All In (Casino Nights #2) (14 page)

“I can do that,” she whispered.

He turned into her, lifting her chin with his hand so that he could read her eyes. “I love you, and I want to give you everything you need.” Now onto the tricky part... “The miles between our places caused some problems. If you were pissed then, you could just avoid me. I’m planning on changing that.”

“You aren’t going to piss me off any more?” She smiled as she said the words, joking with him.

He chuckled. “No, I mean, Vegas, baby.” He watched and waited for her reaction.

“You’re coming to Vegas?” Her eyes widened...and so did her smile.

“Yeah, Trevor has a contract out there, and he claims he needs my help. So I might do some consulting.” Now, it was his turn to tease. “Plus, I heard that The Red Rose was a really great place to visit.”

“Just tell me when.”

“Frankie, I’m not coming for a vacation. I’m coming to meet your parents, and to be with you. I want to get to know your friends and be in your life.”

“Oh, right. I mean, okay.” She looked away. “Uhm, I don’t have much of a life. I mean there isn’t much for you to see.” Her cheeks blushed a lovely rose.

He made an effort to gentle his tone. “Babe, I know you work crazy hours, and that your job is your focus. Show me that, show me what you do and the people on your team. I want to see that side of you, get to know that side of you.”

He watched her throat work as she swallowed. “Okay, but I’m pretty boring.”

“Francesca, I really doubt that.” He sat up beside her and pulled the sheet over their hips.

“My mom would really like to meet you, and Hadley is curious. She’s been a little jealous that Rico already has. I hope you’re ready for them.” She played with the edge of the sheet. “I just worry…”

He waited, watching her hands.

“What if I get busy at work? Will that make you mad?” She pulled the sheet up to her breasts. “It broke up my first marriage. I don’t want it to ruin this, too.”

He thought about his words before he spoke. “I know your career is very important to you. So no, if something comes up, and you have to spend time dealing with it, I won’t be mad.”

She let out a relieved sigh.

“But long term, I think we’ll have to talk about your hours, and then we will talk to Jimmy, together.”

Her body jerked at his declaration. “Together, with Jimmy?” She looked startled and maybe a little terrified. Her eyes widened and her mouth was shaped in a perfect “O”.

Remy gave her a grim smile. “I know all about his reputation. He’ll try to intimidate me, but I’ll be respectful. He’s going to be a huge part of my life because you are.”

She bit her lip as she thought over what he had said.

“We can make this work. We just need to talk to each other at the beginning, not after things have festered and gone too far.” He rested his arm around her shoulders and gave a squeeze. “You with me, Frankie?”

She licked her lips, and then met his gaze. “I’m with you, Remy. I am so with you.”

She met him halfway for a kiss, sealing the deal.

Chapter Eight

“Please sit with me and tell me that everything is going all right.” Lacey’s mother looped her arm through Francesca’s. “I feel so emotional, and I don’t know if this is really happening, and it’s just the rehearsal. Only God knows how I’ll be acting tomorrow.”

Francesca patted the woman’s arm and followed her down the aisle to take a seat on the bride’s side. “They might make you practice walking down the aisle. Do you know which groomsman is going to be your escort?”

“Oh, dear, I have no idea.” Kara Haviland started to stand.

Francesca tugged her back into her seat. “I’m sure that if that’s needed, the coordinator will find you.” She gave the older woman a reassuring smile. This rehearsal was turning into a huge production. There was not only a wedding coordinator, but two assistants—one for the women and one for the men. Also present were a representative from the hotel and assorted friends, dates and family members.

“Lacey seems to be handling all of this pretty well.” Kara glanced to the back of the ceremony area.

Better than her mother. Francesca hid a smile. “It looks like everything is in good hands.” She watched Remy as he talked to Linc. He wore a blue oxford cloth shirt and navy slacks with gray pinstripes and had rolled his cuffs up his muscular forearms. He looked so damn sexy she stifled a sigh.

He caught her watching and gave her a wink and a shit-eating grin.

Somehow last night, she had promised Lacey she would attend the wedding rehearsal for moral support. Apparently, she had been very agreeable. She’d even used the L-word and not freaked out when Remy told her he was coming to Las Vegas. She let out a loud sigh.

