The Gambler (31 page)

“And I love you, Elizabeth Gabriella St. Clair McMillan.” He forced a grin. “You never told me your name is Elizabeth.”

Something flashed in her eyes. Doubt? Did it bother her that he had hadn’t known her real name until their wedding? “You never asked. I hate it. It’s so stuffy.”

He kissed the corner of her mouth. “You’re much more of a Libby to me. My Lib.”

She closed her eyes. “Yes, your Lib.”

His hold on her tightened. He was surprised by the possessiveness rushing through him. He’d thought he would feel more secure about their relationship once they were married, but he was more worried than ever. Now he was aware of what he risked losing.

Her eyes opened and he stared into their rich brown depths. Would he really get to stare into them every day for the rest of his life? The hope and contentment that thought gave him calmed his soul.

“Let’s finish washing up, then get breakfast,” she said, grinning. “I’ve worked up quite an appetite.” Her hold loosened and she was sliding down his body, slow and sultry, when a new horror hit him.

“We just had unprotected sex.”

She shook her head dismissively. “It’s okay. I already told you I have an IUD.”

“No, it’s
not.
I wanted to get checked out first. God . . . Libby . . . I’m sorry. I should have been more responsible.” Then it hit him. Maybe he would never be responsible enough to be a good husband. He wasn’t sure he could bear it if she joined the long list of people he’d failed.

“Noah. Stop.” She said it with more authority than he was used to hearing from her. “You’re my husband.” The smile she gave him was so sweet and soft his throat tightened. “We can have sex without condoms. But if it makes you feel better, we’ll use them until you know for sure, okay?”

Her words soothed the sting of his pain. 

“I love you. Please don’t feel any guilt about making love to me. It doesn’t belong there.”

“Okay, but we have to use condoms until I know.”

She grinned. “I won’t let your manhood near me until it’s sheathed. But to be safe, perhaps I should get a chastity belt.”

He kissed her again, pressing her against the shower wall as a tidal wave of love and gratitude overcame him. She always knew just what to say to pull him from his dark places.

“Give me your shampoo,” she said. “I’ll wash your hair.”

They were more subdued than usual as they washed each other. The overwhelming fear he’d still lose her was almost enough to drown him. Here in this moment, it was easy for her to want to stay with him. But what about when they got back to real life? When her friends were with her in person? They’d always see him as a fuckup.

He had to prove them wrong and show them he was worthy of her.

He had to close the Abrahams deal.

Something deep inside told him to tell her what was going on. If anyone would understand his decision to impulsively quit his job, it was Libby. But she was so proud of him and the progress he’d made, and he felt like everything between them was precarious enough. He didn’t want to risk it. If he could set up a meeting with Abrahams, he’d tell her that he was working on a business deal. But if he couldn’t get the meeting, he’d tell her the truth and let everything fall where it would.

He watched her get ready, longing to stay in the cocoon of their room, where they were safe from the rest of the world. When she started blow-drying her hair, he told her he was going to get ice and took the ice bucket and his phone into the hall.

Tiffany answered on the second ring. “I thought you were blowing me off, Noah.”

“No, of course not,” he said, feeling slimy as he ran a hand through his hair. “I just got tied up.” He took a breath. “So, about Scott . . . Can you set something up?”

“Yeah, but I’m more interested in setting something up between you and me.”

Tell her. Just tell her you’re married.
But he couldn’t. He needed this deal so he could start his life with Libby, and he wasn’t sure Tiffany would set it up if she didn’t think she had a shot with him. When Libby moved to Seattle, they’d have nothing. She deserved more from him. “Um . . . I . . .”

“What’s gotten into you, Noah? You don’t sound like yourself.”

“Oh . . . just fighting a cold.”

“I can bring you some chicken soup . . . and then feed it to you.”

Before Libby, he would have been ready to go just thinking about it. But now, it made him feel dirty. “That’s okay, it’s just a small one. So about that meeting . . .”

“You are one persistent boy, aren’t you? That’s something I loved about you,” she said with so much innuendo a deaf man could hear it.

He ignored her last statement. “My business
really
needs this.”

“And I really need
you.
” Her voice was low and seductive.

Shit.
Shit.
What was he going to do?
Tell her. TELL HER.
“I’m not in town for very long.”

“We only need a few hours,
lover boy.
”

“I thought you were seeing Scott.”

She giggled. “Come on. Like that stopped you before.”

“
I’m
seeing someone.”

Another giggle. “Like that’s stopped
me
before. Besides, everyone knows you don’t really see women. Lucky for you, I’m not looking for more than a few hours at the most. You know what they say—what happens in Vegas . . .” Her voice trailed off with seductive promise.

He swallowed, knowing he was at a crossroads. If he led her on any more, he’d be cheating on Libby and he refused to do that. He’d support her some other way; hell, he’d get a job as a janitor if need be. “Tiffany, I’m married.”

“You’re
what?
” She couldn’t have sounded more shocked if he’d told her he was an alien from Mars.

He leaned his back against the wall by the ice machine and heaved out a breath. “I’m married and I love my wife very much. I don’t want to deceive you or lead you on any more than I already have. I need this account, but I won’t sleep with you to get it. If you don’t want to set up a meeting for me with Scott, I understand, but I really hope you can help me out.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” she mumbled. “
You’re
married. Has hell frozen over?”

He released a nervous chuckle. “It very well might have.”

“So you love her, huh?”

“You have no idea.
Please.
”

“Yeah, sure . . . why not? If
you
can fall in love, get married and be so adamant about remaining faithful, it gives the rest of us single girls hope.” She still sounded dazed. “When are you free?”

