gave it to her, welcoming the new distraction.

She found an open spot at the crowded table and without hesitation placed her entire bet on black. The dealer turned the roulette wheel, then spun the small white ball in the opposite direction. The ball eventually dropped into the pocket for black twenty-four. When the dealer paid out Zoe’s winnings, she gave Sean his twenty back, then let the one still on the table ride for another spin.

She won again, and again, and kept letting the money go another round. For the next half hour Sean watched in fascination as she switched her bet from red to black depending on whichever urge struck her, doubling her bet each time, and the ball seemed to play to her whims.

She kept her attention on the numbers that hit, calculated the odds to the best of her ability, and went with her gut instinct. It served her well, and before long she drew a crowd of spectators around the table to cheer on her success. Some people even placed their bets in accordance to hers and reaped a few wins of their own.

Eventually, she rolled the initial $20 into $320. Instead of taking the money and walking away, in true gambling spirit she took a deep breath and pushed all her chips onto the number black seventeen. Everyone else at the table followed her lead, stacking their bets around hers.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Sean asked from where he stood beside her.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She met his gaze, her expression bright and exuberant from her recent wins. She grabbed his hand, threading their fingers together. “I have a strong feeling about this one. But win or lose, this is my last bet. I promise.”

The dealer spun the wheel, added the white ball, and Sean found himself holding his breath as the ball bounced from number to number…and finally stopped on black seventeen. Zoe gasped in shock, and the crowd around the table let out whoops and cheers that had everyone in the gaming area looking their way to see what all the commotion was about.

“You won!” Sean said, laughing in disbelief. His mental calculations came up with a payout of over eleven thousand dollars.

“Oh, my God!” She launched herself into his arms and hugged him tight. Caught up in the excitement of the moment, she kissed him in front of everyone, a quick but passionate kiss that openly displayed her feelings for him and garnered cheers from the small crowd around them.

She finally pulled back and beamed up at him. “You must be my good-luck charm!”

He chuckled, still amazed at the amount she’d managed to win…until he caught sight of a very angry-looking man standing just off to the side watching Sean interact with Zoe. Instantly recognizing the guy as Conrad Davenport, Sean realized just how bad this too-intimate situation might look to the other man who’d paid The Reliance Group to track and find Zoe’s father. Conrad looked pissed, and Sean’s main concern was that the other man might say or do something to unwittingly compromise Sean’s investigation.

Sean transferred his gaze back to Zoe and produced one of his charming, easygoing smiles that belied the sudden apprehension swirling in his stomach.

“I see a business associate of mine I’d like to say hello to,” he said, keeping his tone casual. “Why don’t you collect your winnings and cash out your chips and I’ll meet up with you in a few minutes?”

“Sure.” Still basking in the high of her recent win, and oblivious to Sean’s inner unease, she turned back to the roulette table and gathered up her impressive payout.

With Zoe otherwise preoccupied, Sean headed toward Conrad, who wore a dark, furious scowl and was holding a highball glass of amber liquid. As Sean neared, he immediately recognized the signs that indicated the other man was intoxicated. Between the bloodshot, bleary eyes and his being unsteady on his feet, it was apparent that the drink in Conrad’s hand wasn’t his first. Not a good sign.

“Davenport,” Sean said, acknowledging the other man, whom he’d met the day Caleb had briefed him on the Russo case. At that meeting, Conrad had been provided with the initial investigative reports on Russo, which included a picture of his daughter, Zoe, so witnessing the cozy, more-than-friends kiss between Sean and Zoe had no doubt enraged Davenport.

“You being here right now isn’t a good idea,” Sean said calmly, and patted the other man on the back. “Maybe you should go and relax with a good cigar in the players’ lounge.”

Conrad ignored Sean’s suggestion, contempt blazing in his eyes. “What the hell are you doing with that
woman
?” he demanded, his voice too loud and belligerent.

Obviously, what Sean was
doing
with Zoe was complicated on many levels, and it didn’t help that Conrad thought the worst as well. “Now isn’t the time or place to have this discussion.”

“Bullshit,” Conrad replied, his words a bit slurred as he waved his glass of liquor in the air, sloshing the liquid over the rim. “It’s been nearly a week since you started on this case. Where the hell is that son of a bitch and the money he owes me?” the other man roared in frustration.