“What?” Kara eyed her warily.

She gave the woman a questioning look.

“You sighed, what do you see?”

“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.” She smiled reassuringly. “Everybody is here on time, and nobody is drunk—those are all good signs.”

“Do you have to deal with many problems caused by wedding parties at your job?”

“Our security staff has had to hunt down a few grooms over the years,” Francesca murmured.

“Lacey said you were a life-saver when her friends misbehaved.” Kara rolled her diamond tennis bracelet around her wrist.

“It wasn’t too bad.” Francesca had called the bondsman she kept on speed-dial, and he’d met her at the jail. “I took care of it.” She didn’t add that Lacey had cried hysterically, or that Hadley had stayed with the remainder of the group trying to sober them up.

“I worry about her. Her father and I spoiled her. I hope she’s mature enough to be married.” Kara raised her gaze to Francesca’s.

Francesca gave her a reassuring smile. “I know that Bruce loves her, and he knows she’s a princess. I think he enjoys spoiling her, too. Like all couples, they’ll hit a few bumps, but she has you and her friends to give her advice.”

“I’d rather she turn to someone like you instead of her silly friends. You seem to have it all—a career and a man who’s crazy about you. You are a very lucky woman.”

“Thank you, Kara. I am lucky. I’m just figuring that out.” She looked away to watch the waves rolling in. Everything that Kara said was true. She just needed to find time to come to grips with it all. Remy was serious about their relationship, and she had to figure out a way to juggle work and him. She couldn’t fuck things up again.

The coordinator stepped to the middle of the altar area, wearing a wireless microphone. “Let’s get started. I need the parents of the groom and the mother of the bride at the back so they can be escorted to their seats.”

Francesca turned to Kara and gave her an I-told-you-so look.

“Watch my purse?” Kara stood.

“Sure and good luck.” Francesca relaxed into her seat, preparing to watch the event unfold.

Later, when the participants were finally excused, Francesca made her way to Remy’s side. He pulled into his side.

“I bet you need a beer,” she spoke softly.

“At least two,” he said grimly. He stepped away from her and did a slow up and down look. “You look amazing.”

She felt herself blush. “It’s new.” She and Hadley had spent hours trying to find the perfect dress for tonight. It had to be dressy, but she didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard. She’d finally chosen a knee-length Leila Rose dress that had a deep-vee neckline in navy with a sheer, floral embroidered skirt overlay. The embroidery had light blues, white, and lavender threads. The silhouette made her waist look tiny, and the skirt had a wire hem so it flared. She’d borrowed an amethyst choker from Rose and chose navy satin pumps with a kitten heel.

Remy ran his finger along the neckline, brushing the swell of her breast. “So sexy and sophisticated,” he said, his voice nearly growling. “Babe, you kill me.”

She dropped her gaze to the finger tracing her neckline. She could feel the wetness between her legs. He made her crazy with his gentleness. “I’m glad you like it.”

He took her hand and raised it to his lips.

“Remy, they said that we should move to the banquet room.” Jennifer’s voice broke up the moment. She stood with her hands on her hips, giving them an unhappy look.

Remy didn’t look in her direction; he kept eye contact with Francesca. “Coming.”

“I guess we should go.” Francesca gave him a mock frown.

“Yeah, more fun,” Remy said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“Come on, big guy, with only one tear-filled breakdown during the rehearsal, I think we lucked out.” She tried not to smile.

He turned them, and they followed the group down a walkway. “I guess I should be thankful she didn’t stomp off and hold up the practice.”

“Look at you being all glass half full. I don’t think I can convey how much pressure a bride feels. She wants everything to be perfect and most of all she wants to be perfect. It’s hard.” She did feel a little sorry for Lacey.

Remy pulled them to the side of the walkway and spoke fiercely. “I don’t want you to feel like that when we get married.”

She felt her heart pounding as she whispered. “When we get married?”

Remy chuckled and put his hand on her upper arm. “Calm down, I can feel the anxiety radiating off of you.”

“It’s a happy kind of surprised. I mean you just threw it out there,” she hurried to explain. To hear him say the word made her body hum.