“My day is flexible. Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”

“I’ll text you when I know something. Tell your wife congrats.”

“Thanks, but if we run into each other later, can you not mention the meeting to her? I want to surprise her with the closed deal when it’s done.”

“Yeah, sure.”

He was already on his way back to the room when he realized he hadn’t filled the bucket. He turned around and completed that task, then went back to the room. When he walked in, Libby was leaning over her suitcase, stark naked.

He grinned. “You have no idea how happy I am that you aren’t self-conscious about your body. It makes me consider becoming a nudist.”

She laughed as she pulled a black sweater from the bag. “I figure this is how God made me. Besides, gravity isn’t my friend. One day the girls will go south.” She glanced up at him. “I hope you’re prepared for that.”

“Libby, you will always be beautiful to me. Even when you’re nine months pregnant with our baby someday.” He hadn’t meant to say that last part, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he knew it was true. Libby would be an incredible mother.

Her mouth parted as she turned to look at him. “I thought you didn’t want kids.”

“I didn’t think I did either until you. I love kids. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I seem to have a lot in common with them.” He winked. “I just don’t want to screw up
my own
kids. But how can they be screwed up with you as their mother?” Then he stopped. “Unless
you
don’t want kids.”

She shook her head, smiling with tears in her eyes. “No. I do.”

“And you married me thinking I didn’t?”

“I want you more. Kids are bonus.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Finish getting ready and let’s get some lunch—it’s after eleven o’clock, so I think it’s past breakfast. How about I call Gram and see if she and Nana Ruby want to join us?”

“Really?” Her eyes widened in shock. “I thought you’d be upset with her after the whole Twitter incident.”

He sighed. “Blair and Megan were going to find out the ugly details at some point, and Gram meant well. If we invite her to lunch, she’ll know we’re not angry with her. If she even knows things are a mess back home. She might be totally oblivious.”

She stiffened in his arms. “You think our wedding was ugly?”

“I think our wedding was perfectly
us
, but we both know that your friends—especially Blair—would have been horrified and offended by it.” He bent at the knees to look her in the eyes. “I suspect you got an earful when you called them earlier.”

“I only talked to Blair and it was enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shook her head and her eyes lit up with fire. “Their loss, but it only proves that other than Tortoise, there’s really nothing left for me in Kansas City. I want to move my things to Seattle as soon as possible.”

“I love you, Lib. I hope I’m worth the grief.”

A soft smile spread across her face. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say you love me.”

“If I said it as many times as the feeling hits me, I suspect I’ll annoy the hell out of you, but I’m willing to take the risk.”

She placed a kiss on his lips, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I like the sound of that. Why don’t you call Gram while I get dressed?”

He nodded and watched her ass as she dug her jeans and underwear out of the bag. It was a good thing he was out of condoms or he’d suggest they order room service instead.

He pulled up Gram’s number. “Hey, Gram.”

“I’m surprised you and Libby are still speaking to me. Megan’s about to birth twin cows.” She sounded more subdued than usual.

He shrugged even though she couldn’t see him. “Libby says it’s their loss. We love that you got a photo. For all I know it’s one of the only ones. We were supposed to get professional photos, but Angelica broke the camera, so unless one of the homeless guys had a camera, I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen.”

“I’m not sure why they have their panties in a wad. I thought it was a lovely service.”

“Thanks, Gram. We loved it too. Say . . . I know we talked about having dinner tonight, but we were wondering if you and Nana Ruby wanted to join us for lunch instead.”

“Sounds good. Then we can go see Donny and Marie tonight.”

He laughed. “
You
want to see Donny and Marie?”

“Nah. It seemed like a good compromise. Ruby’s a little bit country and I’m a whole lot of rock and roll. What Ruby doesn’t know is we’re going to a strip club after. I’m hoping to meet my Mr. Right.”

“Well, okay then . . . that works out well. Do you have a preference where we eat for lunch?”

“That Food Network guy has a restaurant here. How about we eat at his place?”

“Sounds good. Can you be ready to meet us there at noon? I’ll see if I can get reservations.”

“We’ll see you kids there.”

“It’s a date.” He hung up and grinned.

Libby stood in front of him wearing a pair of jeans that clung to her hips and a black sweater with a V-neck that dipped into her cleavage and knit fabric that showed off her generous breasts. It didn’t help matters that he knew she was wearing black lingerie underneath. “I’m ready to go. What are we going to do for the next forty-five minutes?”

He pulled her into his arms, groaning. “Not what I’d like to be doing. You’re gorgeous.”

She laughed. “How about we find some condoms for later, then wander around until it’s time to meet them for lunch.”

“That sounds like a fabulous plan. We better get the jumbo package. I hope your purse is big enough.”

Gram and Nana Ruby were waiting for them at the entrance to the restaurant. Nana Ruby had ditched the sparkles for a red sweatshirt that said
My grandkid can whoop your grandkid’s ass.
Gram wore yoga pants and a T-shirt. Her face was red and she was huffing and puffing.

“Gram, are you okay?” Libby asked, worried. “You don’t look so good.”

“I’m still sweating from that hot yoga class.” She pointed her finger at Libby. “And for the record, hot yoga is
not
full of hot men. I stayed long enough to break a sweat, then hightailed it out of there.”

Noah laughed and wrapped his arm around Libby’s back, resting it on her hip. She glanced up at him with a smile.

“You girls are stealing all the hot men,” Gram teased. “There are none left for me.” She pointed over to Nana. “Even Ruby has a man.”