Sean inwardly winced—at the man’s harsh words and the strong fumes of alcohol on his breath. Davenport might be a smart businessman when sober, but he was incredibly stupid and obnoxious when drunk.

“Look, why don’t I get ahold of Caleb, and he’ll explain things to you?” Sean took hold of Davenport’s arm and attempted to guide him toward the security offices before he started attracting too much attention in the casino. People were already looking their way.

Conrad shook Sean off and glared, clearly not done with his drunken tirade. “Grant Russo is off somewhere spending the millions of dollars I invested in his fucking project, and I paid The Reliance Group to find the lying, cheating bastard. Why aren’t you working on
that,
instead of fooling around with his daughter?”

“Sean, what is he talking about?”

Both Sean’s and Conrad’s heads swiveled to the left to find Zoe standing there, her expression confused and wary.

Oh, shit.
Sean’s entire body flashed hot, then cold, as a sinking sensation settled in his chest.
How much had she overheard?
Sean wondered. Too much, he was certain.

Sean thought fast on his feet and shook his head. “The man’s had a bit too much to drink,” he said, but knew that didn’t explain what Davenport had said or his accusations.

Before Zoe could say anything else, Sean caught sight of Kane Briggs, another TRG member who also worked undercover security in the casino, followed by Valerie, making their way toward them. Relief poured through Sean. Upstairs surveillance must have witnessed the confrontation and contacted Valerie and Kane to diffuse the situation.

As soon as they arrived on the scene they pulled Davenport away from the gaming area, leaving Sean alone with Zoe. Undoubtedly, he needed to talk to her, but first he needed a few minutes with Valerie without Zoe listening in on the conversation.

He grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze that did nothing to dispel the skeptical look in her eyes. “Give me a sec to talk to the casino host and I’ll be right back.”

Zoe was the one who pulled her hand from his and crossed her arms over her chest, physically withdrawing from him. “I’ll be here. I think you and I have a few things to discuss.”

Yes, they did. Sean nodded, then strode over to where Kane stood guard beside an irate Davenport while Valerie tried to placate the man and soothe his temper.

As soon as Valerie saw Sean coming, she said something to Kane, who led Davenport away. Before Sean could say a word or blow the fuse that was simmering below the surface, she held up a hand so she could speak first.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe he did that,” Valerie said with a shake of her head. As he was one of the casino’s wealthiest Whales, Valerie had known Davenport for a few years and had established a strong business relationship with the man, as was her job as a casino host. She knew him better than anyone else in the casino did.

“Earlier this evening he lost over three hundred thousand dollars at the craps table,” she went on to explain. “He’s been in a bad mood all day, and losing all that money pretty much topped him off. He’s also been on edge with this whole Grant Russo case. Add to that a half-dozen shots of straight-up whiskey, then seeing you kiss Zoe, and he just lost it.”

“Getting shit-faced does not justify what he just did,” Sean said, trying to keep his own temper in check. “He blew my cover, Val, and outted me right in front of Zoe. There is absolutely no question in my mind that she’s thinking about every single fucking word he said and putting two and two together.” It was only a matter of time before the jig was up—and much sooner than Sean had anticipated.

“Are you going to take her up to Caleb’s?” Valerie asked.

“No. Not yet.” Sean knew he was breaking protocol by not immediately involving Caleb in this situation, but Sean had already breached a few of TRG’s rules by getting personally involved with Zoe, so what did it matter now? “Telling her the truth is something I need to do myself.” He owed Zoe that much, even though he knew she’d most likely hate his guts before this night was over.

The thought caused a huge lump of dread to settle in his stomach.

“I’m really sorry this happened,” Valerie said softly, her gaze searching his in a way that made him uneasy because it felt like she was looking right into his soul. “You like her, don’t you?”

Despite Valerie’s perceptive comment, Sean wasn’t about to admit anything to his co-worker. “She’s a nice girl and doesn’t deserve to be hurt by her father’s bullshit.”

Valerie paused for a moment, then asked, “Are you absolutely certain that she’s not involved in, or aware of, her father’s business dealings?”

“I’d bet my life on it,” Sean stated without a shred of doubt. “How about you?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged. “I don’t know her like you do.”

He almost smiled at Valerie’s nonchalant attitude. “Don’t try to con a con man, Val. What does your women’s
intuition
tell you about Zoe?” he asked, knowing that Valerie’s insightful observations about people went much deeper than just female insight.