He leaned in close. “I know I’m pushing you, Francesca, and I hope it doesn’t blow up in my face. It’s just that when I’m with you, I don’t want to leave. Ever.”

She nodded because her throat was closing.

“Does that make sense?” He raised her chin with his hand.

“I get it. And just so you know, I won’t be the freaked out bride, because I will have exactly what I want.” Then she smiled at him and stood on tip toe to kiss him lightly on his lips.

***

“If I eat another bite, I think I’ll explode.” Francesca folded her napkin and placed it beside her plate.

“I’ve got to hand it to the hotel, the food was really great.” Trevor flashed a charming smile.

“And the liquor is flowing.” Remy raised his glass of Macallam’s and made a toasting motion.

The rehearsal dinner and party was being held in a banquet room decorated with dark wood and deep burgundy. They were seated at round tables for eight, and there had to be sixty people being served. Running along the side of the room was the head table where Lacey and Bruce, plus both sets of parents, were seated. It was elevated on a riser so that they could be seen.

Mr. Haviland stood and walked to the end of the platform. One of the hotel’s staff handed him a microphone. He tapped it a twice to make sure it worked. “Good evening. I hope you’re enjoying your dinner.”

The attendees cheered.

“Kara and I want you to keep drinking—well not so much you can’t perform tomorrow, but enjoy yourselves.”

The room clapped.

Bruce joined his future father-in-law and took over the mike. “Lacey and I want to thank you all so much for being with us tonight. Your friendship and support mean everything. Please enjoy the night, but remember your assigned times if you’re in the wedding party, and we start seating guests at two thirty. Now, let’s parrrrtttyyyy.”

The master of ceremonies, dressed in a black suit, took the mike from Bruce, and Bruce and his soon-to-be father-in-law returned to their seats.

The M.C. raised the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you will look at the place card in front of you, you’ll see a number in the bottom right-hand corner.”

Everyone looked at their names. Remy was number four and Francesca was five.

The M.C. turned toward the head table. “Lacey, choose a number between one and eight.”

She looked around the room, and then held up five fingers as she shouted, “Five.”

The man turned back toward the crowd. “Very good. Everyone with a number five on their place card, meet me by the back door.” He pointed to a door across the ballroom.

Francesca turned to Remy. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” She pushed back from the table.

“Because you know you’re going to have to do something to entertain us, possibly embarrassing yourself in front of our friends?” Remy took her hand and pulled her over for a kiss. “You’ll be fine.”

She squared her shoulders and walked to the door along with several other guests.

Remy watched as the master of ceremonies led the group outside of the room.

“Wonder what that’s about?” Trevor nodded his head in the direction of the door.

“Don’t have a clue, but I’m glad Lacey didn’t pick my number.” Remy grinned.

“You and me both.” Trevor took a drink of his whisky.

“So, I was wondering if Francesca has said anything more about all of us getting together?” Trevor angled his head to meet Remy’s gaze.

“Nothing definitive,” Remy felt a combination of anticipation and unease. He liked the idea of giving Francesca something from her wildest dreams, but Trevor liked Francesca. He was good-looking and could be very charming. Did he really want Trevor that close to her?

“Maybe you should say something to her, I mean since we’re here, and who knows when we’ll get together again.”

Remy took a moment to respond. “I don’t like the idea of putting any pressure on her right now.” He knew he’d dropped a lot on her already. The visit, which would turn into him moving to Las Vegas, and then marriage.

“Maybe I’ll say something…” Trevor watched Remy over the rim of his glass.

Remy narrowed his gaze. “Don’t. This is her choice, Trev, her fantasy,” Remy said quietly but fiercely.

“All right, all right. I’ll stay quiet.”

The server stopped by and asked if anyone would like another drink. “She will and so would I.” Remy pointed to Francesca’s red wine and his glass.

“Here she comes,” Trevor murmured. “She doesn’t look upset.”

Both men watched Francesca make her way to their table.

Remy stood and pulled out her chair for her. “Everything okay?”

She sat down, and he did the same. She shook her head. “We’re doing karaoke. Singing love songs.” She chuckled.

Trevor groaned. “Oh, Christ, good thing I ordered another drink.”